Skoog (musical instrument)
The Skoog is an innovative musical instrument designed to be inclusive and accessible for users of all ages and abilities. Developed by a research team led by Professor Nigel Osborne at the Edinburgh College of Art, the Skoog was created to enhance engagement in music for children facing various learning and physical challenges. Its unique cube-shaped design features five touch-sensitive surfaces that can be manipulated in multiple ways, allowing users to create music through expressive movements. The instrument supports various levels of sensitivity and offers a wide range of sounds, including those from traditional instruments like pianos and guitars.
The Skoog is compatible with several music apps, including GarageBand, and can link to major music streaming services, facilitating an engaging music-making experience. It can be utilized in educational settings, providing teachers with a tool to introduce instrumental music and engage students in creative activities. Additionally, the Skoog is used in music therapy, helping individuals express themselves and compose music, which they can record for playback. With over two thousand units sold by 2016, the Skoog has found a place in both special education and mainstream curricula in the UK, reflecting its versatility and impact in the field of music education.
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Skoog (musical instrument)
The Skoog is an inclusive musical instrument and a learning engagement tool that offers opportunities to benefit from the creative arts to all age groups and people with a range of abilities. It was developed by researchers and marketed by a spin-off company, Skoogmusic, which was formed in 2010.
Professor Nigel Osborne of the Edinburgh College of Art led a team researching music in schools as a tool to help children with learning and physical challenges increase their learning engagement. Osborne and his team at the college’s Reid School of Music were challenged with developing an instrument that could withstand hard use and had a sensitive interface. This and the necessary software had to be capable of allowing the user to create meaningful music through expressive movement. Two members of the research team, Dr. Ben Schögler and Dr. David Skulina, formed Skoogmusic using an investment from the University of Edinburgh, Nesta, Scottish Enterprise, Barwell plc, and the Daedalus Investment Fund. The company also engaged in crowdfunding to develop an updated instrument, Skoog 2.0. The Skoog 2.0 remained available in the mid-2020s; however, the original Skoog was no longer made or sold.
Overview
The Skoog is a cube-shaped instrument. Each of the four sides and the top has a round domed area, providing five touch-sensitive surfaces. The cube and domes are soft and pliable, so users can crush the corners or swipe the sides, shake the cube, or twist the corners. The instrument can be set to various levels of sensitivity, depending on the player’s needs. The software allows the user to select various sounds, such as that of a stringed instrument, a piano keyboard, a guitar, a flute, or a marimba, among many other sounds. As children become more adept, their teachers or therapists can adjust the sensitivity. The Skoog app works with major music streaming services and has pre-set scales that can be linked to this music, allowing users to play along with songs they like. The app also tunes the Skoog. The device is compatible with the iPad and many music apps, which opens up many more opportunities for making music.
Children and adults of various abilities can play music with no training or prior experience. The Skoog also enables users to compose music, which they can record for playback using virtual recording studios. Teachers can incorporate the Skoog in classroom singing, while music instructors can use the device as an introduction to instrumental music.
The Skoog can also be incorporated into computer education, such as programming using apps for iPads, which allow the user to build an electronic instrument that is controlled by the Skoog. The apps' coding activities include signal processing, generating sounds, and assigning notes or tones.
By the mid-2020s, thousands of Skoogs and Skoog 2.0 had been sold, although sales had declined. They were primarily purchased by education services and schools. The Skoog was made part of the Special Educational Needs (SEN) and mainstream music curriculum in the United Kingdom Local Education Authorities and was used in clinical music therapy. The approximate price of a Skoog 2.0 in 2025 was between 200 and 300 dollars.
Bibliography
Foley, Sarah V. "Music Education and Its Impact on Students with Special Needs." Scholarship and Engagement in Education, vol. 1, no. 1, 2017, Article 11, scholar.dominican.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1012&context=seed. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
“Skoog Makes Creating Music Possible for All Abilities.” New York Family, 7 Oct. 2011, www.newyorkfamily.com/Skoog-Makes-Creating-Music-Possible-for-All-Abilities/. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
“Skoogmusic Skoog 2.0 Tactile Musical Interface for iOS and Mac.” iClarified, www.iclarified.com/i2551/skoogmusic-skoog-20-tactile-musical-interface-for-ios-and-mac. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.