Theremin! Sounds like some vitamin or mineral? Think again. It's a musical instrument that I just got to know about from a friend. Not your conventional instrument with pipes, strings, skins or those things. It's more like air guitar - with sound! (not guitar sound of course) Or maybe a better description would be making music on TV antennae. And to think it was invented in 1920!
Check out the following post on Wikipedia and the YouTube video!
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theremin
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
Roaring Bulls!
Just got inspired to post something about an aborigine communication device called the bullroarer. It doesn't have anything to do with bulls or roaring, and I'm not even sure if it can be called an instrument. But here it is anyway.
So what's a bullroarer? Very simply, it's just a block of wood tied to a length of string. How do you use it? Easy! Just swing it around! But be careful where you swing those things!
Some video clips:
And something funny to lighten things up:
And if those are too small, check this one out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnVUlx_NegY&feature=related
So what's a bullroarer? Very simply, it's just a block of wood tied to a length of string. How do you use it? Easy! Just swing it around! But be careful where you swing those things!Some video clips:
And something funny to lighten things up:
And if those are too small, check this one out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnVUlx_NegY&feature=related
Friday, May 1, 2009
Do You Kazoo?
Haven't been blogging for a really long time (except for my art blog). I finally managed to take photographs of all of my musical instruments. Unfortunately some of them turned out blur and would need some reshoots. But for those that are sharp enough, they'll go on the blog first.
Today, I'd like to introduce one of my toys. Well, I consider it a toy rather than a serious instrument (though there are probably some who would beg to differ). It's called a Kazoo, and it's a type of wind instrument. These things are available in Singapore. At least a couple of shops in Bras Basah sell them for just a couple of dollars.
Construction
The body of the Kazoo is conical, and open at both ends. In the middle is a resonator where there is a membrane covering a hole, somewhat like the membrane hole on the Chinese bamboo flute (dizi). This gives the Kazoo its buzzing sound.
Playing Method
If you blow into the Kazoo, you get.... NO SOUND! That's right. You don't blow into the thing. You have to vocalize. That means you hum, sing, or speak. There has to be some sound (coming from your voice box) for the Kazoo to work with. So vocalize into the end with the bigger hole. It's that simple
Videos
Check these videos out!
How to Play the Kazoo
Somewhere Over the Rainbow on the Kazoo
More information on the Kazoo can be obtained from Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazoo
Saturday, February 7, 2009
My PVC Flutes
I've been trying out Doug Tipple's instructions on making PVC Irish flutes, and have tried my hand at 4 pieces so far with slight modifications on 2 of them. One of the flutes was made with a detachable lip-plate and additional end holes and a membrane hole for a flute-dizi conversion. The other one had a lip-plate and end holes to stabilize the upper register.
The tuning seems to be rather flat for me, and I just got myself some more PVC pipe to try some new stuff, namely making tunable flutes with some copper tubing for tuning slides, and spray paint for decor purposes. I also want to try making an E-flat and perhaps an E flute as well.
If you're wondering what inspired me to make my own flutes, it's actually very simple - budget. I spent less than 20 SGD on materials today, which would make me 5-6 flutes. I'd spend the 100 USD on one of Doug's, but that's gonna have to be after I secure a more stable source of income (perhaps from selling flutes??).
Will post some pictures of them soon once I finish the new ones!
The tuning seems to be rather flat for me, and I just got myself some more PVC pipe to try some new stuff, namely making tunable flutes with some copper tubing for tuning slides, and spray paint for decor purposes. I also want to try making an E-flat and perhaps an E flute as well.
If you're wondering what inspired me to make my own flutes, it's actually very simple - budget. I spent less than 20 SGD on materials today, which would make me 5-6 flutes. I'd spend the 100 USD on one of Doug's, but that's gonna have to be after I secure a more stable source of income (perhaps from selling flutes??).
Will post some pictures of them soon once I finish the new ones!
Monday, January 26, 2009
The Parable of the Flute
I wrote about Erik the Flutemaker some time back. I just came across a message given by him titled the Parable of the Flute. It's a great message, and Erik has a great personality to bring it out. Here are the videos:
Part 1
Part 2
Check out his Youtube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/theflutemaker
Part 1
Part 2
Check out his Youtube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/theflutemaker
Sunday, November 9, 2008
The Shofar - Expanded
My earlier post about the shofar was the third video clip in a series of 3. I found the earlier 2 clips, so here they are again - all 3 of them:
If you prefer to see the entire series of clips without breaks, you can do so here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe3V4t7D8zM&feature=related
Disclaimer: The author of this blog doesn't necessarily share the views expressed in the video clips
If you prefer to see the entire series of clips without breaks, you can do so here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe3V4t7D8zM&feature=related
Disclaimer: The author of this blog doesn't necessarily share the views expressed in the video clips
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)