Stylophone Theremin
Price: £99.95
Dubreq's Stylophone Theremin is a portable touch-sensitive synthesizer that creates experimental sounds by detecting your movement. Wave your hand around its antenna, move its slider from side to side, and go over the edge with mad modulation, wobbly vibrato, and crunchy echoing delay for crazy, quirky, sci-fi sound creation. Theremins like this are normally very expensive, but this product provides an affordable entry point to this ‘touchless’ instrument. With the focus on inclusive and adaptive instruments in the forthcoming funding for music hubs and schools, this theremin should be on everyone's shortlist.
Dubler 2
Price: £119 (software only) | £159 (software + mic)
Dubler 2 is a game-changing standalone desktop app that allows you to turn your musical ideas into reality using the one instrument you've used since birth – the voice. Dubler 2 works with all DAWs, and you can either use the USB microphone provided in the kit, or calibrate your preferred microphone instead. Basically, the app turns your voice into MIDI data that can be used to control any MIDI variable (pitch, duration, expression, control, etc.). For example, Dubler's AI-powered technology will allow you to track the pitch of your voice and translate it into MIDI notation in real-time. Put simply – sing, beatbox, hum or whistle your ideas and Dubler 2 will translate them into MIDI notes, allowing you to write music at the speed of thought.
3rd Avenue Portable Electronic Drum Kit
Price: £59
This compact electronic drum kit, by 3rd Avenue, is perfect for tight spaces in classrooms, as it can be easily folded and stored away. Ideal for beginners or younger children looking to learn the drums, this ‘roll-up’ kit includes crash cymbal, ride cymbal, open/close hi-hat, snare, high tom, low tom and floor tom, plus two hi-hat and bass drum pedals. The all in-one design includes built-in stereo speakers that create an authentic drum sound, meaning there is no need to connect to external devices. Teachers will be pleased to know that there is also a headphone output, so students can play without disturbing anyone around them – ideal for classroom use!
- Available from various suppliers
Arcana Strum
Price: £1,284
The Arcana Strum is a musical instrument designed by Arcana Instruments for the assistive technology market. It replicates the techniques associated with playing a guitar, but it is extremely simple to learn and easy to play. The Arcana Strum can play chords, tunes, riffs and scales through the use of a unique handle that simulates the feeling of strumming a guitar, while pressing one of the device's keys produces a chord sound. All sounds are produced via connection to an external device such as a tablet or a computer. The Arcana Strum comes with a range of different handles that can be fitted to ensure that anyone, regardless of their individual needs, can access the instrument and enjoy playing it with others.
