Ryan Olivier’s Electronic Labyrinth By Parker Norris
The music technology curriculum encourages students to expand their horizons and think artistically about using technology within the field of music.
In today’s world, technology is an essential component of life. Technology is changing the way in which people interact with the world. The constant stream of technological transformation affects a variety of institutions within society, particularly education. Recently, Ryan Olivier, assistant professor of music, has been adopting new technology for use in a variety of classroom environments.
creativity and, most recently, have used it to develop the modern-day equivalent of a self-playing piano, also known as a player piano.
Olivier’s extensive knowledge of both electronic music and music technology is integral to the structure of every course that he teaches.
“What I find most satisfying about developing the player piano is witnessing how my students use their creativity to bring their ideas to life and problem-solve,” Olivier explains.
That type of learning environment is cultivated through hands-on, small group instruction, promotes students to explore their abilities, and allows them to use inventiveness in their work.
These efforts have resulted in students being able to express themselves and bring about a new meaning to making music.
The music technology program at IU South Bend is one that is unique within the construct of a college setting. The creative freedom given to students and the passion exhibited by Olivier is an example of a new type of education that is gaining traction on college campuses. This innovation of education anticipates the future and prepares students for a world that is far more complex and expressive than has ever been seen before. The music that comes out of Olivier’s classes hits the right note with students and is an indication of a new style of program at IU South Bend.
“I view technology as a tool that is always involved in and important to any creative process. I want to pass that perspective onto my students and encourage them to explore their creativity through newfound technological means,” Olivier says. One technological outlet that Oliver uses in the classroom is the program, Max, a software that is designed specifically for creating musical compositions through the language of visual programming. The program, through complex connections that users can create, is able to play a wide variety of commands on instruments and can be accessed easily on many mobile devices. Olivier and his students can use the Max program with much
The self-playing piano, an oldfashioned piece of entertaining instrumentation that is a trope in classic movies, has been brought into the technologically rich time of today through Oliver’s teaching.
These advanced methods allow for students to have greater access to tools that can fulfill their artistry in music. This innovation in creativity reflects Oliver’s own personal experiences, as he has an extensive background in combining the fields of music and multimedia to create unique, boundary-pushing pieces of artwork. This same opportunity is being given to students at IU South Bend, as the Ernestine M. Raclin School of the Arts recently introduced a Music Technology program for students.
“I want students to explore their options, try different things, and find what works best for them. I hope for them to find a creative outlet that is meaningful for them,” Olivier says.
