An iPhone orchestra -- something you don't hear every day

The department of Computing and Engineering and the School of Music at the University of Michigan have teamed up to offer an interesting course as part of their music program. Students are learning to make music using an iPhone or iPod touch. The generated tones can be altered by moving the phone using the built in motion sensor or the compass feature of the iPhone 3GS. By combining different instruments, an entire orchestra can be created.

I doubt people are leaving the auditorium humming the tunes, but it's yet another example of the extensibility that the App Store provides, and how it seems to give birth to all sorts of creative endeavors.

Here's a link to a video about the use of the iPhone in music, and another to a concert featuring the iPhone orchestra. The University of Michigan class is doing another concert on December 9th, so there is still time for you to get tickets if you're in the area.

The iPhone has had a rather large impact in music. For example, many professional piano tuners are using an iPhone app [iTunes link] that competes very well against dedicated hardware, while others have found ways to remotely play their piano using their iPhone or iPod touch. Also, many hobbyists and musicians alike who wish to synthesize music while on the go have a wide assortment of apps to choose from.

[Via Wired Online]

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Source: http://www.ns.umich.edu/htdocs/releases/story.php?id=7435

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Multimedia Odds and ends iPhone Music

The department of Computing and Engineering and the School of Music at the University of Michigan have teamed up to offer an interesting...

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lie_3rick

i think iphone & app store has changed everything in mobile phone including music..so many app like xewton music studio, wivi band, ocarina etc and each app give us the chance to be creative...maybe they will never be the same like actual music, but they make it simple & we can make music everytime, everywhere..as a musician i'm very respect to the developer behind that app :)
look at jordan rudess (dream theater) use many app from iphone & he can transform it into real world in dream thetaer show
thanks

December 07 2009 at 1:05 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

tdowling

This seems like something I'd want to show someone right after they wake up from a 30-year coma, just to freak them out a little.

December 05 2009 at 7:18 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Derick Brown

I performed in an actual live orchestra tonight and I don't see how you can make a comparison. If each student had been doing something different and there was anything musical that would be something different.

This is like calling a light that shifts slowly through the color spectrum a pyrotechnic show...

December 05 2009 at 4:24 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Dannel

I heard about this, decided to give it a listen and then was instantly bored by the musical arrangement they had. It was just...kind of awful

December 05 2009 at 4:04 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Bjoern

We did something similar in Germany in July with an iPhone orchestra of 12 people accompanied by 2 drummers. Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVm6z2k7VIw

December 05 2009 at 2:50 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Peter_T

I kept waiting for something to happen... anything. If that was a song in my iTunes I would rate it one star. No, I'd just delete it.

December 04 2009 at 5:06 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Scott F

I actually like it.

December 04 2009 at 4:59 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

hunter

??? there must be something wrong with my speakers. I mean, i see them moving and all, but not much going on. i wonder if there were any pissed parents in the audience "tuition cost me....shoulda bought that boat"
cool concept though

December 04 2009 at 2:51 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Farris

Was that some kind of Gregorian chant song? I couldn't make past about one minute into the video because I thought my head was going to explode.

I will commend them on dressing like Mr. Jobs, though. Nice touch.

December 04 2009 at 2:46 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Adrian vG

Good idea. Too bad they weren't pros in my view. Not synced enough and the didn't dress up very well. One or two didn't even have a black shirt. Everything counts in this kind of performance. Maybe this was the rehearsal?

December 04 2009 at 1:17 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply