tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57449372012-01-05T23:27:02.018-08:00random thoughts about obscure or interesting musical instruments and the people who make them and play themMikeOnoreply@blogger.comBlogger172125FoundMusichttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5744937.post-28945193317141878542011-09-28T16:16:00.000-07:002011-09-28T16:16:05.998-07:002011-09-28T16:16:05.998-07:00

Here's a crazy video that I stumbled onto with some very creative "seats"

MikeOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5744937.post-4584196621723289552011-09-19T12:18:00.000-07:002011-09-19T12:19:07.951-07:002011-09-19T12:19:07.951-07:00

I love Diego Stocco's creativity, the guy has a mind that works like mine, but he's out there making music from all sorts of awesome "Found Music" sources. Diego is my inspiration. Check out his latest video where he makes music with the sounds found in a neighborhood dry cleaning store.   More info and pictures are available at the Behance gallery:http://www.behance.net/gallery/

MikeOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5744937.post-47394595973923509892011-09-16T17:23:00.000-07:002011-09-16T17:23:36.020-07:002011-09-16T17:23:36.020-07:00

My friends from Moyo Drums are having a sale this weekend on their drums ahead of the The Yosemite Flute and Art Festival, where they will be exhibiting. This weekend only, Moyo Drum is offering the show price of $305 for any in stock Moyo Drum PLUS FREE SHIPPING.  SALE ENDS SUNDAY 9/18 6:00pm ACT NOW! If you are planning to attend the festival you will be able to see and play all these

MikeOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5744937.post-80499199241603806282011-09-08T11:21:00.000-07:002011-09-08T11:21:47.270-07:002011-09-08T11:21:47.270-07:00

I just stumbled upon Noisejunk which is a site dedicated to cataloging unusual musical instruments. This is an excellent resource for finding new ideas. If you are a builder, be sure to reach out to them to get your site included.

MikeOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5744937.post-1726301797736630842011-08-30T21:42:00.000-07:002011-08-30T21:42:43.453-07:002011-08-30T21:42:43.453-07:00

I spotted these awesome bass guitars today, and I am blown away by the craftsmanship in these instruments. Just have a look at the ergonomic design of these bass guitar. They call it the Torzal Natural Twist and (per their website): the ergonomic design increases the efficiency of the hands, wrists and arms, reducing the risk of developing repetitive strain injuries such as carpal tunnel

MikeOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5744937.post-90771427994601686122011-08-25T09:40:00.000-07:002011-08-25T09:40:42.533-07:002011-08-25T09:40:42.533-07:00

WHAT: The second annual Pennsylvania Cigar Box Guitar Festival WHEN: Friday, August 28 and Saturday, August 27, 2011 TIME: 10am-5pm WHERE: Downtown York, PA. on the grounds of The York Emporium DETAILS: The fest will host 14 acts on two stages plus demonstrations, instrument vendors and more. Headlining acts include Purgatory Hill, Shane Speal (from Cigar Box Nation) and psych-folk legends,

MikeOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5744937.post-60343844574630097032011-08-22T09:37:00.000-07:002011-08-22T09:37:00.039-07:002011-08-22T09:37:00.039-07:00

Here's an awesome sound creation tool that works for free on the web, or you can download for $.99 for iPhone and iPad. You can chose the scale and tempo as you setup the generative items. There are 40 scales to choose from. I picked up my Native American Flute in the key of E and jammed along, it was great. I downloaded to my iPhone 3 and there isn't enough processing power, it sounds

MikeOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5744937.post-88301299453715889702011-08-21T09:27:00.000-07:002011-08-21T09:27:00.717-07:002011-08-21T09:27:00.717-07:00

I saw this interesting musical instrument in the video by Michael Hearst that i posted yesterday. I thought that it was worth some additional investigation. The Otamatone is an electronic instrument, designed by Maywa Denki. Some would call it a toy, but it's shaped like a musical note. I think that there are some real musical possibilities This video gives you a pretty good idea of the

MikeOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5744937.post-42027589288561648262011-08-20T21:11:00.000-07:002011-08-20T21:11:49.938-07:002011-08-20T21:11:49.938-07:00

Saw this awesome video today: Including (in order of appearance): Knockman “ChaCha” Daxophone Hohner claviola Bass melodica Stylophone Otamatone Moog theremin Elasticbrand Audioware rattle Porter’s bell

MikeOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5744937.post-37951031131181790762011-08-19T14:13:00.000-07:002011-08-19T14:13:52.917-07:002011-08-19T14:13:52.917-07:00

To help support artists traveling from overseas and other parts of the country to join Thingamajigs for its Annual Music for People & Thingamajig Festival, a special fundraising concert will be held at Meridian Gallery in San Francisco. Local Bay Area artists will volunteer their time to perform music and demonstrate their special instruments to audience members and bring awareness to

MikeOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5744937.post-50827979992577228002011-08-05T07:07:00.000-07:002011-08-05T07:07:42.272-07:002011-08-05T07:07:42.272-07:00

Here's an awesome example of both craftsmanship and ingenuity. This guy created a musical desk:

MikeOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5744937.post-45683530910431569342011-07-07T13:58:00.000-07:002011-07-07T13:58:00.461-07:002011-07-07T13:58:00.461-07:00

The Vibratron tries to play one of the most intense pieces of piano music ever composed. Unfortunately, despite recirculation (at a rate of about 5 balls per second) all 6,000 balls were exhausted before the song was finished. ...

MikeOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5744937.post-83381678000717960222011-07-05T11:35:00.000-07:002011-07-05T11:35:00.173-07:002011-07-05T11:35:00.173-07:00

This is "found music" at it's finest:

MikeOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5744937.post-3379069313207972022011-07-03T09:43:00.000-07:002011-07-03T09:43:00.802-07:002011-07-03T09:43:00.802-07:00

Kala announces their new Solid Body UBASS Guitar

MikeOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5744937.post-44939211744233903002011-07-01T09:37:00.000-07:002011-07-01T09:37:00.404-07:002011-07-01T09:37:00.404-07:00

The Knock Box was designed to serve as a percussion tool for all musicians. Lightweight and compact, the Knock Box is a must for the traveling musician. Run it through an equalizer and all sounds are possible.The Knock Box is a small, wooden box equipped with Big Twin transducers by K&K Sound.Features include:ergonomic heel rest which folds over the Knock Box to protect it while in

MikeOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5744937.post-11239885469590408352011-06-28T17:27:00.000-07:002011-06-28T17:50:10.397-07:002011-06-28T17:50:10.397-07:00

I attended MakerFaire 2011 in San Mateo, CA this year. It's becoming an annual event for me and my son to check out all of the cool things that folks are 'hacking' in their garages. This year I ran into Andy Graham demo'ing his latest creation The Slaperoo.Andy describes the The Slaperoo on his website as:"Inspired by a long shipping crate with a highly tensioned steel strap, the SLAPEROO™ uses

MikeOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5744937.post-36295136624734404582011-06-23T10:17:00.000-07:002011-06-28T17:24:54.138-07:002011-06-28T17:24:54.138-07:00

Alesis has announced a new product designed to fill the gap in getting all of your music instruments connected to your iPad and providing the necessary outputs from your iPad so that you can get all that great sound out to your audience in a pro-audio format.They are not shipping yet, but I sure would like to get my hands on one to test the sound quality in and out.Suggested Price: $399 USD (but

MikeOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5744937.post-30732073461488843732011-04-28T07:41:00.000-07:002011-04-28T07:41:00.072-07:002011-04-28T07:41:00.072-07:00

The "Music for People & Thingamajigs Festival" is scheduled for Sept 22-25, 2011. This is the 14th year for the festival, and it is a celebration of unusual music made from unique (and found) instruments, by unique musicians. Past participants include Carla Kihlstedt, Walter Kitundu, Peter Whitehead, Brenda Hutchinson, William Winant, Laetitia Sonami, and many others. Call for Proposals for

MikeOnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5744937.post-7443113377471938812011-04-27T13:07:00.000-07:002011-04-27T13:11:22.327-07:002011-04-27T13:11:22.327-07:00

MakerFaire is next week in San Mateo (I am going!). Here's a great video highlighting one of the experimental musical instrument makers who will be in attendance: Sung Kim

MikeOnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5744937.post-70852950088641242272011-03-17T11:27:00.000-07:002011-03-17T11:29:33.138-07:002011-03-17T11:29:33.138-07:00

This is a very cool sound sculpture installed at the Joshua Liner GalleryTrue Value (paint fukette) from joshualinergallery on Vimeo.

MikeOnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5744937.post-9715275403660396662011-01-13T09:26:00.000-08:002011-01-13T11:36:32.679-08:002011-01-13T11:36:32.679-08:00

Very cool innovation from Swan Percussion being shown at NAMM 2011 show this week. I'd love to try out this drum, looks like fun.Link: Swan Percussion

MikeOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5744937.post-10583245896051949422011-01-07T22:23:00.000-08:002011-01-07T22:23:00.359-08:002011-01-07T22:23:00.359-08:00

Doing a little internet and youtube research tonight. While I still have my place on the waiting list for a Halo, I also stumbled onto another new Hand Pan maker called "Bali Steel Pan". Not much to go on other than a website and a youtube channel. It looks like they're being made in Bali by a trio of builders. The youtube videos offer some insight.Current price looks to be $1050 (USD), plus

MikeOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5744937.post-70226699243648022792011-01-06T22:07:00.000-08:002011-01-06T22:08:45.946-08:002011-01-06T22:08:45.946-08:00

Just a little, awesome teaser from Pantheon Steel and the Halo

MikeOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5744937.post-69089922594806542852011-01-04T11:13:00.001-08:002011-01-04T11:40:57.921-08:002011-01-04T11:40:57.921-08:00

Meinl has their new 2011 Percussion Catalog online now. Not only is it an innovative way to present their 2011 product line, but it's also a gorgeous presentation.They are using Flash for the catalog, and I like the concept. Embedded in the catalog are videos of the new products, which demonstrate the sounds of the instrument. The only downside to the online catalog is that you need a high speed

MikeOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5744937.post-29499052544646479992011-01-02T12:45:00.000-08:002011-01-02T12:45:00.116-08:002011-01-02T12:45:00.116-08:00

Here's another new online sequencer, soon to be an app for Iphone. It's called "isle of Tune", and it uses an automotive motif to set your sequence in motion. You create roads, with cars. As the cars drive past various objects (houses, trees, lamp posts), different sounds are triggered. You set the sounds and tones of the various objects.

MikeOnoreply@blogger.com0