New Interface for Musical Expression 2021
June 15–18, 2021, New York University Shanghai, Shanghai.
NIME2021 Theme: “Learning to Play, Playing to Learn”
The study of learning has become a central topic of science in the 21st century. We encourage authors to explore topics in learning and playing (music), in keeping with the NIME 2021 theme “Learning to Play, Playing to Learn.” Authors should interpret this theme broadly, considering both machine learning and human learning, the implications and applications of learning in creating and playing new musical instruments, and the role of music and play to motivate or assist learning.
Important Dates
Paper, music and installation submission deadline January 22nd, 2021
Final submission upload deadline January 31st, 2021
Work-In-Progress Showcases and Workshops submission deadline March 1st, 2021
Call for submissions of papers, music, demos, installations, and workshops.
Call For Papers
We welcome submissions of original research on scientific and artistic development and use of new interfaces for musical expression.
There are three different paper submission categories:
- Full paper (up to 5000 words in proceedings, recorded-video & poster presentation, optional demo)
- Short paper (up to 3000 words in proceedings, recorded-video & poster presentation, optional demo)
- Demo paper (up to 1500 words in proceedings, recorded-video & demo presentation. The paper should include a link to audio-visual documentation showcasing the technology and/or activity to be demonstrated.)
The word counts include only the main text of the article (without title, abstract, acknowledgements, references, etc.).
General Topics:
Original contributions are encouraged in, but not limited to, the following topics:
- Novel controllers, interfaces or instruments for musical expression
- Augmented, embedded and hyper instruments
- Technologies or systems for collaborative music-making
- New performance paradigms for digital music-making
- Music-related human-computer interaction
- Sensor and actuator technologies, including haptics and force feedback devices
- Musical mapping strategies
- Explorations of relationships between motion, gesture and music
- Evaluation and user studies of interfaces for musical expression
- Interfaces for musical expression for people with special needs
- Musical applications of robotics
- Interactive sound art and installations
- Performance rendering and generative algorithms
- Machine learning and interfaces for musical expression
- Web-based music performance
- Software frameworks, interface protocols, and data formats, for supporting musical interaction
- Historical, theoretical or philosophical discussions about designing or performing with new interfaces
- Discussions about the artistic and cultural impact of NIMEs
- Reflections on the ethical, environmental, societal, and political impact of NIMEs
- Sonic interaction design
- Sustainability and environmental issues in NIME research and practice
- Pedagogical perspectives or reports on student projects in the framework of NIME-related courses
- Practice-based research approaches/methodologies/criticism
Paper Review Process
All paper submissions will be subjected to a rigorous double-blind peer review process by an international committee of experts. All of the submitted papers should demonstrate rigorous research methodology and will be evaluated according to the following criteria: novelty, academic quality, appropriateness of topic, importance, readability, ethical standards, and paper organization. Authors should also familiarize themselves with the NIME statements on diversity and environmental issues.
The review process is as follows:
- Each paper submission will be assigned to at least 3 reviewers for independent evaluation.
- A meta-reviewer will moderate a discussion amongst the reviewers, write a summary review, and recommend whether to accept the paper.
- The paper chairs will make the final decision on paper acceptance and will inform the author(s) of their decision along with the reviewers’ comments.
Please note this review process is double-blind, meaning reviewers remain anonymous to the authors and vice-versa. It is expected that authors respect the NIME Ethical guidelines for NIME publications.
Submission Guide
NIME papers will be using Pubpub, a multimedia platform for publication. Authors will create submissions there, export them as PDFs, and submit them for review through the NIME 2021 conference management system (the system will open in early December). Please see this PubPub document for more information on submission format and preparing your submission.
Call for Music
NIME 2021 invites submission of proposals that showcase New Interfaces for Musical Expression in performance and composition. We look forward to receiving submissions that expand and reshape our understanding of NIME in the conceptualization, performance, and perception of music.
Typical NIME performance pieces last for 5-15 minutes, however, proposals for shorter or longer performances will also be accepted. Submissions can be for existing works as well as proposals for new ones. Due to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, submissions that focus on novel forms of online performance will be given special consideration. We highly welcome submissions from authors from under-represented communities along the lines of race, sex, gender, gender identity, age, ability, socio-economic background or status in and outside of academia.
If a music submission is selected for performance at NIME, proposing artists are expected to be available to perform their work on any day of the conference. The NIME 2021 organization is unable to consider requests for musical performances to happen on specific days.
Please contact the music chairs with any questions regarding the suitability of a potential NIME performance submission.
Music Review Process
Given the nature of music submissions, we understand that full anonymity may be difficult to achieve without compromising the supporting material. However, contributors should meet these basic criteria of anonymization:
- Avoid any trace of the authors’ names and affiliations in the written material.
- Use PubPub’s built-in media uploader to host video, audio or image files.
- Identity and affiliations of the author(s) should not be mentioned in the title, description or opening/closing credits of the submitted media.
The review process is as follows:
- Each submission will be assigned to, at least, 3 reviewers for independent evaluation.
- A meta-reviewer will moderate a discussion amongst the reviewers, write a summary review, and recommend whether to accept or reject the performance.
