We're still collecting donations
On the 15th July 2019 we'd raised £7,975 with 137 supporters in 27 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
Our aim is to build 20 Control One devices and donate them to two SEN schools as Control One Ensemble, full classroom packages.
by Si Tew in Leamington Spa, England, United Kingdom
On the 15th July 2019 we'd raised £7,975 with 137 supporters in 27 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
With the additional stretch funding, we will be able to make 20 more Control One devices and donate them to two more schools. Bringing the total of schools to four and dramatically increasing the number of young people who will benefit from unrestricted music creation.
Digit Music aims to enhance the lives of disabled young people through music with Control One, which removes restrictions from music creation. Our adapted wheelchair controller harnesses a wealth of muscle memory and familiarity, enabling disabled young musicians to compose and create freely.
Our integrated audio system uses pre-existing software and intricately programmed sessions to provide a simple, plug and play environment for creative musical exploration. By bringing the techniques of contemporary, commercial sound design into the classroom we aim to reignite engagement in music for those with physical disabilities. Studies have shown a much lower percentage of engagement in music from disabled young people when compared with their able-bodied peers. We believe that some of this disparity is due to barriers to access. Control One and Control One Ensemble aim to reduce those barriers and lead to the discovery of new musicians.
"I love Control One. It's easy to use because I use one every day. The only difference is this one makes music and the other one gets me about."
Jess Fisher (Able Orchestra)
Control One is a revolutionary interface that converts small movements of the joystick into complex musical interactions. Control One Ensemble, our ten-piece collection of devices, is designed for intuitive, full class collaboration.
Digit Music's founder, Si Tew, developed Control One while working with Inspire Youth Arts' Able Orchestra. During this project, he noticed a proficiency of movement when controlling a wheelchair, when compared to interacting with a tablet or MIDI controller.
With funding from Arts Council England and Inspire Youth Arts he developed a prototype device and then a full Control One Ensemble prototype. We need your support to create and donate Control One devices to schools.
Our target enables the building of 20 Control One devices, providing 2 schools with a full Control One Ensemble package. Here is what the schools will receive:
- 10 x Control One devices.
- All cables and connectors.
- Our Programme of Learning, with lessons linked to the national curriculum.
- 2 x Days of workshops for students and staff. The Digit team will go into the school to install Control One Ensemble and introduce them to the creative possibilities of our system.
The first artist to use Control One for solo performance is Jess Fisher. Jess has been part of the Able Orchestra for many years and has been instrumental in the development of Control One. Her performances have led to her winning an Emerging Artist award from The Mighty Creatives, something that by her own admission, would not have been possible without Control One. Jess has an upcoming event for BBC Introducing and she has expressed a wish to become a young leader and workshop assistant for Digit Music.
We are lucky to have a great team around us. The support for this project has been excellent and due to the generosity of some of our production partners, we are able to offer up some excellent rewards. We have music releases in collaboration with Able Orchestra, Inspire Youth Arts and Orchestras Live. There is a limited edition Digit Music x Black Octopus USB and 3GB of samples. Atjazz Record Company have offered up their mastering studio for use during 1-2-1 tech sessions. We also have lots of Digit Music products available as rewards for your generous donations.
Control One was born out of our work with the Able Orchestra and the disabled young musicians who take part. Naturally, this has been the focus of our development in the early stages. We have now highlighted a much wider group of people who can benefit from using our creative tool. Music benefits us all and so can Control One. From dementia sufferers to the professional musician, from the home hobbyist to someone in rehabilitation and from the elderly to the creative toddler. Control One removes restrictions from music creation for everyone, no matter your musical ability.
We need your help to get more Control One devices into schools and homes. This means more people engaging in a meaningful musical experience with proven benefits to well being.
This project offered rewards