Looking to the future, and not so far ahead at that, we shall reach a time when the musician's essential training will include a basic computer course. Already there are many popular micro-computers offering peripherals of software and hardware that allow music composition and notation. Despite the initial outlay of a suitably advanced system for the serious composer, the digital computer, with its large memory storage and potential for analysing as well as synthesising sounds, is destined to be the most powerful and flexible musical instrument ever invented; and it is likely to bring fundamental changes to instrument design and music-making. Over the coming months we shall continue to look at micro-computers that make music and feature instruments that are the most technologically advanced.

Although our instrument review this month looks at an expensive organ it is gratifying to know that our hobby of electronics gives us the opportunity to make music with the minimum financial resources. Our Matinee Organ project, in particular, has proved extremely popular with over 60 complete kits ordered in the first week of publication.

Our six electro-music projects in this issue should also prove useful items for musicians (and school music), and are very easily put together on a standard piece of Veroboard — we've given you one free on the front cover to start you off! Using the tone generator, radio and metronome through the mixer and amplifier, you could even have a lot of fun experimenting and recording — just like the avant-garde composers of yesteryear such as Stockhausen (see Record Review).

Some of our forthcoming projects related to music will undoubtedly give you a few surprises. Science fiction could well be reality with touch-controlled equipment, unusual shapes and computer speech and music bursting forth from every corner of the house! Certainly instruments will become controllers and interfacers as well as being more palatable to string and wind players — and, of course, electronics hobbyists!