Computer Music Journal

Gorman, Mikhail.
Lahav, Amir.
Saltzman, Elliot Lee.
Betke, Margrit.
A Camera-Based Music-Making Tool for Physical Rehabilitation
Computer Music Journal - Volume 31, Number 2, Summer 2007, pp. 39-53

The MIT Press

Gorman et al. Mikhail Gorman,* Amir Lahav,†** Elliot Saltzman,† and Margrit Betke* *Image and Video Computing Group Department of Computer Science Boston University 111 Cummington Street Boston, MA 02215 USA {mishaz,betke}@cs.bu.edu † Music Mind & Motion Laboratory Sargent College for Health and Rehabilitation Science Boston University 635 Commonwealth Avenue Boston, MA 02215 USA esaltz@bu.edu **The Music & Neuroimaging Laboratory Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Harvard Medical School 330 Brookline Avenue Boston, MA 02215 USA alahav@bidmc.harvard.edu A Camera-Based MusicMaking Tool for Physical Rehabilitation 39 The universality of music among human cultures as well as our common experience of naturally responding to music with motion, seem to be widely recognized (Tramo 2001). Recent brain-imaging studies (Lahav et al. 2005; Lahav, Saltzman, and Schlaug 2007) show that humans, given appropriate auditory inputs, seem to be “tuned” to produce corresponding motor outputs. This unique auditorymotor interplay provides the conceptual basis for the use of music therapy, in particular, active music therapy, where a patient is physically involved in producing music rather than simply reacting to or accompanying music (Pacchetti et al. 2000; Paul and Ramsey 2000; Lahav 2005). Music therapy has benefited people with physical disabilities, mental health needs, developmental and learning disabilities, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, autism, substance abuse...