Jamelan and Senegroove

Instead of only answering multiple choice questions (the standard assessment tool for online courses), students can listen to and actually play world rhythms, like Balinese Gamelan or Senegalese Drumming, by tapping on their computer keyboard while watching videos of professionals playing the real instrument. Pedagogically, we provide online learners with the kind of experience normally only available in the classroom or practice room. They are literally learning by doing and therefore coming much closer to the experience of physically playing a real musical instrument.

We developed the first module, Jamelan, to simulate playing Balinese Gamelan in the MITx class “World Music: Balinese Rhythms”. The primary development team included: Eran Egozy, Nick Joliat, Evan Ziporyn, Christine Southworth, and Bill Southworth.

In 2024, based on our prior learnings, we created a brand new interactive module, Senegroove, for the MITx class “World Music: Senegalese Rhythms.” The primary development team included: Eran Egozy, Patty Tang, Mariano Salcedo, Dakota Lichauco, and Alena Zhang.