Promoting Creative Computer-Based Music Education and Composition for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Terpsichore Software Music Interface

摘要

In an effort to improve the quality of life for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) by harnessing the therapeutic power of music, the Terpsichore software interface constitutes a proposal to center music-oriented activities around the development of compositional skills instead of the passive appreciation of music through the reproduction of existing content. This interface aims to assist learners with ASD in composing original tonal music and soundscapes, with a view of additionally contributing to the accomplishment of non-musical goals. To assess the software's effectiveness, a pilot study was conducted in which twenty-eight adolescents and adults diagnosed with ASD, participated in a series of software instruction sessions administered at four institutions in the Attica region of Greece. The study attested that participants generally responded to Terpsichore in a positive manner, with regards to their comfort in completing required tasks and their shifts in behavior, communication and emotional state.