YURU Music: SSUP China Teams Win Big at the 2024 Instrument Hackathon
The 2024 China YURU Music Instrument Hackathon, held in Shanghai on October 26, brought together traditional Chinese music and modern technology in an exciting event. Three teams, supported by the Sensing Solution University Program (SSUP), stood out for their innovative projects, earning top awards for making music more inclusive and accessible with the help of advanced tools like Sony’s Spresense AI board.
Highlights of the Team Awards
The SSUP-supported teams proved how advanced technology can break barriers in musical expression:
- Best Creative of the Year: Music Keyboard for All
This instrument translates sound into visual signals, allowing the hearing-impaired to experience music through color changes, bridging gaps in musical expression.
- Spirit of Hackathon Award: Sound Strike
The Sound Dynamic Percussion instrument responds to touch and pressure, creating dynamic percussion effects that foster inclusive and interactive musical experiences.
- Best Technology Integration Award: Intelligent Xun
A reimagined Xun, enhanced with Sony’s Spresense AI board and toio™ core Qbao, supports people with hearing and speech impairments, highlighting how technology can transform traditional instruments.
Tech Meets Tradition
This event showed the importance of fusing tradition with modern tech, seen in innovations like the YURU Hulusi- a digital take on a traditional Chinese instrument. It also included a performance by the Chinese Elderly Folk Orchestra and the debut of "Dian Dian," a theme song celebrating YURU Music’s spirit.
Sony leaders Kaji Nozomi and Taketo Soeda emphasized the importance of using familiar, local instruments to make YURU Music more accessible and culturally resonant. As Kaji Motoko noted, this helps bridge communities, inviting everyone to experience the joy of music.
SSUP’s Role in Supporting Innovation and Collaboration
The SSUP-supported teams received comprehensive mentorship and access to Sony’s Spresense development board, toio™ core Qbao, and other advanced technology kits. This empowered teams to experiment with new ways of making music accessible, inclusive, and engaging. The 2024 hackathon demonstrated the value of programs like SSUP that encourage teamwork and community-based solutions. By backing projects like these, SSUP and Sony are helping bring together traditional music and modern technology, making music more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
