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The video below is a fast, comprehensive introduction to the Thummer. It was recorded in December of 2005. For an even shorter introduction, see the videos farther down on this page.
The Thummer's three major benefits are that it is
More Expressive The video below, from ThumFest 2005, demonstrates and discusses the Thummer's expressiveness.
The video below contains a number of short demonstrations of the Thummer's expressiveness. The next video demonstrates the expressive power of the Thummer's thumb controls. The next two videos show the Thummer's use of internal motion sensors, which was not demonstrated at the ThumFest. Internal motion sensors -- now common in video game controllers -- are a great way to control musical expression. Motion 01: Wind Instruments
Motion 02: Electric guitar
Easier to Learn The Thummer is also easier to learn, in part due to the pattern of notes on its keyboard, which has the same fingering in every key. The video below, from ThumFest 2005, describes this benefit.
The Thummer keyboard's pattern of notes fits on a standard computer keyboard. This allows beginners to start learning music on the computer keyboard they already have, then "step up" to the Thummer for its expressive power. It also allows potential Thummer-buyers to explore the benefits of the Thummer keyboard's note-pattern before actually buying one -- "try before you buy" -- perfect for viral marketing. (The image below is just a static picture, not a video.) The Thummer keyboard's note-pattern makes learning music easier, whether using traditional staff notation or just playing by ear. However, music's patterns can be made even easier to see by using ThumLine staff notation, which is part of the ThumMusic PLUS System, described on this web page (starting about half-way down). Using ThumLine is entirely optional; it makes learning the Thummer's note-pattern easier, whether on the computer keyboard or the Thummer. Expands Horizons The Thummer's third major benefit is that it expands musical horizons -- in two different ways. First, it has the same fingering across all tunings of the syntonic temperament, which has been used by many cultures in many eras. This makes it easy to mix & match the elements of different musical cultures, as discussed in the video below from ThumFest 2005.
The second way that the Thummer expands musical horizons is through Dynamic Tuning, a new musical effect which is discussed in this document. Jazz and the blues -- two of the greatest musical developments of the 20th century -- emerged from the combination of elements from Western and African musical cultures. By making it easier than ever before to mix & match such cultural influences, and throwing in new capabilities such as Dynamic Tuning, it is entirely possible that the next popular new musical style -- the next blues, jazz, rock, hip-hop, or whatever -- will emerge from the Thummer, and be playable only on the Thummer. You can be part of it! Join the ThumClub today, and we'll let you know when we have new prototype Thummers available. More Thummer demos can be found here on YouTube. |
