Prof. Thor Magnusson

Professor at the University of Iceland and the Music Department at the University of Sussex

Thor Magnusson is a Research Professor at the University of Iceland and a Professor in Future Music at the University of Sussex. His work focusses on the impact digital technologies have on musical creativity and practice, explored through software development, composition and performance. In addition to theoretical work, he has developed audio software, systems of generative music composition, written computer music tutorials and created various musical live coding environments.

Magnusson’s monograph Sonic Writing: The Technologies of Material, Symbolic and Signal Inscriptions has recently been published with Bloomsbury Academic. The book explores how contemporary music technologies trace their ancestry to previous forms of instruments and media, including symbolic musical notation. The book underpins current research where Magnusson is running a European Research Council funded project called Intelligent Instruments. Magnusson is also a co-author of the Live Coding: A Users’ Manual book published by MIT Press.

🌐 Speaker webpage

Creative AI in our Hands: Playing with Intelligent Instruments

On May 08, 2024 at 05:00 PM (UTC+1)

Intelligent instruments are a result of how contemporary AI technologies are becoming integral components of our musical ecosystems. The application of creative AI can range from automatic music creation to the embedding of intelligent algorithms in the instrument itself. Based on experience in practice-based research on creative AI systems, I will present a new mode of exploration and enquiry that emerges when we encounter an intelligent instrument and begin to discover their ergodynamics. The HCI notion of interactivity moves aside for autonomy and a stronger perception of agentical relations through dialogue, probing, curiosity, surprise, alterity and collaboration. When our musical instrument becomes an interlocutor with a strong agency our interaction shifts more to that of prediction, expectation, and confirmation, resulting in a heightened improvisational approaches.

Useful links

Intelligent instrument lab (ERC funded research project)

Ask your questions to Thor Magnusson!

How do you see the future of live coding in terms of its integration into existing musical practices and what further developments do you expect in this area?

by Katharina Grünwald

What new opportunities for exploration and research arise when intelligent instruments interact with creative AI technology?

by Charlotte Bettermann

What is the capital gain on AI using in the intelligent instruments? Is the electronic knowledge not sufficient to accomplish some performances such as "magnetic scores" does?

by Antonin Couton

The relationship between the instrument and performer is clearly the focus, but what about the perception and engagement of the audience? Do you think that the way listeners "interact" with performances will change when instruments take on a more autonomous/intelligent role? What would the dynamics be like, and would it be easy for audiences to adjust to this new type of music?

by Anastasia Shulman

Do you think smart instruments will make it easier for people to learn music?

by Kathrin Liesens

Do you think smart instruments will make it easier for people to learn music?

by Kathrin Liesens

How do you think intelligent instruments change how we make music, emphasizing interaction between humans and machines for creativity?

by Johanna Fritzmeier

According to the website, it seems like musicians are your main collaborators. But intelligent instruments look enjoyable for children to play and learn. From my perspective, it could inspire people's curiosity to learn AI to learn how to play intelligent instruments. Would you count the education field as your future customer?

by Kuan Hua Chen

As co-author of the book "Live Coding: A Users' Manual", you have made a contribution to the live coding community. In your opinion, what role does live coding play in music production?

by Annika Grauer

How do you think intelligent instruments change how we make music, emphasizing interaction between humans and machines for creativity?

by Janis Reisenauer

How do you think intelligent instruments change how we make music, emphasizing interaction between humans and machines for creativity?

by Janis Reisenauer

In ‘special Issue : Live coding (2017)’, Live coding has spontaneous and planned, but based on what do you classify them into these two? And, is live coding conducted with prior consent from the audience to interpret the audience's reaction?

by Daeun Jeong

Is it possible to play the intelligent Instruments for people without a musical background and without much training and still achieving "good" sounding results, or is it like with classic instruments where you need much training?

by Samuel Pucher

What methodologies or criteria do you use to assess the success or effectiveness of intelligent instruments in enhancing musical creativity and performance, particularly in comparison to traditional instruments?

by Timo Warendorf

Can intelligent instruments learn and adapt to a musician's style and preferences over time, resulting in a more personalized experience?

by Jannik Vieler

What inspired you to explore the intersection of digital technologies and musical creativity, and how do you see these technologies shaping the future of music composition and performance?

by Junghyun Lee

What inspired you to explore the intersection of digital technologies and musical creativity, and how do you see these technologies shaping the future of music composition and performance?

by Junghyun Lee

How is the integration of creative AI shaping the way we interact with musical instruments, and what impact does this have on improvisational approaches in music?

by Amir Al Nahawandi

Are there ethical considerations that are important in the development of intelligent instruments in music production?

by Marco Kosa

Do you think that with intelligent instruments anyone can make good music? So is skill an important parameter yet?

by Lars Danz

In your work with intelligent instruments, how do you see the balance between the autonomy of the instrument and the creative control of the musician evolving?

by Lea Zeilbeck

How do you see this topic to evolve in the future. Maybe give us a few examples in where you‘re sure we will see this in music in a few years.

by Alisa Valentiner

I would like to hear how the music created by intelligent instruments differs from the music available to the public. I am also curious about who holds the copyright for the music that is created.

by SuminLee

Do you think that eventually smart instruments will replace regular instruments? In personal use as well as in professional?

by Daniel Wiesenfeld

I was curious about whether the goal of Intelligent Instruments will become a product one day. Perhaps, combining e-textiles with tap dancer to create a new format performance.

by LiHsuan Chang

Do you think that eventually smart instruments will replace regular instruments? In personal use as well as in professional?

by Daniel Wiesenfeld

The Intelligent Instruments Lab researches the interaction between humans and AI in music. What insights have you gained from your experiments with the newly developed instruments, and how have they influenced your ideas about musicality?

by Isabella Deisinger

How might the future of musical creation and performance be shaped by the advancement of intelligent instruments and AI technologies?

by Sarah Obermaier

What advice would you give to aspiring musicians and researchers who are interested in exploring the potential of creative AI and intelligent instruments?

by Metolli Xhenis (Jenny)

In your opinion, how will human-machine cooperation in music performance change over time? In particular, how will intelligent instruments play a role? And how might this change the way that music is composed and performed in terms of conventional ideas of authorship and improvisation?

by Eduard Krasnov

do you think it will be common for musicians in the future to develop their own "intelligent instruments. that suit their style and type of music they want to create?

by Julius Greppmair

Is it easier to learn music with smart instruments?

by Sophie Schmitz

do you think it will be common for musicians in the future to develop their own "intelligent instruments. that suit their style and type of music they want to create?

by Julius Greppmair

Is it easier to learn music with smart instruments?

by Sophie Schmitz

How do you balance between the autonomy of intelligent instruments and the control desired by musicians during performance?

by Melanie Bauer

I don't quite understand what e-textiles are supposed to be used for. Is it rather for sound effects than traditional songs?

by Mercedes Neuwirth

How do intelligent instruments change what we think about music and performance? Is a musical solo still as valuable as playing that solo part on a traditional instrument?

by Niklas Evmenenko