Dave Griffiths wrote:
Frank Barknecht wrote:
... I hope someday people will
be playing computers like people play guitars today. It's a lot of fun
to code, but it would be even more fun if it wouldn't eat into the time
I have available for producing music so much.
But coding *is* playing the computer like people play the guitar!
Careful, Frank, there are a few of us here who do both. :) I
respectfully disagree with your statement, though I agree with its intent.
Playing any instrument requires years of physical engagement to form a
playing technique. I'll certainly agree that using a computer also
requires years of effort to master, but that mastery is not based on an
analogous "playing technique".
Hi Dave, I think I have to respectfully disagree with your disagreement :)
this is something which is under debate, at least in some circles:
http://www.informatics.sussex.ac.uk/events/ppig2005/papers/Blackwell.pdf
I think distinctions here are a little silly though, as I've seen people
dance to music that is created by writing code live, and they don't seem
to care much whether it counts as music making or programming :)
It's just (yet) another way to think about computers and music.
I agree with everything else you are saying though :)
Hi Dave:
I think I'll eat my statement re: "analogous playing technique". If the
computer is any sort of instrument (of the mind or otherwise), then a
playing technique must evolve. Perhaps the distinctions are difficult to
confirm because we're at such an early stage with the instrument and its
possible playing techniques ? Seems funny to say that, given the
machine's long visibility as a music-making device, but some of our more
familiar and typical instruments have been in development for centuries,
and their own techniques are still evolving (I hope).
Best,
dp
