Sounding Brush: A Tablet based Musical Instrument for Drawing and Mark Making

Existing applications of mobile music tools are often concerned with the simulation of acoustic or digital musical instruments, extended with graphical representations of keys, pads, etc. Following an intensive review of existing tools and approaches to mobile music making, we implemented a digital drawing tool, employing a time-based graphical/gestural interface for music composition and performance. In this paper, we introduce our Sounding Brush project, through which we explore music making in various forms with the natural gestures of drawing and mark making on a tablet device. Subsequently, we present the design and development of the Sounding Brush application. Utilising this project idea, we discuss the act of drawing as an activity that is not separated from the act of playing musical instrument. Drawing is essentially the act of playing music by means of a continuous process of observation, individualisation and exploring time and space in a unique way.