Page turning solutions for musicians: A survey

Issue title: Performing Artists, Part 2

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Wolberg, George | Schipper, Irene

Affiliations: PageFlip, Inc., Woodmere, NY, USA. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: Musicians have long been hampered by the challenge in turning sheet music while their hands are occupied playing an instrument. The sight of a human page turner assisting a pianist during a performance, for instance, is not uncommon. This need for a page turning solution is no less acute during practice sessions, which account for the vast majority of playing time. Despite widespread appreciation of the problem, there have been virtually no robust and affordable products to assist the musician. Recent progress in assistive technology and electronic reading devices offers promising solutions to this long-standing problem. The objective of this paper is to survey the technology landscape and assess the benefits and drawbacks of page turning solutions for musicians. A full range of mechanical and digital page turning products are reviewed.

Keywords: Automatic page turner, assistive technology, hands-free reading

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-1242

Journal: Work, vol. 41, no. 1, pp. 37-52, 2012