Music as play: 8 devices that kids love
Workshops are often the most inspiring environments for coming up with new concepts to improve our devices. Seeing how people interact with these objects gives us new ideas. On average, kids are often more creative than adults. Here are the instruments that not only inspire us, but also the younger humans among us.
Mini-theremin kits by Gakken and MicroKits
What they are
These kits allow kids (and adults) to assemble their own electric instrument. One of the coolest of all: the theremin, which responds to moving your hands around it in the air.
Why we love them
This teaches children more about the electronics behind instruments and sound. This allows them to not just be creative with the music, but also with the engineering. Also, it’s just super cute.
- Gakken: https://www.adafruit.com/product/1822
- MicroKits: https://microkits.net/
Stylophones
What it is
The Stylophone is a timeless pocket synthesizer that’s been around since the 1960s and went back into production some years ago. Instead of playing it with your fingers, you play it with a pen.
Why we love it
Nostalgia is not the only reason. It’s easy to carry around, so it’s easy to play with others or on the go, and it has a unique sound. Such a unique sound, actually, that David Bowie used it in Space Oddity.
- Stylophones: https://dubreq.com/
Dato
What it is
The Dato features a sequencer on one side and a synthesiser on the other. One side creates the melody and rhythm; the other shapes the sound itself.
Why we love it
It’s novel, colourful, and playful. We like the concept of giving two sides to an instrument to encourage play and collaboration. We did the same with TouchMe.
- Dato: https://dato.mu/
Blipblox
What it is
Essentially, a really complete synthesizer which makes it easy to create music. It comes with melodies and, as the images above illustrate, lots of knobs to make your own adjustments.
Why we love it
By day, your kids can play with it, even on-the-go since it’s possible to power with batteries. When they’re asleep, you can connect it to your DAW or studio set-up and use it for your own purposes.
- Blipblox: https://blipblox.com/
Teenage Engineering’s Pocket Operators
What it is
What Stylophones were to older generations, Pocket Operators are for Gen Z and beyond. Some of them are drum machines, others are synths, and they’re all connectable, with great sound.
Why we love it
Portable music means you can play at any time. We love that they can be connected together, so you can play with friends (or your kids) and sequence drums and melodies together.
- Teenage Engineering: https://teenage.engineering/products/po
Playtron
What it is
This one’s by us! We wanted to bring sound to objects, so we created Playtron. You can attach the sensors to almost anything, including fruit & vegetables, so you can create the most fun synthesizer.
- Playtron: https://shop.playtronica.com/playtron
Coming soon: Orbita
What it is
A spinning music making device. We wanted to turn colour into sound: place colourful magnets on the disc and whenever the sensor sees them spinning by, it produces a sound. It can be used in serious music making set-ups, for workshops, or for kids to play creatively with sounds away from the tablet or computer.
We’re launching our Kickstarter soon. Join our mailing list for early access, updates on our process, inspirations, and more creative ideas.
- Orbita: https://orbita.playtronica.com/
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