Research on the Application of Wearable Electronic Textile Systems for Performance Training in Music Rhythm Recognition and Action Guidance

Tiantian Li 

Article
2026 / Volume 9 / Pages 777-790
Received 11 October 2025; Accepted 13 November 2025; Published 31 March 2026
https://doi.org/10.31881/TLR.2026.777

Abstract
This research details the design, fabrication, and application of a functional electronic textile (e-textile) system for performance training. The system is engineered using a form-fitting garment, which utilizes a nylon-spandex blend fabric as the substrate for integrating electronic components. The fabrication process involved sewing conductive threads to create circuits connecting a microphone, a microcontroller, and an array of vibrotactile actuators directly into the textile structure. This resulting smart textile is designed to recognize musical rhythms with low latency and provide phase-synchronized haptic feedback. The efficacy of this textile-based feedback system was evaluated in a controlled motor learning experiment. An experimental group wearing the functionalized garment during training showed statistically significant improvements in rhythmic accuracy and retention compared to a control group. Notably, the haptic guidance from the textile system led to a 45.4% reduction in mean timing error from pre-test to a 24-hour retention test (far exceeding the 8.2% reduction in the control group), an improvement underpinned by a large and statistically significant interaction effect (F(2,36)=15.28, p < 0.001, ηp2=0.459). The findings validate the engineered e-textile as an effective platform for wearable feedback systems, demonstrating a successful application of textile engineering in enhancing the acquisition of simple, rhythmic motor skills.

Keywords
smart textile, conductive thread, functional garment, musical rhythms