Proof You’re Not That Nerdy: World’s First IPhone Orchestra Performance Coming December 9th

Beethoven, Brahms and Bach–yep, there’s an app for that. In what promises to be a highly unique performance, a group of University of Michigan students will be holding an orchestral performance in which only iPhones are used to create music. The show is scheduled to take place December 9 at 8 p.m. at Britton Recital Hall in the Moore Building in the School of Music, Theatre & Dance.

The students are enrolled in a course called “Building a Mobile Phone Ensemble” (and you thought your tax dollars were going to waste). The course combines music composition and performance with engineering and mobile phone programming. During the course of the class, students learn how to take advantage of all the iPhone’s sensors, including accelerometer, GPS, touchscreen and compass, to create simulated instruments. The class is taught by Georg Essl who has been integral in pushing mobile phone technology to create music.

I guess it’s been a down year for Michigan football, so this little concert should provide some entertainment to the student body, but wouldn’t you rather listen to a real orchestra using real instruments?

You can check out the Michigan Mobile Phone Ensemble on Facebook. [Physorg via 9to5 Mac]