An agent for creative development in drum kit playing

Sep 29, 2026

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This research designs, implements, and evaluates a conversational agent for drum kit players using a call-and-response model to support vocabulary development and creativity. System evaluation and analysis of expert drummer behavior clarify factors driving the vocabulary development process, the role of technology in enabling creative goals, and how this approach can extend to professional drummer practice. The work addresses a knowledge gap in human-computer interaction tools for creativity development in rhythmic instruments.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Related work

Conceptual design

An agent for creative development in drum kit playing Noam Lederman Music Computing Lab The Open University [noam.lederman@open.ac.uk](noam.lederman@open.ac.uk) Simon Holland Music Computing Lab The Open University[s.holland@open.ac.uk](s.holland@open.ac.uk) Paul Mulholland Knowledge Media Institute The Open University [p.mulholland@open.ac.uk](p.mulholland@open.ac.uk) Abstract The aim of this research is to design, implement and evaluate a conversational agent for drum kit players using a call and response model in order to develop their own drumming vocabulary and creativity. Evaluation of the system and analysis of resulting expert drummer behaviour will be used to illuminate various factors: the process of vocabulary development in drum kit players; ways in which technology can assist drum kit players to achieve their creative goals, and more broadly how this approach could support the practices of professional drummers. Although previous research has been conducted in music computing focusing on creativity development in melodic instruments, for example, electronic keyboard (Addessi, 2014) and guitar (Manaris et al., 2011), little is known whether this approach can be applied in rhythmic instruments such as the drum kit. Therefore, the main contribution to knowledge is exploring a gap in human-computer interaction tools for creativity development in drum kit playing. 1. Introduction Bruford (2018) explains that a drum performance can be creative at different levels: i) by developing certain musical phrases ii) by gluing the performance together iii) and, most ambitiously, by redefining the possible future of the instrument. This research focuses on the first two of these: developing musical phrases and gluing the performance together. Both of these involve a process of fluid vocabulary expansion: learning new drumming vocabulary, combining new vocabulary with existing vocabulary, and using different applications of vocabulary. Leman (2016) refers to these transformations of vocabulary as an enactment process, which encourages music performers to experiment with transformations of intentions to sounds, and sounds to intentions, aiming to produce improvised, individual and novel work. Drumming functions and develops in some of the ways that spoken language does. For example, when learning a spoken language, the focus may be vocabulary expansion through its use in various contexts. Practically, this is generally rehearsed in the form of a conversation, encouraging the learner to use the vocabulary in real-time interaction. Such a conversational learning process involves quick responses, appropriate use of vocabulary and adequate aural and auditory skills. Similarly, in a musical context, expanding drumming vocabulary and developing its practical use might be rehearsed with another drummer. However, in practice drummers have limited opportunities to play with other drummers. This is primarily because i) most musical groups have a single drummer ii) many drummers focus on serving a supportive role rather than developing their improvised vocabulary iii) on a practical level, it is more complicated to arrange a drumming interaction between two acoustic drummers, primarily because of the size of the drum kit and the amount of noise pollution two drum kits can create. As previously outlined, this research aims to explore how conversational interactions with an agent can support creativity development in drum kit players. The research questions focus on: How can a drumming agent be designed to support drummers? What musical transformations are needed to support drummers? What user controls are required to support drummers? How can the drumming agent be adopted and potentially used in real-life scenarios of drummers? In order to understand which principles should guide the conversational design, to what extent can these principles be enacted by a system, and what effect do these principles have on drummers, w

FAQs

What is the main goal of the conversational drumming agent in this research?

To design, implement, and evaluate a conversational agent that helps drum kit players develop drumming vocabulary and creativity through a call-and-response interaction model.

How does the agent support vocabulary development during drumming?

It generates new conversational phrases by transforming a core rhythmic phrase, helping players expand vocabulary, combine new and existing vocabulary, and apply vocabulary in different ways.

What evaluation approach does the study plan to use?

A mixed-methods approach using interviews, surveys, and audio data from interactions with professional drum kit players.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Asher