From College Friendship to Revolutionary Instrument: The Story of Dog Paw Music
In the realm of music technology, where innovation often feels like the domain of massive corporations, two friends from college have taken a bold leap to redefine how music is played. Bill Bartke-Croughan and Trevor Hoffman, the creative minds behind Dog Paw, have turned their college friendship and shared passion for music into a groundbreaking new instrument. And now, with their Kickstarter launching on March 24th, they’re ready to bring their dream to life.
How An Instrument Was Born from a College Friendship
Bill and Trevor first crossed paths at Carnegie Mellon University, where they bonded over a mutual love for music and creativity. Their friendship extended beyond campus, solidifying through a transformative road trip across the Pacific Northwest.
As Trevor recalled, “Bill went, ‘Hey, I’m going on a road trip in the Pacific Northwest.’” Bill added, “We tried to take a small city car into the mountain to go camping, and that popped a hole in the bottom of it, so we just got stranded in Idaho for a couple of days.”
Through the unexpected downtime of being stranded, their bond deepened, shaping a lifelong friendship. “Yeah, but we made it through. That was a great trip,” Trevor added. The experience of navigating challenges together laid the foundation for their future collaboration.
The duo kept in touch, despite pursuing separate careers, Bill getting a PhD in neuroscience, while Trevor worked in robotics. But fate had other plans.
It all started when Bill began working on an experimental circuit board, sparking Trevor’s curiosity. A casual check-in soon turned into deep collaboration, and before they knew it, they were co-developing what would become Dog Paw.
How Dog Paw is Innovating The Grid Instrument
Dog Paw isn’t just another MIDI controller, it’s the world’s first grid instrument with weighted keys. Unlike static pads that lack physical feedback, Dog Paw provides musicians with a dynamic, expressive experience, blending the tactile feel of traditional instruments like pianos and violins with the versatility of modern music production tools. Whether plugged into speakers as a standalone instrument or integrated with DAWs and synths via MIDI/MPE, Dog Paw seamlessly adapts to any creative workflow.
The duo’s mission is clear: they want Dog Paw to become more than just a device. They envision it as a platform that evolves with its users, enabling custom layouts, interactive learning, and a community-driven approach to sound design.
Why Dog Paw is Named After Man’s Best Friend
The name “Dog Paw” carries a personal meaning for Bill, who is a proud dog lover. His American Bulldog, Hugo, served as an inspiration for the project, a fitting homage to the loyal companionship that fueled the journey of its creation. Hugo’s story was even featured in a recent episode of Industry Pets, giving fans a glimpse into the furry muse behind the name.
Bill Bartke-Croughan, creator of the Dog Paw instrument, with his American Bulldog Hugo—his inspiration for the name
Taking Dog Paw to the World
With a Kickstarter launch on the horizon, Bill and Trevor are gearing up for the next chapter. Their vision extends beyond just selling an instrument; they want to build a movement. From respected figures in the music and tech communities experimenting with its capabilities to well-known artists showing early interest, Dog Paw is already generating buzz in both the electronic and live performance communities.
As the campaign kicks off, Dog Paw is more than just a product, it’s a symbol of friendship, passion, and the relentless pursuit of creativity. Bill and Trevor have turned an idea between friends into something that could reshape the way music is played, proving that sometimes, the best innovations come from those who simply love what they do.
For more information, visit Dog Paw Kickstarter page, get.dogpawmusic.com, and follow them on Instagram @dogpawmusic.
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