acm-header
Sign In

Communications of the ACM

ACM TechNews

Uc Davis Team's Piano System Animates Hands to Do-Re-Mi


View as: Print Mobile App Share:
Piano animation

The axes in researchers' model.

Credit: Zhu, Yuanfeng et al.

University of California, Davis researchers have developed an algorithm that creates computer-generated animations of piano playing, showing finger placement and wrist movement.

The software can automatically generate three-dimensional animations of piano-playing hands based solely on the music input. Each chord in a piece of music translates into a finger position and hand motion. The software analyzes a music file and then creates animated hands to play the music. The software also calculates the animated fingers' most efficient paths. Piano students can use a motion-capture camera to record their practice, and then compare the data to the program's formula for playing the same song to see if their technique is the most efficient way to play the song.

The software also can be applied to other instruments, such as violins and flutes, according to the researchers. They plan to enhance the system so that it can generate "emotional piano playing that reflects a personal understanding of the music and player's performance background. This is the main future work we will be pursuing."

From PhysOrg.com
View Full Article

Abstracts Copyright © 2012 Information Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA 


 

No entries found

Sign In for Full Access
» Forgot Password? » Create an ACM Web Account