Hyperscore, software that enables anyone to compose their own rich music without requiring training in music theory or notation, is a remarkable tool created and developed in the Opera of the Future group. Hyperscore uses colors, shapes, and textures to represent high-level musical concepts such as melodic contour and harmonic tension. It has had great successes in introducing young children and teenagers to musical expression both in the classroom and at home.
As a user of Hyperscore since 2003, I later began working with the developers at Harmony Line, Inc. to add new functionality, such as networking for collaborative composition, and discussing ideas for subsequent versions. At the Media Lab, I consider the future of Hyperscore, how it can reach a broader global audience using, for example, the Web or the OLPC platform, and be extended to bring that same expressive power to seniors.