One of the latest trends in education technology is the use of virtual reality (VR). But does it offer anything for music education, or is it just a fad? Tim Hallas explores its benefits and constraints
The VR PianoVision app can be used to assist in teaching piano
The VR PianoVision app can be used to assist in teaching piano - Photos courtesy Tim Hallas

My journey with VR in education began, as is so often the way, by accident. I was invited to a demonstration session and, while intrigued, I was far from convinced of the value of VR in a school setting; but I went along anyway to find out what the fuss was all about.

The intro session guided us through some immersive videos and at this point, while surrounded by a virtual forest, I was immediately converted. I could see the potential for music teaching, and my own music technology teaching in particular.

I’m sure you’re aware of the term virtual reality – but it was interesting to explore how it actually works and how users interact with it. Content is projected onto two lenses that trick the brain into thinking that it’s seeing things in three dimensions. If it’s a photo or a video, this is created by stitching multiple photos together to create a 3D image during playback. Other software is animated in a similar way that combines generated images to create a 3D world. It’s amazing how realistic it can feel.

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