In the mid-20th century, the electric guitar caught on in a big way. A quarter century later, it was the synthesizer. After another quarter century, Austin resident Jim Plamondon says thinks he has his thumb on the next big musical invention.“First of all, my wife and daughter were taking piano lessons and complaining bitterly that it was too complicated, that it made them feel stupid, and they wanted to stop the pain,” Plamondon says. “So after six months, they quit. And if my wife and daughter, who are perfectly reasonable people, could not understand music, it was because music was too hard. It wasn’t their fault; it was music’s fault.”
Plamondon is a former Microsoft executive on a mission. He tells anyone who will listen that with his invention, the Thummer, there is a better way, and he’s already won a convert.
“So if you were going to play, for example, ‘Louie Louie,’ in the key of C on the piano, it’s…” says Austin musician Ian Varley, demonstrating the tune on his keyboard. “Now if I want to change to a different key, like B, it’s different shapes. On the Thummer, it’s the same shape no matter where you start. I can start somewhere else, over here.”
That kind of simplicity, Plamondon argues, will enable the Thummer to revolutionize music education.
Read more.
Photo by thummer.com.
Anti-Racist Blog on December 14th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Very cool.
Tenori on December 14th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
I want one.
gadget.
want one.
want gadget.
now.
Seriously, very cool handheld digital gadget.
Edward Cufaude on December 15th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Loved the ideas incorporated in this gadget so much I blogged about this too, thanks for bringing it to my attention.
I also like the fact its a very visual instrument for live performance unlike piano styled synths.
Lisa on December 16th, 2007 at 3:16 am
That was actually really … annoying and rather piercing. It was just too odd for me. I thought the way it was used in other youtube performances was interesting, but it really does look too much like a child’s toy.
Abunza on December 16th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
I find that device to be rather intriguing.
I might get one actually, we shall see.
Ha on December 17th, 2007 at 4:21 am
“…it was because music was too hard. It wasn’t their fault; it was music’s fault.”
I agree, it wasn’t their fault they couldn’t understand music. It also wasn’t music’s fault. It’s the music instructor’s fault. They should have sought out a new music instructor instead of blaming the problem on the music itself.
Mr jong arch doringo on December 21st, 2007 at 12:35 am
hi!its nice and wonderful instroment.i hope i have that someday.