Automatic Accompaniment to Arab Vocal Improvisation: From Technical to Commercial Perspectives
Affiliation(s)
1 Music Department, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. 2 SRS International, Amman, Jordan.
1 Music Department, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. 2 SRS International, Amman, Jordan.
ABSTRACT
In this multidisciplinary study, the main research question was how to improve the value of entrepreneurial initiatives that provide the web service of automatic accompaniment to Arab singing. As an example and case study, we considered the Mawaweel website that offered an automatic accompaniment to Arab vocal improvisation as a main service. After overviewing the website, we conducted a survey examining the satisfaction of its visitors in regard to presentation and quality of service. It was found that the Mawaweel website had potential to achieve success as the majority of the 22 respondents expressed general satisfaction after their first visit to the website, with an average rate of 75%. However, respondents’ ratings were strict when discussing specific aspects about the website presentation and service quality, and the means of average rates were 68.32% and 50.23% respectively. The standard deviations of average rates were 15.70% and 19.13%, respectively. This revealed a sense of inhomogeneity in the values of the different aspects of the website presentation, and an expanded sense of inhomogeneity in the quality of the different services delivered by the website. We then compared the Mawaweel website to other websites and proposed specific improvements to the aspects with average rate below 50%.
In this multidisciplinary study, the main research question was how to improve the value of entrepreneurial initiatives that provide the web service of automatic accompaniment to Arab singing. As an example and case study, we considered the Mawaweel website that offered an automatic accompaniment to Arab vocal improvisation as a main service. After overviewing the website, we conducted a survey examining the satisfaction of its visitors in regard to presentation and quality of service. It was found that the Mawaweel website had potential to achieve success as the majority of the 22 respondents expressed general satisfaction after their first visit to the website, with an average rate of 75%. However, respondents’ ratings were strict when discussing specific aspects about the website presentation and service quality, and the means of average rates were 68.32% and 50.23% respectively. The standard deviations of average rates were 15.70% and 19.13%, respectively. This revealed a sense of inhomogeneity in the values of the different aspects of the website presentation, and an expanded sense of inhomogeneity in the quality of the different services delivered by the website. We then compared the Mawaweel website to other websites and proposed specific improvements to the aspects with average rate below 50%.
KEYWORDS
Music Informatics, Entrepreneurial Web Business, Automatic Accompaniment, Arab Music, Survey Research
Music Informatics, Entrepreneurial Web Business, Automatic Accompaniment, Arab Music, Survey Research
Cite this paper
Al-Ghawanmeh, F. and Shannak, Z. (2015) Automatic Accompaniment to Arab Vocal Improvisation: From Technical to Commercial Perspectives. Journal of Software Engineering and Applications, 8, 16-25. doi: 10.4236/jsea.2015.81003.
Al-Ghawanmeh, F. and Shannak, Z. (2015) Automatic Accompaniment to Arab Vocal Improvisation: From Technical to Commercial Perspectives. Journal of Software Engineering and Applications, 8, 16-25. doi: 10.4236/jsea.2015.81003.
References
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http://www.mawaweel.com [5] Lee, Y. and Kozar, K. (2006) Investigating the Effect of Website Quality on e-Business Success: An Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) Approach. Decision Support Systems, 42, 1383-1401.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dss.2005.11.005 [6] Hoffman, D., Novak, T. and Chatterjee, P. (1995) Commercial Scenarios for the Web: Opportunities and Challenges. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 1. [7] Swatman, P.M.C., Krueger, C. and van der Beek, K. (2006) The Changing Digital Content Landscape: An Evaluation of e-Business Model Development in European Online News and Music. Internet Research, 16, 53-80. http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/10662240610642541
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/10662240610642541 [8] Nantel, J. and Glase, E. (2008) The Impact of Language and Culture on Perceived Website Usability. Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, 25, 112-122.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jengtecman.2008.01.005 [9] Savage, J. (2005) Information Communication Technologies as a Tool for Re-Imagining Music Education in the 21st Century. International Journal of Education & the Arts, 6.
