Tech reviews: coding platforms for the music classroom

I have a confession: I have become a coder. After years of working with software designers and marvelling at their pseudo-English magic spells, I have taken the plunge and joined the ranks of musician-coders. My first patch, a software synthesiser with a programmable delay feature, will shortly be gracing the London stage – watch this space!

Coding may not initially feel like a musical activity. We're more comfortable with abstract Italian terminology than the equally poetic linguistics of Pure Data or Max MSP. Would the world be a better place if we admit that precious few of us have ever used the word ‘conjunct’ outside of a classroom? Perhaps. But my journey into coding was prompted, like most things in my teaching practice, by curious and dedicated students.