This British Academy/Leverhulme Trust funded interdisciplinary project sets out to use high-quality motion capture, video and audio recording to provide an online resource for those studying conducting gestures and developing systems for automatic conductor following systems.
This pilot study will use motion capture technology to help in the development of tools for the modelling and analysis of contemporary conducting gesture both for conductor performance studies and real-time gesture control in electroacoustic music performance. We intend to develop a protocol for the use of high-end, high- resolution marker-based motion capture systems (such as those used for computer generated graphics in cinema) to record precise 3D representations of conducting gestures. This high-quality data will be able to demonstrate even subtle differences between performances, musical contexts and conductors. The project brings together expertise in the fields of conducting, music technology and biomechanics to deliver both a methodology for conducting motion capture, and motion data sets, with audio and video recordings, for study by the team and others through open online access. This data will provide new information to help analyse the complex relationship between the conductor and instrumentalists, as well as training data for gesture recognition systems.
My research explores the interface between musicians and technology, looking for novel ways in which to enhance the experience for performers, composers and musicologists.
I'm an Associate Professor in Music at Southampton, and music technology is at the heart of my teaching, research and professional activities.
Read more
Dr Benjamin Oliver is Head of Music and Associate Professor in Composition at the University of Southampton.
Read more
Dr Metcalf is a Principal Enterprise Fellow within Health Sciences at the University of Southampton and previously held a prestigious Research Council's (UK) Roberts' Fellowship in Life Sciences Interface. She is the Faculty Director of Enterprise where she works directly with the Associate Dean of Enterprise to oversee the knowledge exchange and enterprise activity across five schools and two enterprise units. She is also the Director of Enterprise for the School of Health Sciences and is responsible for the strategy development and implementation. She has an emerging international reputation in healthcare innovation and technology as evidenced by numerous guest lectures, keynotes and research collaborations.
She works specifically on the user-led design of innovation in health systems and technology. Over the years, her research has evolved to understand how health systems can and do support the people they serve, whether as a means to implementing new technological solutions to increase access, or by optimising parts of the service working alongside stakeholders. With a diverse background spanning computer science, biomechanics, health sciences and an entrepreneurial spirit, she has developed a unique set of tools to work with stakeholders to understand their needs and support change embedded in values perceived by users and influencers of the health system. She places a particular emphasis on working in a sustainable way with her project partners; always mindful that project research funding is transitory, and uses her experience in value-led design thinking and methods traditionally developed for business planning, to engage stakeholders to work toward transformative, innovative and sustainable health systems. Much of this work is within the amputation rehabilitation and mobility sector, and spans UK and Lower- Middle-Income Country contexts.
Read more