http://www.ijea.org/v6n2/ [10] Korkofingas, C. and Macri, J. (2013) Does Time Spent Online Have an Influence on Student Performance? Evidence for a Large Business Studies Class. Journal of University Teaching & Learning Practice, 10. [11] Waldron, J. and Veblen, K. (2008) The Medium Is the Message: Cyberspace, Community, and Music Learning in the Irish Traditional Music Virtual Community. Journal of Music, Technology & Education, 1, 99-111. [12] Al-Ghawanmeh, F., Haddad, R. and Al-Ghawanmeh, M. (2014) Proposing a Process for Using Music Analysis Software to Improve Teaching Authentic Arab Singing and Ornamenting. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science. [13] Al-Ghawanmeh, F., Al-Ghawanmeh, M. and Haddad, R. (2009) Appliance of Music Information Retrieval System for Arabian Woodwinds in E-Learning and Music Education. Proceedings of the International Computer Music Conference, Montréal, 16-21 August 2009, 17-20. [14] Haddad, R., Al-Ghawanmeh, F. and Al-Ghawanmeh, M. (2010) Educational Tools Based on MIR System for Arabian Woodwinds. Journal of Music, Technology and Education, 3, 31-45.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1386/jmte.3.1.31_1 [15] Al-Taee, M., Al-Rawi, M. and Al-Ghawanmeh, F. (2008) Time-Frequency Analysis of the Arabian Flute (Nay) Tone Applied to Automatic Music Transcription. Proceedings of the 6th ACS/IEEE International Computer Systems and Applications, Doha, 31 March-4 April 2008, 891-894.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/AICCSA.2008.4493636 [16] Al-Taee, M., Al-Ghawanmeh, M., Al-Ghawanmeh, F. and Omar, B. (2009) Analysis and Pattern Recognition of Arabian Woodwind Musical Tones Applied to Query-by-Playing Information Retrieval. Proceedings of the International Conference of Computer Science and Engineering, ICCSE-59, World Congress on Engineering, WCE 2009, London, 1-3 July 2009. [17] Al-Ghawanmeh, F., Jafar, I., Al-Taee, M., Al-Ghawanmeh, M. and Muhsin, Z. (2011) Development of Improved Automatic Music Transcription System for the Arabian Flute (Nay). Proceedings of the 8th International Multi-Conference on Systems, Signals and Devices (SSD-11), Sousse, 22-25 March 2011, 1-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/SSD.2011.5993561. [18] Racy, A.J. (1998) Improvisation, Ecstasy, and Performance Dynamics in Arabic Music. In: Nettle, B. and Russell, M., Eds., In the Course of Performance: Studies in the World of Musical Improvisation, Chicago University Press, Chicago, 95-112. [19] Arabic Musical Forms (2007) In Maqam World. www.maqamworld.com [20] Al-Ghawanmeh, F. (2013) Automatic Accompaniment to Arab Vocal Improvisation “Mawwāl”. Unpublished Master’s Thesis, New York University, New York. [21] Chuse, L. (2003) Cantaoras: Music, Gender and Identity in Flamenco Song. Routledge, New York. [22] Al-Ghawanmeh, F., Al-Ghawanmeh, M. and Obeidat, N. (2014) Toward an Improved Automatic Melodic Accompaniment to Arab Vocal Improvisation, Mawwāl. Proceedings of the 9th Conference on Interdisciplinary Musicology-CIM14, Berlin, 4-6 December 2014, 397-400. [23] Al-Momani, M. and Al-Ghawanmeh, F. (2015) The Impact of an Arab-Influenced Piano Curriculum on Students with an Arab Background. International Education Studies, Canadian Center of Science and Education, Toronto. [24] Strickland, J. (2007) How YouTube Works. http://money.howstuffworks.com/youtube3.htm [25] What’s the Difference between Each Subscription Level?
http://help.soundcloud.com/customer/portal/articles/247820-what-s-the-difference-between-each-subscription-level- [26] Winchel, W. (2012) 5 Ways to Get Your Website Design Back into Shape. Kunocreative Blog (Web Log).
http://www.kunocreative.com/blog/bid/73640/5-Ways-to-Get-Your-Website-Design-Back-into-Shape [27] Scaglione, J. (2012) Usability Testing: Why Great Design Is Only Half the Battle. Designmodo (Web Log). http://designmodo.com/usability-testing/ [28] Music Teacher (2014) Music Theory Videos. http://www.musictheoryvideos.com/ [29] I3zif.com (2013) The Oud Is the Most Popular Arabic Musical Instrument. http://www.i3zif.com/en/
[1] Nasr, V. (2013) Business, Not as Usual. Finance & Development, 50, 26-29. [2] Pingdom (2012) World Internet Population Has Doubled in the Last 5 Years. Tech Blog [Web Log].
http://royal.pingdom.com/2012/04/19/world-internet-population-has-doubled-in-the-last-5-years/ [3] Kearney, A.T. (2009) Middle East Media on the Move: An Emerging Growth Industry in a Pivotal Region. http://www.atkearney.com/documents/10192/4095877b-119c-492b-a236-219098f229df [4] (2013) Mawaweel: Web Applet for Automatic Accompaniment to Arab Vocal Improvisation “Mawwāl”.
http://www.mawaweel.com [5] Lee, Y. and Kozar, K. (2006) Investigating the Effect of Website Quality on e-Business Success: An Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) Approach. Decision Support Systems, 42, 1383-1401.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dss.2005.11.005 [6] Hoffman, D., Novak, T. and Chatterjee, P. (1995) Commercial Scenarios for the Web: Opportunities and Challenges. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 1. [7] Swatman, P.M.C., Krueger, C. and van der Beek, K. (2006) The Changing Digital Content Landscape: An Evaluation of e-Business Model Development in European Online News and Music. Internet Research, 16, 53-80. http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/10662240610642541
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/10662240610642541 [8] Nantel, J. and Glase, E. (2008) The Impact of Language and Culture on Perceived Website Usability. Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, 25, 112-122.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jengtecman.2008.01.005 [9] Savage, J. (2005) Information Communication Technologies as a Tool for Re-Imagining Music Education in the 21st Century. International Journal of Education & the Arts, 6.
