TSE CHUN SING
The Musical Instruments
Mixed media
2017
I have learned various musical instruments yet none succeeded. I wasted my parents’ efforts, but I could never really explain to them...
After all these years, I break apart those instruments, and create my own sound-making devices with my interests and my knowledge in mechatronics. Together with a little music theory, I generate my own music and play a song no one has ever heard before.
The Musical Instruments 01
Size: 21.2 x 15 x 5.3 cm
Original parts from my old instruments: Tube from melodica
How to create sounds:
Used servo motor code for Arduino, and the motor spins 20 degrees each time, bringing the triangular wood segment move along the tube to create friction and sound.
How to control:
Audience turn it on with the button at the right bottom, when it starts to run, they can twist the twist button to change the speed of the moving wood.
The Musical Instruments 02
size:14 x 45.1 x 26.3 cm
Original parts from my old instruments: 4 harmonica shells in different sizes
How to create sounds:
Use a servo motor code, with the motor spinning for 15 degree each time, the metal rod moves upwards to hit the harmonica shells, resulting in the jangling of 2 kinds of metals.
How to control:
Audience turn it on with the switch on the right bottom, when the instrument starts to run, they can twist the 4 twist buttons, the speeds of the metal rods change accordingly.
The Musical Instruments 03
Size: 28.2 x 42.3 x 44.4 cm
Original parts from my old instruments: 4 harmonica reeds in different sizes 2 melodica reeds in different sizes
How to create sounds:
I arrange the reeds according to their sizes, from smaller ones to boggers one in 6 levels. With servo motor code for Arduino, the motor spins 90 degrees each time, and the brass rod brings wood ball from the bottom to the first level. The ball rows downwards and hit the reeds, creating 6 different sounds of wood ball hitting metal.
How to control:
Audience turn it on with the button on the left, when it runs, the brass rod brings a wood ball to the top and audience can add more balls anytime they want.
The Musical Instruments 04
Size: 17 x 23.4 x 18 cm
Original parts from my old instruments: 1 string from a violin and 2 tuning pegs from a violin
How to create sound:
Using servo motor code for Arduino, the motor spins 30 degrees each time and the brass rod hits downwards to the string, making a sound of metal hitting a point of the string.
How to control:
Audience turn it on with the button on the lower left, when it starts to run, they can twist the twist button to change the speed of the rod.
The Musical Instruments 05
Size: 7 x 26.4 x 14.5 cm
Original parts from my old instruments: 1 mouthpiece of a harmonica 5 keys from a melodica
How to create sounds:
Using servo motor code for Arduino, the motor spins 20 degrees each time. A wood ball is studded to a brass rod, with the spinning motor, the wood ball moves along the keys to create friction and sounds.
How to control:
Audience turn it on with the button on the right, when it starts to run, they can twist the twist button to change the speed of the wood ball’ movement.
The Musical Instruments 06
Size: 49.5 x 7.1 x 9.4 cm
Original parts from my old instruments: Screws and springs from harmonica and melodica
How to create sounds:
Using stepper motor code for the Arduino, the motor spins in circles continuously. The motor is linked to a glass container with screws and springs from my harmonica and melodica, when the container spins, the screws and springs inside hit the glass, resulting in some tinkling sounds.
How to control:
Audience turn it on with the button at the bottom, when it starts to run, they can twist the twist to change the speed of the spinning container.
The Musical Instruments 07
Size: 10.8 x 41.1 x 31.6 cm
Music theory: Tempo
How to create sounds:
Using Photoresistance's code for the Arduino, when light ray is blocked from the photoresistanc, the sounds from the speaker vary according to the brightness.
How to control:
Audience place as many light blocking discs they want on the turntable on the right. Then turn on the instrument and twist the twist button to change the speed of the turntable.
The Musical Instruments 08
Size: 28 x 11 x 11.8 cm
Original parts from my old instruments: Harmonica combs
How to create sounds:
Using servo motor code for the Arduino, the motor spins 20 degrees each time. A wood ball is studded to the brass rod, friction is created between the harmonica combs and the ball.
How to control:
Audience turn it on with the button at the bottom, when it runs, they can twist the twist button to change the speed of the ball moving along the combs.