Collaborative Instrument

Collaborative Instrument Sketch

Finger Trainer

OK, so it's been a long time since I've last posted something. Here is the beginning of a catchup on what I've been up to for the past few months.

This is one of my final objects that I have completed foe my degree. I is a finger trainer that repeatedly moves the fingers to play Telemans Sonata in D minor for the alto recorder. It is intended to be one in a series of objects that allows a user to attain one small success in their pursuit for perfection. Of course the user will not be able to play this piece of music from using the finger trainer alone but it aids them in learning the motion of the fingering, something that can be done when not necessarily rehearsing but in instances such as watching TV or possibly even while asleep.

This is the first prototype that started the development of the finger trainer.

Curious Show Catalogue

Here are some images of the Goldsmiths BA Design show catalogue Sam and myself designed.

Pitch controller

Here are images of what I hope is the final prototype for the pitch controller of my collaborative instrument.

New Website

Finally I have a website, hopefully my work can now be documented a little clearer rather than by this blog.
The site is built using indexhibit as I have pretty limited coding skills but hopefully it will gradually become
more sophisticated as I learn.

Visit it at www.mattwestdesign.com

Slow Revolution (Book Design)

Here are some images of a book I recently designed for artists Sean Kaye & Jenny West to accompany their current exhibition in Leeds, 'Slow Revolution'.

The Slapper Begins

Collaborative InstrumentA

Collaborative Instrument from Matt West on Vimeo.

InstrumentA

Collaborative InstrumentA (in progress) from Matt West on Vimeo.

Continuing from my previous collaborative instrument I am attempting to design a new instrument that requires two people to be played: one person to control the pitch and the other to control the rhythm.

Rather than attempting to engineer together mechanisms and parts of existing instruments, such as a keyboard, I'm using simple electronics to divide the two basic functions mentioned above. Then I'll design the casing, intending to extend the division of the two functions and experiment with how both musicians communicate with one another.

Collaborative Instrument [in progress]

At the moment I'm trying to make an instrument that depends on a collaboration between two individuals. For this machine I want one person to control the rhythm and the other to control the notes. For this instrument to be played successfully the two musicians will need to constantly communicate or rehearse together until they know the piece of music and each other perfectly.

Single Note

Single Note from Matt West on Vimeo.

The Perfect Pankcake Flip

The Perfect Pancake Flip from Matt West on Vimeo.

Theatrical Pancake Flips

Theatrical Pancake Flips from Matt West on Vimeo.

The Perfect Circle Competition

Perfection Machine #3 - The Perfect Circle Competition from Matt West on Vimeo.

Bike Crash Memory

Bike crash memory from Matt West on Vimeo.

Perfection Machine #3 - The Perfect Circle

The Perfect circle machine aims to train the users hand to draw a perfect circle through continuous repetitive motion so that when the machine is lifted away the user will be able to draw the perfect circle without an aid.

Perfection Machine #1 - The Duet

Perfection Machine #1 - The Duet from Matt West on Vimeo.

With this machine two people sit, facing each other, with their fingers tied together. One person can play the instrument and the other is a complete novice. Their fingers are tied in such a way that when the pianist presses a key the novices fingers are simultaneously pulled to play the same key.

Exploration #28: Blind Observation

 

 1. Smooth, rounded edges, flexible but only between joints, made of parts, there is a smooth narrow metal rod sticking out and a circular base.

2. Flexible material (probably plastic), there are two joints, solid bits that feel like glass, its ery smooth except for two grill like ridges.

3. Absolutely spherical except for a little dimple sticking out, slightly flexible, when pressed it pops in and out.

4. Cylindrical with base but open top, slightly conical, thin/flexible but tough material, ribbed aroung the tube.

5. Solid shape, 2/3 of it is very smooth, cylindrical with a rounded end, gets slightly bigger towards the rounded end, the other end is ribbed and a narrower tube, thread coming out it with a bendy paper like tad on the end

Perfection Machine #2 - Keyboard Trainer (in progress)

Here are the results so far of my time spent working over the past couple of days on a finger training device for playing the piano. I'm wondering what it would happen if a person with no musical knowledge used a machine that trained their fingers repeatedly to play a pattern from a piece of music. Would they eventually be able to play a piece without really knowing how? Also, could a device like this be used for musicians to rehearse when they are not at the piano. The machine would probably have to be programmed electronically so more complex pieces of music could be processed. It could be used by pianists when away from the piano; while watching TV, reading a book, or even during sleep.