Music Accessibility Technology Hacking
Current Projects
Hacking Disability in Music Education
key question: How could practices of "hacking disability in music" contribute to making music education more accessible and inclusive to learners who experience disability in music?
Monthly Music Hackathon NYC serves as a critical case study to examine practices of hacking disability in music. The following questions are being investigated in this study:
1. What processes do the music hackathon participants engage in, from the first stages of discussion and idea generation, through to the design, development, prototyping, and presentation of a project?
2. How are "hacking," "disability," and "hacking disability in music," conceptualized and discussed by the music hackathon participants?
3. What are the best practices displayed and discussed at the music hackathons as they relate to designing for more accessible and inclusive music education practices?
The research team uses a combination of video-based observation and semi-structured interviewing to answer the aforementioned questions. Any questions, comments, concerns about this study can be directed to [email protected]
This study is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) through the Insight Development Grant (IDG) program
Monthly Music Hackathon NYC serves as a critical case study to examine practices of hacking disability in music. The following questions are being investigated in this study:
1. What processes do the music hackathon participants engage in, from the first stages of discussion and idea generation, through to the design, development, prototyping, and presentation of a project?
2. How are "hacking," "disability," and "hacking disability in music," conceptualized and discussed by the music hackathon participants?
3. What are the best practices displayed and discussed at the music hackathons as they relate to designing for more accessible and inclusive music education practices?
The research team uses a combination of video-based observation and semi-structured interviewing to answer the aforementioned questions. Any questions, comments, concerns about this study can be directed to [email protected]
This study is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) through the Insight Development Grant (IDG) program
Research Team
adam patrick bell: Principal Investigator
adam patrick bell is an Assistant Professor of Music Education in the School of Creative and Performing Arts at the University of Calgary, Canada. He is the author of Dawn of the DAW: The Studio as Musical Instrument (Oxford University Press, 2018), and has written several peer-reviewed articles and chapters on the topics of music technology in music education, and disability in music education. Prior to his career in higher education, Bell worked as a kindergarten teacher, elementary music teacher, and support worker for adolescents with disabilities. Bell has also worked as a freelance producer, creating commercial music for clients including Coca-Cola.
Susu Azzam
Susu Azzam is currently a Supply Chain Management student in the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary. A couple of her passions include music and travelling. She has been to over 10 different countries and enjoys culturally diverse music, her favourite being Spanish music. Academically, Susu hopes to enter the work force in her field of study and later come back to pursue a Master's of Business. Susu has also been involved in the community by volunteering for CUPS as a consultant. Some of her other hobbies include staying active by going to the gym and enjoying the outdoors.
Joseph Bahhadi
Joseph Bahhadi is an undergraduate student at the University of Calgary, majoring in Music Performance. Engaging in various subject areas within music and science, Joseph looks to gain a well-rounded view on the learning process to better himself as both a student and educator. Although much of Joseph's hobbies are music related, such as playing in jazz bands around Calgary, he also enjoys watching and playing soccer.
Atiya Datoo
Atiya Datoo is a recent graduate from the University of Calgary where she pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Culture. She will be pursuing a Bachelor of Education at the University of Calgary beginning Fall 2019. Coming from a background in performance arts, Atiya has spent many years training as a vocalist, dancer and actress at Victoria School of the Arts in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Currently, she is working to develop her musical career as a Rnb/ Pop singer. Outside of the arts, Atiya enjoys playing hockey, watching Netflix and learning new languages.
Chantelle Ko
Chantelle is a violinist and working towards her Master’s of Music in Sonic Arts at the University of Calgary. She has a diverse background in electroacoustic music, soundscapes, interactive computer composition/performance, and building augmented instruments. While growing up in Victoria, BC, she had volunteered for various positions at Discovery School, a school for children with learning disabilities.
Brent Matterson
Brent is a Bachelor of Music student at the University of Calgary. He hopes to attend graduate school and complete a master’s degree in Guitar Performance after his undergraduate studies. He has a background in music performance, playing drums and guitar in multiple bands and ensembles in BC and Alberta. He is also a music educator, teaching guitar lessons to students of various ages and abilities. Brent enjoys all things music, especially discovering new bands and songs.
Mina Tahmouresie
Mina Tahmouresie is a third-year business student at the University of Calgary who is majoring in Finance. She is highly involved in the community by volunteering as a student consulter at Accenture, and the for the CUPS non-profit organization. She also has a passion in the arts field, as she is a oil painter who has started up her own business to promote and sell work, she also teaches children painting skills at local art shops. She also has a big passion in music, as she has been playing guitar for a few years as well as singing. A few other hobbies Mina has is hiking, traveling and collecting antiques.
Alumni
Amanda Antwi-Nsiah: Research Assistant
Amanda Antwi-Nsiah is currently a student in her final year at the University of Calgary working to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Geography. She hopes to purse a Bachelor of Education after completing her undergraduate degree. In terms of her musical interests, Amanda enjoys choral singing and she recently joined the University Chorus at the University of Calgary. Amanda also enjoys taking piano lessons and trying to teach herself piano in her spare time. Some of Amanda’s other hobbies include watching sports, watching YouTube videos, doing track and field, playing basketball, and swimming.
