Graduating student turns movement into music
Posted on 15 July 2009
Max Leonard studied the way musicians create different sounds when playing conventional instruments and reproduced the same effect electronically by combining the control device for the Nintendo Wii and a computer using specially written software.
The course has been a great opportunity to combine my interests in electronics and music
Max Leonard
The result is two new electronic instruments where pitch and tone are dictated by subtle hand movements. The first is a tuned percussion-style instrument while the second is played in a similar way to a bowed instrument, such as a cello, where the left hand is used to steer the pitch of the instrument and the right hand injects the level of energy.
Max has just completed his Masters degree in Electronic Engineering with Music Technology Systems and is among thousands of students graduating in ceremonies at the University this week.
He is due to take up a research and development post with the BBC in September.
He said: “I wanted to create an electronic instrument that gave the musician the same sense of expression as a traditional instrument, rather than simply pressing a button to generate a particular musical effect.
“The course has been a great opportunity to combine my interests in electronics and music and I’m now looking forward to pursuing a career in this field.”
Max hopes to develop the concept further by creating a user-friendly programme that allows people to invent their own musical instrument via a simple menu system.
The University will hold eight ceremonies over 15, 16 and 17 July to celebrate the achievements of more than 2,700 graduating students.
Notes to editors:
- Video of Max explaining his cello-style instrument can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/mwl500#play/all/uploads-all/0/09HTiuoCKhM. A demonstration of the percussion instrument is available here: http://www.youtube.com/mwl500#play/all/uploads-all/1/YOy-qtTkU7s
- More information about the Department of Electronics can be found at www.elec.york.ac.uk/.
- The University is conferring honorary degrees on six people in recognition of their contribution to society. http://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2009/york-honours-six/.
- Follow news and events at the University of York at http://twitter.com/UniOfYork. A newsfeed is also available at http://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/news-feeds/.