Aria Overview
Aria is a collaborative musical experience for the Jam-O-Drum. In the
center of the projected environment is a single tree. The tree is home to
many diverse, music-loving birds. The birds can be summoned out of the tree
by playing percussion instruments in accompanance to the music. Once they
leave the tree, the birds will fly and circle around the environment,
following dynamic flocking behaviors, until they grow tired of the music and
return to their home inside of the tree.
Participants are stationed around the Jam-O-Drum at one of the four drum
pads. They interact with the environment by playing their drum in
accordance with the music. Each participant's performance is rated at
regular intervals. This rating affects the participant's popularity with
the birds in the environment. A player with a high rating will attract more
birds to his region of the table.
To aid the participants in their performance, a woodpecker has agreed to
help by tapping out the music's beat. Following the woodpecker's example
will help the participant's learn to become better performers.
The experience had be enjoyed by one to four participants. The
participant's share the same environment and the same flock of birds. This
introduces a competitive element to the experience, and because the only way
to improve one's score is to improve one's playing, this also encourages the
collaborative creation of better music.
