Volume 11, Number 2

Designing an Musical Educational Software Combining Traditional Music-Pedagogical Methods and Emerging Technologies: The Case of Synth4Kids

  Authors

Yannis Mygdanis, European University Cyprus, Cyprus

  Introduction

This paper presents the development of Synth4kids, a music educational software for music teachinglearning processes designed to be used for kids aged five to eight years. Synth4kids integrates elements from the traditional music-pedagogical methods –Dalcroze Eurhythmics, Orff Schulwerk, Kodály Method– along with features aligned with incorporating merging technologies in music education –augmented reality, use of tangible interfaces / sensors, eye-tracking processes, QR-codes implementation, and collaborative online music practices– providing new and extended ways of music-making, expression, and learning to the young ages. As a pedagogical tool, it was designed with the ultimate goal to be incorporated into musical-educational activities following a STEAM perspective, based on project-based, inquiry and cooperative learning, transdisciplinarity, as well as game-based, and authentic problemsolving experiences.

  Keywords

Virtual instruments in music education, STEAM education, Educational musical software design and development, Emerging technologies in music lessons.