Derby has once again proved it is a centre of innovation after three local businesses joined forces to create a multi award-winning accessible musical instrument now used in classrooms across the UK and beyond.
The cutting edge CMPSR instrument is the brainchild of Derby business Digit Music whose musician founders Si Tew and Owain Wilson are pioneering a revolutionary digital-first approach to music learning.
Digit Music has joined Derby businesses: electronic manufacturer Tioga, plus design and development company Salsus Design, to create a full production line of CMPSR devices now being regularly rolled out and enjoyed by growing numbers of children in UK schools.
CMPSR’s design is based on a hand-held wheelchair joystick which houses clever PCB (Printed Circuit Board) technology, creating a fully accessible instrument that allows anyone using it to make quality sounds straight away.
First created for children with disabilities who face physical barriers to making music, Digit Music’s founders are now launching the clever intuitive devices into mainstream schools fresh from the production line in the heart of Derby.
Their aim is to allow children to enjoy making music straight away without going through the hard work of traditional instruments which put off 90 per cent of learners within 16 weeks.
They also want to empower teachers with little musical knowledge and put music firmly back at the heart of the curriculum, saying it has been sidelined for too long.
Andy Grimmett, chief executive officer of Tioga Ltd, said creating the devices for Digit Music was a great example of local partnership working.
He said: “CMPSR is an awesome product. I like the variety of its uses and the fact that it engages Digit Music’s target education market.
“The device creates an engaging aesthetic experience for kids who maybe wouldn’t engage with traditional music and instruments in the way that was the only option when I grew up.
“It’s really modern, it’s up to date, it’s very tactile, it’s very easy to use. I think we’ll have a huge success with engaging the next generation of potential musicians and composers.”
Before being manufactured at Tioga, the CMPSR device went through a design and development process at Salsus Design, also based in Derby.
Company co-owner Adam Gordon-Stables said: “Digit Music came to us with a well-developed proof of concept and I could clearly see we could develop it into a fully fledged product.
“We jumped at the chance to do the project. Digit Music’s founders explained what they were trying to do and it sounded great. Their passion about making music accessible and the joy of ‘just having a go’ really shone through.
“It’s such a brilliant tool. The effort and commitment from Si and Owain meant we just had to be involved.
“I would have loved to get my hands on something like this growing up.
“There’s a lot of subtlety in the design that makes it a great product. It’s good to think that it has been conceived, designed and made in Derby. A lot of solutions required to make a product are local to Derby and it’s something we should all celebrate.”
Owain from Digit Music said the CMPSR device was an example of Derby innovation at its finest.
He said: “Derby was at the heart of the Industrial Revolution and it’s wonderful to think that we are still dreaming up and making cutting edge design solutions to this day.
“Myself and Si and all the team at Digit Music are passionate about developing a whole new way of learning music that puts the fun and creativity back into it.”
Digit Music founder Si Tew said: “Music has been sidelined from the mainstream education curriculum for far too long. We hope that with CMPSR we can not only give children a great time learning music but empower teachers too – they are often required to teach a subject of which they have little knowledge.
“It is wonderful to be working with two other Derby companies who have jumped on board and are so aligned with our vision for creating a new digital first music education for schools in the UK and around the world. It’s true partnership working and we’re very proud indeed at what we have created together.”
This story was written and shared on behalf of Digit Music by Lucy Stephens. Can we share your news and get you in the headlines too? Find out how we can help by getting in touch.
