Schoolgirls from Shymkent develop an AI-powered dombra for musicians with disabilities

School students Inkar Shayakhmet and Zarina Bektulla have developed Dombra Sense, a system designed to help people learn to play the dombra independently, including people with visual and hearing impairments, El.kz reports citing the NIS press service.

The project was developed by students at the Nazarbayev Intellectual School in Shymkent-Karatau. Their innovation combines the traditional Kazakh musical instrument with artificial intelligence, visual cues and tactile technologies.

How the Smart Dombra Works

The Dombra Sense system is equipped with LED indicators that show beginner musicians which strings to play and which frets to press. This enables learners to practise the required finger movements while playing the instrument.

Special tactile signals have been incorporated for people with hearing impairments. A vibrating wristband indicates the direction in which the hand should move, while a vibration speaker built into the instrument’s body helps users perceive musical rhythm. People with visual impairments can navigate the instrument using Braille markings.

Artificial Intelligence Supports the Study of Kui

The developers have also created a mobile application that allows users to select lessons, adjust the learning pace and add musical compositions.

A key feature of the system is its integrated AI assistant, which can convert musical materials provided in text, sheet music, image or audio formats into interactive lessons.

According to the NIS press service, the project’s primary objective is to make learning to play the dombra more accessible for independent study, including for people with special educational needs.

The development by school students from Shymkent demonstrates how modern technologies can help preserve Kazakhstan’s national musical heritage while expanding opportunities for inclusive education.