http://www.ijea.org/v6n2/ [10] Korkofingas, C. and Macri, J. (2013) Does Time Spent Online Have an Influence on Student Performance? Evidence for a Large Business Studies Class. Journal of University Teaching & Learning Practice, 10. [11] Waldron, J. and Veblen, K. (2008) The Medium Is the Message: Cyberspace, Community, and Music Learning in the Irish Traditional Music Virtual Community. Journal of Music, Technology & Education, 1, 99-111. [12] Al-Ghawanmeh, F., Haddad, R. and Al-Ghawanmeh, M. (2014) Proposing a Process for Using Music Analysis Software to Improve Teaching Authentic Arab Singing and Ornamenting. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science. [13] Al-Ghawanmeh, F., Al-Ghawanmeh, M. and Haddad, R. (2009) Appliance of Music Information Retrieval System for Arabian Woodwinds in E-Learning and Music Education. Proceedings of the International Computer Music Conference, Montréal, 16-21 August 2009, 17-20. [14] Haddad, R., Al-Ghawanmeh, F. and Al-Ghawanmeh, M. (2010) Educational Tools Based on MIR System for Arabian Woodwinds. Journal of Music, Technology and Education, 3, 31-45.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1386/jmte.3.1.31_1 [15] Al-Taee, M., Al-Rawi, M. and Al-Ghawanmeh, F. (2008) Time-Frequency Analysis of the Arabian Flute (Nay) Tone Applied to Automatic Music Transcription. Proceedings of the 6th ACS/IEEE International Computer Systems and Applications, Doha, 31 March-4 April 2008, 891-894.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/AICCSA.2008.4493636 [16] Al-Taee, M., Al-Ghawanmeh, M., Al-Ghawanmeh, F. and Omar, B. (2009) Analysis and Pattern Recognition of Arabian Woodwind Musical Tones Applied to Query-by-Playing Information Retrieval. Proceedings of the International Conference of Computer Science and Engineering, ICCSE-59, World Congress on Engineering, WCE 2009, London, 1-3 July 2009. [17] Al-Ghawanmeh, F., Jafar, I., Al-Taee, M., Al-Ghawanmeh, M. and Muhsin, Z. (2011) Development of Improved Automatic Music Transcription System for the Arabian Flute (Nay). Proceedings of the 8th International Multi-Conference on Systems, Signals and Devices (SSD-11), Sousse, 22-25 March 2011, 1-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/SSD.2011.5993561. [18] Racy, A.J. (1998) Improvisation, Ecstasy, and Performance Dynamics in Arabic Music. In: Nettle, B. and Russell, M., Eds., In the Course of Performance: Studies in the World of Musical Improvisation, Chicago University Press, Chicago, 95-112. [19] Arabic Musical Forms (2007) In Maqam World. www.maqamworld.com [20] Al-Ghawanmeh, F. (2013) Automatic Accompaniment to Arab Vocal Improvisation “Mawwāl”. Unpublished Master’s Thesis, New York University, New York. [21] Chuse, L. (2003) Cantaoras: Music, Gender and Identity in Flamenco Song. Routledge, New York. [22] Al-Ghawanmeh, F., Al-Ghawanmeh, M. and Obeidat, N. (2014) Toward an Improved Automatic Melodic Accompaniment to Arab Vocal Improvisation, Mawwāl. Proceedings of the 9th Conference on Interdisciplinary Musicology-CIM14, Berlin, 4-6 December 2014, 397-400. [23] Al-Momani, M. and Al-Ghawanmeh, F. (2015) The Impact of an Arab-Influenced Piano Curriculum on Students with an Arab Background. International Education Studies, Canadian Center of Science and Education, Toronto. [24] Strickland, J. (2007) How YouTube Works. http://money.howstuffworks.com/youtube3.htm [25] What’s the Difference between Each Subscription Level?
http://help.soundcloud.com/customer/portal/articles/247820-what-s-the-difference-between-each-subscription-level- [26] Winchel, W. (2012) 5 Ways to Get Your Website Design Back into Shape. Kunocreative Blog (Web Log).
http://www.kunocreative.com/blog/bid/73640/5-Ways-to-Get-Your-Website-Design-Back-into-Shape [27] Scaglione, J. (2012) Usability Testing: Why Great Design Is Only Half the Battle. Designmodo (Web Log). http://designmodo.com/usability-testing/ [28] Music Teacher (2014) Music Theory Videos. http://www.musictheoryvideos.com/ [29] I3zif.com (2013) The Oud Is the Most Popular Arabic Musical Instrument. http://www.i3zif.com/en/