Keith McMillen, instrumental innovator, has died

Keith McMillen has passed away at the age of 67. There’s a complete obituary posted this evening by Keith McMillen Instruments.

A DIY violin with a spring reverb tank inside

A funny thing happened on the way to the digital instrument age – builders rediscovered novel acoustic and electroacoustic inventions, too. Take this gorgeous example by builder/composer/musician David Hilowitz. And it all started with a broken amp part.

Peter Kirn - August 5, 2022

Laurie Anderson, in video, on the stories behind her custom-built instruments

A violin can be totally transformed – and the performance with it – from ice skates to neon instruments to ventriloquists’ dummies. Laurie Anderson in this film talks about her many ingenious instrumental inventions.

Peter Kirn - September 27, 2021

Hacking and 3D printing the future of violins, in a growing community

Peter Kirn - August 29, 2018

Follow Friday: Musical Twitter Feeds You Read – and an Alternative Approach

- February 6, 2009

Bear McCreary: Rocking the Electric Violin on Battlestar Galactica

Peter Kirn - October 27, 2006

Stroh’s Strange, Early 20th Century Horn-Violins; “Digital Violin” Resource

Peter Kirn - August 9, 2006

Devil-Headed Electric Violin with Laser Eyes, Spark-Shooting Mouth, and More Electric Violins

Peter Kirn - August 9, 2006

Expanding the Violin: Diana Young’s Sensor-packed Hyperbow

Peter Kirn - August 9, 2006