Musicking with an interactive musical system: The effects of task motivation and user interface mode on non-musicians' creative engagement

Abstract Creative engagement with novel musical interfaces can be rewarding for non-musicians. However, designing novel musical interfaces for non-musicians can be challenging because they lack conceptual and technical musical skills. In this paper we explore the effects of task motivation (experiential goal vs utilitarian goal) and user interface mode (whether the content is editable, and whether content can be replayed), on non-musicians’ creative engagement with novel musical interfaces. We show through an empirical study of twenty-four participants that an experiential exploratory goal encourages users’ creative engagement compared to a utilitarian creative goal. We found that being able to replay records is less important when participants have an experiential exploratory goal than when they have a utilitarian creative goal. Results also indicate that allowing people to replay their musical ideas increased some aspects of their creative engagement which was further increased when they were able to edit their creations. We also found that creative engagement increased when the interface supported users in planning ahead. A descriptive model of non-musician’s creative engagement with musical interfaces is proposed including three modes of musicking. An optimal trajectory of creative engagement through these modes is suggested and a description of inferred motivations, output, status and activities during creative processes is discussed. Design implications are proposed for supporting novices’ creative engagement taking into consideration their motivation and skills, and supporting insight and real-time activity.