How the iPad is changing art and music

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Now that more and more people are getting iPads we are seeing just how they change everything, especially art and music. Here I meet David Newman, artist, in a parking garage. I was sitting next to him in the Google IO keynotes and was amazed at how fast he worked to draw really great portraits of people. Now he couldn’t have done this demo on the go with a laptop. You can see his art on Flickr.

A few weeks ago I met Rana Sobhany who had gotten tons of compliments at the first iPad Dev Camp with her iPad DJ’ing system. So, she gave me a look at what she’s doing. That video went viral and has been watched half a million times. Wild. But she’s not the only one using iPads. I met Wil.i.iam who is the music genius behind the Black Eyed Peas. We talk mostly about Twitter, but at the end he pulls out his iPad too. Rana only had the iPads a week when we shot this video, I’ll follow up with her later in the summer to see how she’s progressed.

One of my kids’ favorite apps is the Smule Magic Piano, and here Lang Lang, famous pianist, walked out on stage and played flight of the bumblebee on it.

There’s even more video about iPad music apps up on YouTube. Same thing for iPad art, where you’ll see an art exhibit on an iPad and more.

Published by Robert Scoble

I help entrepreneurs build their technology business' story, help with getting ready for investors, with other launch plans, and many other strategic things that can help your new startup. Call to talk: +1-425-205-1921 (text first).

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18 thoughts on “How the iPad is changing art and music”

  1. That's really nifty. I wonder if Apple might build in pressure sensitivity in future models based on applied uses like these?

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  5. Scoble why would you lie and say “A few weeks ago I met Rana Sobhany”…she’ been all up on you for years.

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  6. Yes this is the kind of art. But this kind of art will never reach a value of Piccaso for example. I still think that helps to a point but that is the end. True art is the soul, with bare hands. You were born for it.

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  7. I wouldn't necessary say “changing” art and music. As an artist, new gear doesn't necessarily change what we do, it adds to the creative process 🙂

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    1. @tom: try to get your word use clear. “Lying” is not synonymous with “saying something untrue.” Lying means telling a falsehood with the intent to deceive. People can unintentionally tell a falsehood (as happened here) without lying. Casual use of “lie” is all over the net today, and it’s just plain stupid.

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  10. Your examples above of DJ's using the iPad as effects-pads are nothing new – as far as I can see nothing is “changing” in terms of music from this. There have been FX pads for years. There have been CDJs, mp3 dj players and mixing software. We've had midi controllers for years that work with computers to control soft synths/fx. iPad is no different than any of this, it's just another potential type of device. Not sure that the iPad “changes” art and music.

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  12. I’m sorry but the geeks and iHaters have already said the iPad is a “useless toy” and no one will buy an iPad when they can buy a netbook for almost half the price. Apple will be out of business in a month. Everyone on the planet is waiting for a Windows 7 desktop OS tablet that will be 10X better than an iPad and will turn the world into a computing utopia and make Bill Gates dream come true. That is as soon as they can get more than four hours battery life while keeping the weight under three pounds.

    Apple’s iPad is nothing special. It’s all been done before by every computer maker in the world. In fact, every computer company has sold a million tablets a month and tablets have always been in demand by consumers. Apple has failed again.

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  15. i agree with the notion that the ipad is changing music and art.as a music artist, the ipad has become my most valuable/convenient/prized gadget. with StudioTrack, i have a multitrack recording studio. the iRig that IK Multimedia is releasing soon, will allow for me to plug my instruments directly into the ipad for recording, or to use with their AmpliTube app, which will act as an effect cabinent for use with instruments. using the iRig with StudioTrack for recording will resultnin high quality recording… on the go… without the need of extra hardware. when it comesmto music making, i use the BeatMaker app (althought the ipad version of beTmakernisn't out yet, it IS in the works). also, i have not composed an orchestral piece since 2004, but thanks tp the Symphony Pro app thats is in the qorks, i'll be able tonget back into actual notating music.i have already recorded a song on the ipad with vocals, violin, and djembe drum. now im gearing up to work on some of my eletronic music via ipad.the ipad is certainly a game changer for music production on the go. the possibilities are wild.

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  16. I've got to agree w/ Adam here. This is nothing groundbreaking. DJs have been using tools like these for years.If anything, having a new interface available might spur some new ideas and help to get the creative juices flowing but the fundamentals are the same.Not to be a complete downer but you'll never see any world-class dance music DJs using these tools save for the adventurous ones like Sasha.

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