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LATEST NEWS

Jason at his MA Thesis Event "Normalizing The Conversation-The Road to Accessible Music Tech" January 2021

On January 8th, 2021 Jason facilitated a groundbreaking event "Normalizing The Conversation- The Road to Accessible Music Tech", an online event which also served as his MA Thesis. The event brought together 10 top executives from music equipment manufacturers: AVID, ANTARES, NATIVE INSTRUMENTS, FOCUSRITE/NOVATION AND ARTURIA; music retailers represented by the British MUSIC INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION; Music Tech/Accessibility related non-profits like DRAKE MUSIC and CREATIVE UNITED; and finally, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON & BIMM LONDON from music education, all focussed on deepening the conversation of accessibility within the Music Industries. 

The event kicked off with 2 panel discussions, each featuring 5 industry executives, who brought their own unique perspectives. The relaxed and open atmosphere that Jason created, encouraged spirited discussions on the present state of accessibility development and the importance of these industries working in tandem to create a future where there will be equal access and equal opportunity for persons of all abilities.

The event has yielded much fruit and 5 months later, Jason is delighted and humbled that several of the manufacturers have made great strides in developing accessible products that will soon be on the open market.

One such company is Arturia, who has worked closely with Jason over a few months to develop the world's second "talking" keyboard, the Keylab MKII. The first was Native Instruments' Komplete Kontrol keyboard. The choice that will now be open to differently-abled musicians by these developments is truly revolutionary.

The overwhelming consensus is that "Normalizing the Conversation" needs to be an annual event, and Jason, Sarah, along with their industry partners are working towards a more ambitious and even more far-reaching event for 2022.

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Jay at Event.jpg

A video of Jason & pannist Johann Chuckaree playing together virtually at the end of the event.

Jason at the Audio Developer's Conference London, 2019

In November 2019, Jason was invited by Ed Gray, Director of Partnering Programs at Avid, to participate in his Accessibility Panel at the Audio Developer's Conference (ADC) in London.

 

The panel took their audience through a lively discussion, accentuated by Jason's presentation which showcased the workflow used by a visually impaired music producer using accessible hardware and software. In this case, a Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol keyboard within a Pro Tools session. The presentation was well received by the audience and at the end of the day's lectures, several manufacturers approached Jason to express genuine interest in starting the process of making their hardware and software accessible.

 

Two of these companies were Antares and Arturia.

To date much progress has been made with both companies in bringing accessibility to their respective product offerings.  

 

 

Jason's Intro at ADC
A snippet of Jason's Presentation.
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