The Skoog
by Skoogmusic Ltd
Accessible, inclusive and intuitive music for everyone
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“A fantastic product that shows real innovation and fun alongside its more serious educational benefits. One of the easiest five stars we’ve given.” – Able Magazine – Best of the Best 2010
“This is more than just a sound making object, it’s a great way for young people to be introduced to making expressive sounds, and in time, music… The Skoog, though silly and fun loving on the outside, contains within it the serious potential to turn anyone into a musician and enjoy the satisfaction of musical expression.” – Young and Able Magazine (Sept 2010)
“…bring music-making to people of any ability – or disability.” – Wired Magazine (Sept 2010) – Cultural Picks of the Month
Read more Skoog News and Reviews…
What is a Skoog?
The Skoog is an exciting new musical instrument with accessibility at its heart. An instrument designed explicitly for special education to empower those unable to play traditional instruments. The Skoog is a soft, squeezable object that simply plugs straight into your computer or laptop’s USB port. Simply touching, pressing, squashing, twisting or tapping the Skoog allows you to play a wide range of instruments, intuitively.
Real expression, Real music
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Start making your own music. For anyone unable to play orchestral instruments, the Skoog offers the opportunity to experience and play realistic musical sounds for yourself. The Skoog gives you access to the full dynamic characteristics of a real flute or xylophone, without asking you to master the real thing. For example, you can use any part of your body, just squeeze the Skoog to blow a flute, or just tap it to strike a xylophone.
Full sensory feedback
The Skoog gives you unparalleled potential for personal musical expression. It responds directly to your movement – and because the Skoog uses physical modelling synthesis, and not just sampling, midi or wavetable synthesis – variations in your touch directly affect the sound you produce. Every subtle gesture held within your movement is converted into beautifully nuanced musical sound.
Versatile teaching resource
The Skoog is extremely versatile as a teaching tool. The software offers a range of instruments including Brass, Woodwind, Percussion and Strings. You can change the sensitivity with a click of the mouse, and save individual user settings. Skoogmusic’s software allows you customise the Skoog to suit the needs of a wide range of potential musicians and adjustable skill settings offer the opportunity to learn and grow.
Each Skoog package contains one multi-touch sensor, one software CD and comes complete with 10 fantastic instruments. Simply install the software on your computer, hook up your favourite loudspeakers and connect your Skoog to the USB port and you are ready to play.
The Skoog works well with individuals or groups – just touch and play! From featherlight to full bodyweight, simply squish, squash, twist, twang, pinch, prod or punch anywhere on the soft, tactile interface and you’ll be thrilled by the immediate, dynamic musical response.
An expanding range of musical instrument sounds means that there’s sure to be something for everyone. Give a gentle squeeze on The Skoog for a smooth swell of brass, or how about a subtle twist for a screeching, over-blown flute? With a different note on each side it’s easy to create chords and melodies.
An expanding range of musical instrument sounds means that there’s sure to be something for everyone. Give a gentle squeeze on The Skoog for a smooth swell of brass, or how about a subtle twist for a screeching, over-blown flute? With a different note on each side it’s easy to create chords and melodies.
Music for everyone
The Skoog puts you in full control of the sound. Fully adjustable sensitivity and skill settings mean that even an absolute novice can play like a pro. With the option to create custom user profiles (tailored to suit each individual), the software is really easy to use. Skoogmusic’s unique Musical Play Technology also allows you to use the Skoog to gain expressive control over any pre-recorded sample or loop. It can encourage children to sing or experiment with other sounds.
See more YouTube videos of students using The Skoog…
Skoog Benefits and FeaturesexpandClick to collapse
Skoog Benefits
- Helps develop musical expression and communication skills.
- Ideal for promoting inclusive music practice.
- Improves motor skills, coordination and control.
- Supports sensory integration.
- An excellent resource for multi-sensory learning and information / communication technology.
Key Skoog Features
- Robust and wipe clean
- Mac and Windows compatible
- 5 fully-adjustable touch-sensitive surfaces
- A range of instruments; Woodwind, Brass, String and Electronic
- Quick-start pre-sets
- Custom user-profiles
- Use traditional scales or create your own.
- Bonus software bundle
How Do I Play?expandClick to collapse
You play the Skoog by physically interacting with it. By pressing, squeezing, rubbing, stroking, tilting or manipulating the Skoog in different ways you can control the different instruments in the Skoogmusic software. You can change the sensitivity of the Skoog at the touch of a button to suit the abilities of a wide range of learners. You can even customise the set up and save different user profiles.
It is squeezable!
One of the Skoog’s main features is that it is soft. It is squeezable! This provides an engaging tactile experience for all users. And its how you squeeze, press, roll, twist or wobble it that controls the sound you make on a particular instrument setting.
Five colour-coded sides
The Skoog has 5 touch sensitive, colour coded surfaces giving you the ability to play and control 5 different notes at a time. The software makes use of this colour coding to make the it easy to navigate and control. And its not just the coloured buttons that are sensitive but the whole surface. So you can tweak a corner or tickle a side.
Choose your own notes
Each instrument automatically loads a set of any 5 preset notes. You can adjust the key (A,B,C,D,E,F,G) octave (from low to high) and select major or minor pentatonic scale modes, or choose your own scale. By selecting ‘user defined’ you can choose notes individually and assign them to a particular surface. This allows you to create and compose your own melodies or perform some classic tunes.
Check out Skoogmusic’s Top Tunes for the Skoog.
What’s in The Skoog Educational Package?
- The Skoog
- Skoogmusic Software CD
- The Skoog manual and quick start guide
- 1 years subscription to CD updates by post
Videos about The Skoog
- Brett Domino performs 'Hey Ya!' (OutKast) using The Skoog YouTube video
- The Skoog on Teachers TV Interview at BETT 2010 YouTube video
- A new musical instrument for children with additional support needs YouTube video
- Skoog 'makes music for everyone', BBC Scotland News video March 2011
- The Skoog in Glaitness P5 Music Group Easter Assembly YouTube video) March 2011
- The Skoog - "A new musical instrument" YouTube video
- More The Skoog demo videos...
- The Skoog Tutorials and Using the Software videos...
Requirements and ResourcesexpandClick to collapse
- Computer/Laptop with at least 1GB RAM
- Stereo headphone/audio out
- Windows XP (SP3) or later, Mac OSX 10.4 or later
- Colour display, CD ROM drive and USB port
- Internet access for software updates, plug-ins and web support
- Good quality loudspeakers recommended
View / Download
The Skoog is targeted at the following age ranges:
- All Ages
The Skoog is designed to foster development in the areas of:
- Music
For answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and technical support visit:
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