A Study on Learning Advanced Skills on Co- Playable Robotic Instrument

Abstract

Learning advanced skills on a musical instrument takes a range of physical and cognitive efforts. For instance, practicing polyrhythm is a complex task that requires the development of both musical and physical skills. This paper explores the use of automation in the context of learning advanced skills on the guitar. Our robotic guitar is capable of physically plucking on the strings along with a musician, providing both haptic and audio guidance to the musician. We hypothesize that a multimodal and firstperson experience of “being able to play” could increase learning efficacy. We discuss the novel learning application and a user study, through which we illustrate the implication and potential issues in systems that provide temporary skills and in-situ multimodal guidance for learning.