2025 Volume 31 Issue 1 Pages 13-24
This paper discusses music accessibility technology and “Kyōyū-Gakki”(co-play musical instruments) that enable everyone to enjoy music together regardless of disability. Music accessibility has evolved through a paradigm shift in understanding disability, emphasizing inclusive design principles. This transformation has led to the development of haptic and visual music systems utilizing technology, as well as intuitive performance interfaces, with projects being implemented worldwide.
The author developed co-play instruments inspired by sensory substitution research and tactile music experiences demonstrated by prominent figures such as Evelyn Glennie and Helen Keller. These tactile approaches reveal unique aesthetic experiences distinct from auditory music perception. Current technologies include wearable haptic devices, music visualization systems, and accessible musical instruments that respond to natural body movements and gestures.
Rather than serving as mere alternatives to traditional musical performance and listening, these initiatives present possibilities for creating new musical experiences for all people, transcending physical and sensory characteristics. The co-play instruments embody the transition from the medical model to the social model of disability, demonstrating that accessibility technology can fundamentally expand musical experiences and enhance human perceptual capabilities for everyone.
