Electrifying Music: A Closer Look at Engineering's Impact on Music

A lot of engineers, technicians, and even managers I have worked with over the years have been musicians that play in private, with small gatherings, or even as a part of for-hire bands. It is probably safe to say the opposite is not true - that many professional musicians are also accomplished technologists. Jared Cossaboom of Circa Interactive sent me a hyperlink of this infographic titled "Electrifying Music: A Closer Look at Engineering's Impact on Music" as created by the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). I particularly like the introductory juxtapositioning of Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison as representatives of AC and DC electricity, respectively. From there it delves into the history of electronic music making. Infographics have become a really popular venue for documenting popular topics.

Per Mr. Cossaboom:

"This summer, a celebration was held for legendary musician and electrical engineer Les Paul's 100th birthday — a guitarist who created his own electric guitar and helped usher in an area of incredible innovation within music today. Without the contributions of people like Les Paul and other electrical engineers, what would our music sound like today and what instruments would we be using? How often are electrical engineers recognized for their impact on music? That being said, I wanted to share an infographic created by the New Jersey Institute of Technology's Electrical Engineering program that highlights the accomplishments of electrical engineers such as Edison, Tesla, and Massenberg and creatively depicts how these accomplishments have influenced music. Take Robert Moog for example, an electrical engineer whose invention in 1964 pioneered the creation of electronic music and influenced several artists of all genres. It's interesting because it emphasizes how innovative the music industry has become thanks to electrical engineering, solidifying the notion that engineers will continue to play an impactful role in musical expression."

Posted on June 29, 2015