- The music chairs will make the final decision on acceptance and will inform the authors of their decision along with the reviewers’ comments.
Submission Guide
Music proposals should be created through PubPub and follow the exact format and guidelines outlined in the music submission template. After creating the proposal on PubPub, a link to it should be shared through the NIME 2021 conference management system (the system will open in early December). In addition, authors will be asked to provide artist bio(s) through a separate entry field of the online submission form.
Call For Workshops
NIME 2021 welcomes the submission of Workshop Proposals. Workshops may be in any area of NIME themes or topics.
Typical NIME workshops have been half-day or full-day workshops, with some specialized workshops with shorter times (one or two hours).
A submission includes:
- Workshop Title
- Speaker List: Include Workshop organizer(s) with short bio(s) up to 200 words including background relating to proposed topic, and affiliation and contact information. Include additional speakers name(s), affiliation(s), and contact information.
- Workshop Description up to 750 words, clearly describing the topic and nature of the workshop.
- Short Description up to 70 words, for conference program.
- Preferred length of workshop (half-day, full-day, or number of hours).
- Description of technical and space requirements (e.g. projector, speakers, computers, soldering equipment, etc.), Please include information on contingencies for in-person, virtual, and blended modes, and whether virtual and blended formats are possible for this Workshop.
- Optional links to supporting audio, visual, and/or online documentation, e.g. a workshop web page. Any media materials should use an unrestricted streaming service such as Vimeo or Bilibili.
Workshop Review Process
Workshops will be curated by the Workshop co-chairs and associated review committee, based on the Workshop proposal’s relevance to the NIME conference and conference theme, and feasibility. As a result, the feedback on these curated acceptances and rejections will be limited. Workshop proposal submissions are not anonymized.
Submission Guide
Workshop proposals should be created through PubPub and follow the format and guidelines outlined in the Workshop submission template. After creating the proposal on PubPub, a PDF should be exported and submitted through the NIME 2021 conference management system (the system will open in early December). Please use this PubPub document to enter your submission.
Call For Work-In-Progress Showcase
We welcome the submission of proposals for demonstrations of work in progress accompanied by an extended abstract. This category is especially suitable for submissions from young professionals, students, and first-time NIME attendees.
PROPOSALS (COMPILED IN A SINGLE PDF) SHOULD INCLUDE:
- Abstract with demo description and technical introduction (300-500 words)
- Author bio(s) (200 words max)
- A link to audio-visual documentation showcasing the technology and/or activity to be demonstrated. The documentation link containing media materials should use an unrestricted streaming service such as Vimeo, YouTube or Bilibili.
Review Process and Submission Guideline:
Submissions will be evaluated by a review panel according to: originality, impact, creativity, technique, presentation, and feasibility. Work-in-process submissions will be using Pubpub, a multimedia platform for publication. Authors will create submissions there, export them as PDFs and submit them for review through the NIME 2021 conference management system (the system will open in early December). Please see this PubPub document for more information on submission format and preparing your submission.
Call for Art Installations
We invite submissions of art installations on new interfaces for musical expression. NIME 2021 will provide several locations that can be used to exhibit new music installation works. These are foyer location installations or room-based installations in connection to the conference venues. Authors could optionally provide a documentation video of the installation for the online attendees. Submitted proposals will be subject to a peer review process by an international expert committee. Documentation of the installations will be available online after the conference.
If an art installation is selected for exhibition at NIME and the proposing artists cannot attend due to an international travel ban, we invite the artists to provide links and access that attendees can experience online.
In order to present an installation for NIME 2021, please submit a proposal in the form of a PDF document, maximum 1500 words, containing the following information:
- The title of the work
- Names of contributing artists
- A clear description of the proposed installation with photos, schematics diagram that could provide reviewers with a sense of its motivation and proposed realization.
- A link to audio-visual documentation (if available). The documentation link should use an unrestricted streaming service, such as SoundCloud, Bilibili, or YouTube.
- Space requirements: This should include size and space requirements to display your work. Please indicate whether the work would be more suitable for a university environment (hallways, staircases and indoor and outdoor plazas), gallery, public space or other venue. For networked & web-based work, please include the technical information and system requirements.
- Floor Plan & Logistical requirement: This should indicate requirements for your installation, including how much time it requires to set up, diagrams for space utilization, networked needs, etc.
- Feasibility: Provide evidence of the feasibility of the installation. Include documentation and list of previous installations of the submitted or related work that demonstrate the submitter’s capacity to implement the proposal.
- Equipment Requirements: Clearly indicate what you will bring and what you would require the conference organizers to provide.
Review Process and Submission Guideline
All installation submissions will be evaluated by a review panel according to the following criteria: originality, impact, creativity, technique, presentation, and feasibility. Installation submissions will be using Pubpub, a multimedia platform for publication. Authors will create submissions there, export them as PDFs and submit them for review through the NIME 2021 conference management system. Please see this PubPub document for more information on submission format and preparing your submission.
Best regards,Gus
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Gus Xia （夏光宇）www.cs.cmu.edu/~gxia
Assistant Professor@NYU ShanghaiNeukom Fellow@DartmouthResearch Field: Computer Music, Artificial Music Intelligence
Ph.D. in Machine Learning@Carnegie Mellon