Home GOTO Experts Sam Aaron

Dr Sam Aaron is the creator of Sonic Pi, an internationally renowned live coding performer, public speaker and science communicator. Sam has a PhD in Computer Science and held a research position at the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory where he initially developed Sonic Pi. He is a coder, and a musician on the side, but does all of that work - to change the world.

Sam regularly engages audiences of all ages and backgrounds with the creativity of code by delivering keynotes, workshops and performances.The Rolling Stone magazine described Sam as ‘transcending the present’.

Sam believes in changing the way Computer Science is perceived by future generations. He showcases it to be a form of creative expression, which is why he made the tool Sonic Pi. He envisions his work to reach out to corners of the world to children, teenagers, and learners can connect to his vision of learning coding in schools and make a difference in the future.

Read our exclusive interview with Sam Aaron about how Sam Aaron’s Sonic Pi Can Help You Make Music Through Code

Check out Sam’s past talks:

Upcoming conference sessions featuring Sam Aaron

Beyond Sonic Pi: Tau5 and the Art of Coding with AI

For over a decade, Sonic Pi has been used in classrooms around the world to teach programming through music. Students learn sequencing, loops, data structures, and algorithms while coding beats, basslines, and shimmering synths. At the same time, professional musicians have taken Sonic Pi to stages and concert halls, using programming itself as an instrument of musical expression.

Now the story continues with Tau5, a new live coding system focused on collaboration. In music, concurrency, distribution, and fault tolerance aren’t just safety nets - they are uncompromising demands. When harnessed, they can be transformed into powerful creative possibilities for human expression and connection.

Collaboration isn’t limited to humans. Tau5 also experiments with AI as a creative partner, asking not what machines can replace, but how they might improvise with us.

This keynote reflects on the lessons these explorations in music and code can teach us about collaboration, creativity, and education in the age of AI. Along the way, we’ll explore concurrency, rhythm, and the subtle but critical difference between working at the same time and working truly in time.

Don't just pattern match - rhythm catch!

Thursday Dec 11 @ 16:45 @ YOW! Sydney 2025

Get conference pass

Beyond Sonic Pi: Tau5 and the Art of Coding with AI

For over a decade, Sonic Pi has been used in classrooms around the world to teach programming through music. Students learn sequencing, loops, data structures, and algorithms while coding beats, basslines, and shimmering synths. At the same time, professional musicians have taken Sonic Pi to stages and concert halls, using programming itself as an instrument of musical expression.

Now the story continues with Tau5, a new live coding system focused on collaboration. In music, concurrency, distribution, and fault tolerance aren’t just safety nets - they are uncompromising demands. When harnessed, they can be transformed into powerful creative possibilities for human expression and connection.

Collaboration isn’t limited to humans. Tau5 also experiments with AI as a creative partner, asking not what machines can replace, but how they might improvise with us.

This keynote reflects on the lessons these explorations in music and code can teach us about collaboration, creativity, and education in the age of AI. Along the way, we’ll explore concurrency, rhythm, and the subtle but critical difference between working at the same time and working truly in time.

Don't just pattern match - rhythm catch!

Thursday Dec 4 @ 16:45 @ YOW! Melbourne 2025

Get conference pass

Beyond Sonic Pi: Tau5 and the Art of Coding with AI

For over a decade, Sonic Pi has been used in classrooms around the world to teach programming through music. Students learn sequencing, loops, data structures, and algorithms while coding beats, basslines, and shimmering synths. At the same time, professional musicians have taken Sonic Pi to stages and concert halls, using programming itself as an instrument of musical expression.

Now the story continues with Tau5, a new live coding system focused on collaboration. In music, concurrency, distribution, and fault tolerance aren’t just safety nets - they are uncompromising demands. When harnessed, they can be transformed into powerful creative possibilities for human expression and connection.

Collaboration isn’t limited to humans. Tau5 also experiments with AI as a creative partner, asking not what machines can replace, but how they might improvise with us.

This keynote reflects on the lessons these explorations in music and code can teach us about collaboration, creativity, and education in the age of AI. Along the way, we’ll explore concurrency, rhythm, and the subtle but critical difference between working at the same time and working truly in time.

Don't just pattern match - rhythm catch!

Monday Dec 8 @ 16:45 @ YOW! Brisbane 2025

Get conference pass

Content featuring Sam Aaron

41:47
Get Ready to Rock with Sonic Pi - The Live Coding Music Synth for Everyone
Get Ready to Rock with Sonic Pi - The Live Coding Music Synth for Everyone
GOTO Amsterdam 2019
41:47
Get Ready to Rock with Sonic Pi - The Live Coding Music Synth for Everyone
Get Ready to Rock with Sonic Pi - The Live Coding Music Synth for Everyone
GOTO Chicago 2018
41:47
Get Ready to Rock with Sonic Pi - The Live Coding Music Synth for Everyone
Get Ready to Rock with Sonic Pi - The Live Coding Music Synth for Everyone
GOTO Berlin 2019
47:21
Sonic Pi - BEAM Up The VJ!
Sonic Pi - BEAM Up The VJ!
GOTO Aarhus 2023
38:52
Sonic Pi - How to  Live Code an Orchestra
Sonic Pi - How to Live Code an Orchestra
GOTO Copenhagen 2023

Past masterclasses featuring Sam Aaron

Distributed Live Coding with Sonic Pi | GOTO Chicago 2018

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