David Bonin: Research Assistant
David is a second-year electrical engineering student in the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary. David is a mature student that returned to school after working in a variety of fields including oil and gas exploration, sales, and most recently with Canada Post as a letter carrier. David enjoys listening and playing music, predominantly guitar, and spending as much time as possible with his wife and young daughter.
Helen Pethrick: Research Assistant
Helen is a Bachelor of Health Sciences and Bachelor of Arts student at the University of Calgary. One of her many passions is music. Since beginning her classical training in cello at age 13, she has performed in a number of chamber ensembles and orchestras and is pursuing a minor in music. Outside of her academic pursuits, Helen enjoys running outdoors (while listening to the latest Spotify playlist) and volunteering in the community.
Presentations
Upcoming Presentations
Bell, A.P., Ko, C., Datoo, A., & Hoeger, K. (2019, June 12-15). Assessing the Accessibility of a Music Hacking Community. Association for Popular Music Education. New York, NY.
Bell, A.P., Azzam, S., Tahmouresie, M., & Pras, A. (2019, June 12-15). Street Recording Studio Practices in Mali. Association for Popular Music Education. New York University, NY.
Past Presentations
Bell, A.P. (2019, May 24-25). What Does “Accessible” Mean to Us, and How Can We Be It? Music Community Lab’s Inward Inquiry for Accessibility. Visions of Research in Music Education: The Conference. Princeton, NJ.
Bell, A.P. (2019, March 30). How Music Hackers Conceptualize and Design for Disability and Accessibility (If At All). The Disability Studies and Music Education Symposium. James Madison University, VA.
Bell, A.P. (2019, March 28). Keynote: Critical MATH (Music, Accessibility, Technology, Hacking). Exploring Sound. University of Lethbridge, Canada.
Bell, A.P., & Bonin, D. (2018, October 11-13). Diversity Includes Disability: Designing Accessible Music-Making Experiences for Music Education in Canada. College Music Society. Vancouver, Canada.
Bell, A.P. (2018, September 7-8). How Music Hackers Design for Disability. Music & Physical Disability: From Instrument to Performance. Birmingham, UK.
Bell, A.P. (2018, July 15-20). Disability, Design, and Technology in Music Education. International Society of Music Education (ISME). Baku, Azerbaijan.
Bell, A.P., & Bonin, D. (2018, June 24-27). Hacking Access/Ability in Popular Music Education. Association for Popular Music Education. Middle Tennessee State University, TN.
Bell, A.P., & Antwi-Nsiah, A. (2018, March 26-27). Hacking, Disability, and Music Education. Society for Education, Music, and Psychology Research: Researching Music - Education - Technology (MET2018). University of London, UK.
Bell, A.P. (2018, May 23-25). MusCan: MusEcologies. MacEwan University, Edmonton, Canada.
Bell, A.P., Antwi-Nsiah, A., & Pethrick, H. (2018, June 6-9). Hacking, Disability, Music Education, and Hacking. The MayDay Group Colloquium 30. University of Western Ontario, London, ON.
Bell, A.P., Ko, C., Datoo, A., & Hoeger, K. (2019, June 12-15). Assessing the Accessibility of a Music Hacking Community. Association for Popular Music Education. New York, NY.
Bell, A.P., Azzam, S., Tahmouresie, M., & Pras, A. (2019, June 12-15). Street Recording Studio Practices in Mali. Association for Popular Music Education. New York University, NY.
Past Presentations
Bell, A.P. (2019, May 24-25). What Does “Accessible” Mean to Us, and How Can We Be It? Music Community Lab’s Inward Inquiry for Accessibility. Visions of Research in Music Education: The Conference. Princeton, NJ.
Bell, A.P. (2019, March 30). How Music Hackers Conceptualize and Design for Disability and Accessibility (If At All). The Disability Studies and Music Education Symposium. James Madison University, VA.
Bell, A.P. (2019, March 28). Keynote: Critical MATH (Music, Accessibility, Technology, Hacking). Exploring Sound. University of Lethbridge, Canada.
Bell, A.P., & Bonin, D. (2018, October 11-13). Diversity Includes Disability: Designing Accessible Music-Making Experiences for Music Education in Canada. College Music Society. Vancouver, Canada.
Bell, A.P. (2018, September 7-8). How Music Hackers Design for Disability. Music & Physical Disability: From Instrument to Performance. Birmingham, UK.
Bell, A.P. (2018, July 15-20). Disability, Design, and Technology in Music Education. International Society of Music Education (ISME). Baku, Azerbaijan.
Bell, A.P., & Bonin, D. (2018, June 24-27). Hacking Access/Ability in Popular Music Education. Association for Popular Music Education. Middle Tennessee State University, TN.
Bell, A.P., & Antwi-Nsiah, A. (2018, March 26-27). Hacking, Disability, and Music Education. Society for Education, Music, and Psychology Research: Researching Music - Education - Technology (MET2018). University of London, UK.
Bell, A.P. (2018, May 23-25). MusCan: MusEcologies. MacEwan University, Edmonton, Canada.
Bell, A.P., Antwi-Nsiah, A., & Pethrick, H. (2018, June 6-9). Hacking, Disability, Music Education, and Hacking. The MayDay Group Colloquium 30. University of Western Ontario, London, ON.