"Beat of the Blue Planet" Interactive CD-ROMDesign, content, and Interface Development by Andy Wasserman from 1993-1995 for Virtual Entertainment of Needham, MA, (Richard Viard & Jeff Pucci, the creators of Composer Quest, the very first MPC multimedia title ever created). Beat of the Blue Planet was contracted by publisher Opcode Interactive, a division of Opcode Systems-the leading developer of music and music education software-for CD-ROM mass market distribution and sales worldwide. Wasserman's responsibilities included:
EXTRA MODULE SECTIONS OF BEAT OF THE BLUE PLANET: WORLD JAM SECTION : 30 musical styles to play by triggering sampled motifs of authentic world instruments on computer keyboard (no external MIDI devices needed) U-BUILD-IT SECTION : 26 instrument making projects with step-by-step make & play guide; link to traditional ethnic instruments REFERENCE SECTION : complete glossary, bibliography, resource guide, on-line help, extensive custom search-engine all material copyright 1995 Andy Wasserman-TransMedia Sound & Music, Virtual Entertainment, Inc., and Opcode Interactive, Inc.
Making Music From Around the WorldEveryone participates during this vibrant demonstration of 30 authentic wind, string and percussion instruments made from fifteen different natural materials. Volunteers get many opportunities to join in the show while enjoying a kaleidoscope of sounds representing Asian, African and South American cultures. This engaging presentation takes the audience on a voyage using music as the means of travel, offering a wealth of information about the similarities and differences between many of the world's cultures through entertaining non-stop live interaction. Andy Wasserman has been presenting Making Music From Around the World since 1979. This is an original Arts-in-Education Program created, produced and performed by Andy Wasserman. Primarily designed for Schools, Libraries, Multicultural Festivals, Family Events and Special Needs Populations.
Instruments: Ancient & Future Andy Wasserman has the audience travel through time, combining a virtual cornucopia of computerized music technology alongside ethnic instruments from around the world to illustrate where music has been and where it is going. Connections between instruments past and present are explained and demonstrated using synthesizer keyboards, digital samplers, electronic drums, and a laptop computer. Volunteers from the audience get numerous opportunities during the show to join a "world beat" jam using both acoustic and electronic instruments, including participation in the creation of a musical soundtrack for an imaginary movie. Andy Wasserman has been presenting Instruments: Ancient & Future since 1990. This program may be booked independently or as a follow-up show to Making Music From Around The World. This is an original Arts-in-Education Program created, produced and
performed by Andy Wasserman. Primarily designed for Schools, Libraries,
Multicultural Festivals, Family Events and Special Needs Populations.
Using Multimedia Technology - A Journey Through World CulturesWasserman gives students an insider's perspective into the exciting world of multimedia by demonstrating his interactive multimedia CD-ROM entitled BEAT OF THE BLUE PLANET. This state-of-the-art educational software title explores 107 musical instruments linked to the cultural backgrounds of 15 countries from eleven regions of the world. The hands-on workshop illustrates the creative process Andy implemented while developing the complete content along with the interface design. Audio, video, graphics and text elements are examined, and live music with authentic ethnic wind, string and percussion instruments is also included in the program. For more information on Beat of the Blue Planet Interactive CD-ROM, see the World Cultures Specialist Section of this website.
Special Workshops in World Music for Grades K-12Andy Wasserman gives students more in-depth, hands-on perspectives in workshops designed for groups of 30 students or less. These are structured based on input from the school, meeting specific grade level and subject matter requirements as they relate to the following curriculum categories: Science & Technology 1. Materials in nature from which ethnic instruments are constructed. 2. Fundamentals of acoustics and sound; how they relate to instrument design and construction. 3. How the music heard today on CD, TV, radio and multimedia is created in high-tech recording environments and film soundstages using computers and digital instrumentation. Social Studies/World Cultures Exploring how we as Americans can learn to appreciate different cultures by studying their musical styles. Specific focus can include countries of the Orient, South America and West Africa. Study in Music 1. Scales, tonality and rhythmic elements from various cultures around the world. 2. Using improvisation and compositional ideas inspired by world music. 3. Learning more about the families of wind, string and percussion instruments from around the world. 4. Creating music with the new electronic technology. Special focus on programming, sequencing, composition, arranging, and sound design. Introduction to Scoring for TV, film and video. Language Arts Creating the connections between language and music with emphasis on the oral traditions of West Africa. Life Experience Discussions within the question and answer format on topics relating to the experiences and goals of a contemporary professional musician and arts-in-education specialist. Includes the artist's background, training, and suggestions to students interested in making music a part of their career. |
