Using the below computer controlled mechanism, an experiment to see if chimps (which we'll refer to as monkeys, just because) can be taught to play songs as a band.

Drum pads and keyboards are set up to automatically light up in sequence to show which key or drum pad to hit creating a note. This is a training system that eventually will fade out and (hopefully) not be needed as the monkeys learn the parts themselves. Since the training algorithm would be automatic patience wouldn't be needed, if it took months of hours of lessons a day just to learn a few notes, no bid deal. Computers are very patient.

To be clear, if the key or drum pad isn't lit up, it won't trigger a sound. I'm guessing this part would be pretty quick to learn. The question would be, would the sequence be memorized as the "hit here" lights faded out? Dunno, but it would be an interesting experiment.

Eventually (maybe) you could have a band of actual monkeys playing actual instruments making actual music.
-- doctorremulac3, Apr 08 2023

We're not quite there yet. https://www.youtube...watch?v=Gyb77SNs7fE
[doctorremulac3, Apr 08 2023]

They sure seem to get the general idea pretty well. https://www.youtube...watch?v=9JMkKKX3IsY
[doctorremulac3, Apr 08 2023]

Will these be the same monkeys to which we gave typewriters in order to generate Shakepeare's works? Transferrable skills, right, esp. instruments with keys/levers.
-- Sgt Teacup, Apr 08 2023


If chimps count as monkeys then so do Humans in which case this is baked
-- pocmloc, Apr 08 2023


How are you going to do The Beatles?
-- Skewed, Apr 08 2023


You know, just occurred to me, this could be used to teach people to play piano as well. Keys light up, you hit them, after a while they start dimming until your memory takes over. Maybe it measures how fast you react to the lights.

Even better yet, at first they just light up on beat and you hit them, after it senses you're hitting them at the proper time, it doesn't light up unless you're late hitting the key, then it goes "This one, remember?".

There are light up keyboards, but none that progressively stop lighting up once you've got it to "take the training wheels off" so to speak.

Screw the monkey thing, this could be used for humans too.
-- doctorremulac3, Apr 09 2023



random, halfbakery