Electrorganic Technology for Inclusive Well-being in Music Therapy

This chapter presents a contemporary and original musical instrument proposed for use in music therapy—the instrument is namely ATV Corporation’s electrorganic aFrame. This chapter reports on initial aFrame intervention testing by music therapists as a part of the second phase of research. This follows over six-months of proof-of-concept trials questioning reactions across a range of contemporary musical instruments and their potential use in music therapy, wherein the aFrame was the preferred device by testers. As the name suggests, the aFrame is modeled on a traditional frame drum, and appears to be aimed at skilled hand percussionists, with the appeal of applying natural playing techniques to an electronic instrument. What makes the aFrame unique is the sensor array and electronic sound module combination that generates a richly expressive palette of sounds beyond the scope of other electronic percussion instruments. The posited hypotheses are concerned with the applied potentials of the aFrame in the field of music therapy. This chapter technically elaborates on the aFrame alongside an explanation of the electrorganic concept behind the realisation of the instrument. Initial critique and reflections from secondary tests are informed by two Danish music therapists.