MIT Music Tech Speaker Series Presents: Mari Kimura
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Mastery over Novelty: MUGIC® - a lasting tool for musicianship This lecture explores a pivotal shift in the relationship between technology and the performing arts—from chasing novelty to cultivating mastery. Violinist, composer, and technologist Mari Kimura presents MUGIC® (Music/User Gesture Interface Control), a groundbreaking motion sensor designed to deepen, not replace, musicianship. Unlike many fleeting tech innovations, MUGIC® is a lightweight, wearable device that captures expressive gestures in real time, converting them into control data for sound, visuals, and interactive media. Designed with performers in mind, it emphasizes expressivity, accessibility, and longevity—offering a sustainable model for integrating technology into the arts, education, and therapeutic practices. Drawing from over a decade of development and real-world application—from interdisciplinary curricula to stages such as Lincoln Center, the Venice Biennale, and Expo 2025 Osaka—Kimura showcases how mas
