Muncie, Indiana - Fall 2013 - When composer Robert Willey wants to help his Ball State University students capture their creative juices and hone their songwriting efficiency, he immediately fires up the Disklavier piano in his classroom. Willey uses the Disklavier for every step of the songwriting process, starting with basic conceptualizing exercises. 

“I record what we come up in class with during group composition brainstorming, and then email the students the MIDI files. For example, we might come up with a bass line or riff that students can incorporate in a song.”

Stockholm, Sweden - July 30, 2013 - Computer engineers are constantly striving to get closer and closer to realistic human gestures, whether in movement, speech, or even “thinking.” (remember Deep Blue, anyone?) Those of us who spend a great deal of time combining music and technology know that musical expression is one of those elusive human behaviors that has long evaded the world of non-human production. Seeking to conquer this “holy grail” of modeling, Rencon [Musical Performance RENdering CONtest] began in 2002, as part of a conference workshop in Kyoto. Rencon has since become an international competition, encouraging advancement in this highly sophisticated realm.