of Microprocessors

is toward controllers and player interfaces to instruments, I'd recommend substantial study in
analog circuits, electronic instrumentation and measurement, and sensors. And a course or two in
physics of materials wouldn't hurt either.
"Hobby work" is important too.
If one is not interested enough in instrument design to have spent and continue to spend free time
on personal instrument projects, a good job may still be possible but long-term creative excellence
is likely to be elusive.
Finally, unless you're going to work for one of the big 4 or 5 companies in this industry, its crucial
to understand economics in general and business economics in particular. They may call
economics "the dismal science" but that's only because if an entrepreneur doesn't understand it, the
result will be dismal. At least one course in basic business principles and perhaps one in marketing
may well be as important to one's success as all the previously mentioned stuff.
SONIK : If you were to move out of the music industry; What field would you like to work in?
HAL : Robotics is intriguing and before moving from North Carolina in 1986 I was an active
member of an amateur robotics club there. Accurately and gracefully controlling motors and
coordinating multiple movements is really a lot like sound and music synthesis. It's certainly a
much bigger market and also more focussed on useful results instead of style which sort of fits my
mindset.
Another area of interest is the whole field of energy generation, efficiency, and conservation. One
of my contributions to the Kurzweil technology base has been higher efficiency linear power
supplies that produce less heat without switching noise. Doing more with less - of any resource
really - has always been an enjoyable challenge.
Yet another possibility I've given more than passing thought to is starting a small electronic gadget
company, perhaps with initial emphasis on bicycle accessories. Over the years I've developed
quite a laundry list of possible cool products that address specific problems but have never really
been able to pursue any of them. Might be a good "retirement" pursuit.
Additional Links:
Micro Technology Unlimited
NoteBender Keyboard
Kurzweil MIDIBoard
Jan 2002