REVOLUTIONIZING MUSIC INSTRUCTION: SYNTH4KIDS AND THE CONFLUENCE OF TRADITION AND TECH

Abstract

Recent technological advancements have revolutionized children's interaction with music, ushering in novel and enriched musical encounters. Educators must recognize the preferences of students for integrating technology and digital media into their learning, given the evolving digital landscape [37]. As music experiences increasingly adopt digital and multimodal dimensions, the integration of contemporary technologies into music education creates fresh educational paradigms [24]. The incorporation of technological tools in music instruction has the potential to amplify learning motivation and offer students profound involvement across diverse musical domains. Notably, the integration of virtual instruments into music education has gained prominence.

This article introduces the conception and development of an educational musical tool, Synth4kids, tailored for children aged five to eight, leveraging modern web browsers and web audio technology. Synth4kids comprises innovative instructional software grounded in traditional music pedagogical techniques, simultaneously embracing the contemporary digital milieu. By incorporating augmented reality, tactile interfaces, eyetracking, QR codes, and collaborative online music practices through WebRTC, the tool creates novel avenues for music experimentation, facilitating innovative forms of musical expression and learning. The primary objective of Synth4kids is to serve as an instructional asset seamlessly amalgamated into STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) educational endeavors, aligning with project-based learning principles. This fosters collaborative, transdisciplinary, game-based, and authentic problem-solving experiences, empowering students to explore music with a fresh perspective.