"How Do You Make A Computer Improvise With A Human?"

Ajay Kapur 

3p-4:30p, Tuesday, December 2, 2008, Lecture Hall 3

Abstract:
Lectures in this series to date have explored how our understanding of language can inform how we program computers to do interesting and useful things.  This lecture carries that theme one step further, exploring how our understanding of another aspect of human cognition, namely music, can be used to program computers to create 21st century music for the renaissance audience member, bringing the fields of human-computer interfaces together with robotics and artificial intelligence for space-age sonic mosaics. Using the rules set forth by Indian classical tradition, Ajay has strived to build new interfaces for musical expression by modifying the tabla, dholak, and sitar with added microchips and sensor systems, while building robotic musical instruments that can be programmed to perform along with the human performer.    

The Speaker:  
Ajay Kapur is the Music Technology Coordinator at California Institute of the Arts, and directs the multi-focus music technology program there. He holds a Computer Science degree from Princeton University and received an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in 2007 from University of Victoria combining Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Music, and Psychology with a focus on Intelligence Music and Media Technology.  He has been educated by music technology leaders including Dr. Perry R. Cook, Dr. George Tzanetakis, and Dr. Andrew Schloss, combined with mentorship from robotic musical instrument sculptors Eric Singer and the world famous Trimpin. A musician at heart, trained on Drumset, Tabla, Sitar, and other percussion instruments from around the world, Ajay strives to push the technological barrier in order to make new music.

Ajay is also the founder and leader of KarmetiK, an international group of musicians, composers, scientists, engineers, and artists who have come together to combine traditional Indian Classical music with modern technology. The group’s variety of collaborators and members have toured the United States, Canada, India, Singapore, Japan, and parts of Europe.

See the file list below for a printable announcement for this lecture.