Virtual collaborative learning environments for music: networked drumsteps

This paper focuses on technologies that enable meaningful, constructionist interaction in collaborative music environments. In particular, it describes the design and implementation of Networked DrumSteps, an application that allows multiple users in different locations to collaborate in the process of music composition, but without the use of standard notation. Findings from the testing of Networked DrumSteps in an educational environment show encouraging results. Learners agreed that the piece they made together was “different“ from something they would have made on their own, and that they made it in different way. From a technical perspective Networked DrumSteps has proven itself to be highly scalable and extendable. Tests done with up to eight people collaborating together showed no signs of performance deterioration.