Custom Software for Special Needs

GridPlay/MIDIgrid Resources for Carers/Teachers

GridPlay is a musical instrument that you can play with a mouse or trackball. The Full Pitcher publishes GridPlay with sets of files, or 'grids'. Each grid configures the instrument in a different manner, so creating 'virtual instruments' with which the user can explore the notes, chords and phrases/compositions programmed into it.

Origins of the software
GridPlay is a performance only version of MIDIgrid for Windows, which we also publish, and the GridPlay resources and customisation service for special needs are the fruit of many years of research into the use of MIDIgrid as a creative resource at all levels of ability. We have created grids for use from pre-school to adult/further education levels, including resources for users with a whole range of disabilities. There are grids optimised for switch input, grids which have repeatedly elicited responses from our most profoundly disabled users and grids which have enabled disabled youngsters to join talented able-bodied friends in performances at concerts and music festivals.

Custom CD-ROMs
We understand that people with disabilities have very individual needs and we'd love to hear from you about your music-making and to prepare a custom CD of resources, tailored specifically to your needs. Contact us for further details

Labour-saving content
The snag for most end-users of MIDIgrid is that it is a 'framework', or 'content -free' application, so one does need musical knowledge or experience to author grids with which to subsequently play or compose and - a big problem for today's teachers and therapists! - time in which to do it. That's where our GridPlay resources come in. They are compatible with MIDIgrid for Windows and the latter can be used to customise the grids and to record/save 'performances'.

Learning objectives
Our GridPlay resources also provide support for a range of learning objectives, especially when used in conjunction with an interactive whiteboard.

If you are interested in GridPlay/MIDIgrid, you will find more information on the following pages:

GridPlay: Creative Explorations Level 1

GridPlay: Creative Explorations Level 2

More About MIDIgrid

Widening Access with MIDIgrid & GridPlay

General MIDI Information