Interactive instrument uses music for therapy and development of skills in children

Record ID: 877811

  • Title: Interactive instrument uses music for therapy and development of skills in children
  • Date: 2nd June 2017
  • Summary: WARSAW, POLAND (‪RECENT‬) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) DEVELOPER OF MUSICON INSTRUMENT, KAMIL LASZUK, SAYING: "The key issue of Musicon is its simplicity. We have the buttons which launch mechanisms after pressing. The mechanisms are completely mobile, we can shift them and a child can control everything that is happening here. We can design different other add-ons and include them in the kit." VARIOUS OF DAUGHTER OF MUSICON CO-FOUNDER JAKUB KOZIK, TOSIA, PLAYING MUSICON INSTRUMENT (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) DAUGHTER OF MUSICON CO-FOUNDER JAKUB KOZIK, TOSIA, SAYING: "I press the buttons which lift this it up, then it falls and a sound is made." (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) DEVELOPER OF MUSICON INSTRUMENT, KAMIL LASZUK, SAYING: "Musicon is not only music, it is only a tool for learning, for development. There is also programming here, learning physics, cooperation in a team and also the development of manual skills. Music is the reward. Children seek to compose their melody and are not aware that they are learning mathematics, counting, that they have to cooperate with the partner they are playing with." VARIOUS CHILDREN PLAYING MUSICON (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) DEVELOPER OF MUSICON INSTRUMENT, KAMIL LASZUK, SAYING: "We constantly work together with different therapists, specialists, experts on different fields on the Musicon and it is very interesting that we see a ' Musicon method' emerging, which is an entire system how to educate children with the help of music."
  • Embargoed: 16th June 2017 11:27
  • Keywords: children therapy music Musicon
  • Location: WARSAW, POLAND
  • City: WARSAW, POLAND
  • Country: Poland
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Human Interest / Brights / Odd News,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA0026JL5QUX
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Polish musicians developed an interactive instrument designed to promote development of a range of skills in children, including therapy.
    Their invention, the Musicon, is an analog wooden musical instrument based around a rotating drum, resembling a giant music box.
    The difference is that it can be programmed by children to play any melody they like, while at the same time inspiring them to develop a number of skills other than their musical sense.
    "The key issue of Musicon is its simplicity. We have the buttons which launch mechanisms after pressing. The mechanisms are completely mobile, we can shift them and a child can control everything that is happening here. We can design different other add-ons and include them in the kit," said Kamil Laszuk, inventor of the instrument.
    The construction was optimize for kids to easily discover and use all of the functions.
    Every button pressed creates a note played on one of the few different add-ons installed, which currently include xylophones, drums or a rotating rainstick. Because all mechanisms are visible and touchable, children can easily understand how the instrument works. The tempo of a composition is controlled by the lever and ranges from 36 to 144 bpm.
    "Musicon is not only music, it is only a tool for learning, for development. There is also programming here, learning physics, cooperation in a team and also the development of manual skills. Music is the reward. Children seek to compose their melody and are not aware that they are learning mathematics, counting, that they have to cooperate with the partner they are playing with," Laszuk said.
    Warsaw's Synapsis Foundation, which helps children with autism and Asperger syndrome, tested the instrument's therapeutic capability. Psychologist Joanna Burgiell said that the biggest value of the instrument was in its lack of limitations or rules which can limit a child's imagination. It allows children to feel safe, because their every action is awarded with music.
    The Musicon was developed by contrabassist Kamil Laszuk as part of a graduation project in industrial design at the Academy of Fine Arts. It turned out a hit and continued in cooperation with an interdisciplinary team of closest friends. Laszuk's parents sold their house to fund the project and a crowdfunding campaign started last year provided the rest of the funds needed to start production, which is due to start by the end of 2017.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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