Piano jacket for perceiving and playing music for patients with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Purpose: Patients with cerebral palsy with severe motor disabilities are limited not only in everyday life activities but also in choice of their hobbies. Playing a musical instrument is for the majority not possible, even though music constitutes a central component of many relaxation activities for people with disabilities. To give affected patients the opportunity to make music and to learn piano playing through somatosensory perception, a prototype of piano jacket was developed.

Method: A cycling jacket was equipped with boxes, each representing a musical note, incorporated into the sleeves. Each box contains vibration motors and LEDs. These can be used to translate the sequences of piano key presses performed at an external E-piano. An additional operation mode allows the user to actively play a melody himself by touching the same boxes that also incorporate touch sensor components.

Results: A working prototype of the piano jacket was developed.

Conclusion: The sensory piano jacket provides patients with cerebral palsy and contractures the possibility to develop sensorimotor skills, motor abilities and participation in music-related activities. The jacket is planned to be used in music lessons.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• The system is suitable even for patients with severe motor disabilities and especially joint contractures.

• Excellent handling through large easily accessible communication buttons.

• All building blocks are held in a garment, which allows for easy portability and gripping comfort.

Keywords:

• Motor disability
• music
• rehabilitation
• vibration
• touch sensor
• E-piano

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest in this work.