An instrument anyone can play | Tim Exile | TED Institute @tedinstitute
An instrument anyone can play | Tim Exile | TED Institute  @tedinstitute
Uploaded December 2016 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
The problem with music, says Tim Exile, is that it’s so perfect. For those of us who didn’t grow up playing an instrument, we’re often too afraid to try because it doesn’t sound like the masterful music we hear. In a talk-performance hybrid, Exile demos a software instrument that he designed to allow anyone, whether they have musical training or not, to record loops, mix sounds and enjoy making music.

TED@IBM was a TED-curated event produced in partnership with IBM. The third installment of TED@IBM brought a diverse collection of speakers and performers who recognize that ingenuity starts with one thing: a spark. And regardless of where the spark takes hold, inspiration demands action to reach its greatest potential.

About the TED Institute: We know that innovative ideas and fresh approaches to challenging problems can be discovered inside visionary companies around the world. The TED Institute helps surface and share these insights. Every year, TED works with a group of select companies and foundations to identify internal ideators, inventors, connectors, and creators. Drawing on the same rigorous regimen that has prepared speakers for the TED main stage, TED Institute works closely with each partner, overseeing curation and providing intensive one-on-one talk development to sharpen and fine tune ideas.

Learn more at ted.com/ted-institute
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An instrument anyone can play | Tim Exile | TED Institute

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