LoopBoxes is an accessible digital musical instrument designed to create an intuitive access to loop based music making for children with special educational needs (SEN). This paper describes the evaluation of the instrument in the form of a pilot study during a music festival in Berlin, Germany, as well as a case study with children and music teachers in a SEN school setting. We created a modular system composed of three modules that afford single user as well as collaborative music making. The pilot study was evaluated using informal observation and questionnaires (n = 39), and indicated that the instrument affords music making for people with and without prior musical knowledge across all age groups and fosters collaborative musical processes. The case study was based on observation and a qualitative interview. It confirmed that the instrument meets the needs of the school settings and indicated how future versions could expand access to all students, especially those experiencing complex disabilities. In addition, out-of-the-box functionality seems to be crucial for the long-term implementation of the instrument in a school setting.

翻译：LoopBoxes是一款专为有特殊教育需求的儿童设计的无障碍数字乐器，旨在为其提供直观的循环音乐创作途径。本文通过一项在德国柏林音乐节期间开展的试点研究及一项在特殊教育学校环境中针对儿童与音乐教师的案例研究，对该乐器进行了评估。我们构建了一套由三个模块组成的模块化系统，支持单人及协作式音乐创作。试点研究采用非正式观察与问卷法（样本量n=39），结果表明该乐器能够使不同年龄层、具备与不具备音乐基础的人群均能进行音乐创作，并促进协作性音乐过程。案例研究基于观察与定性访谈，证实该乐器可满足学校场景需求，并指出未来版本如何能拓展至所有学生（尤其是复杂残障学生）的使用权限。此外，开箱即用功能对该乐器在学校环境中的长期应用至关重要。