The Experimental Musical Instrument Workshop at MIT

is designed to take our experimental musical instrument projects to the next level - performance.

EMI@MIT is a forum to meet, brainstorm, build, play, and interact with each other and guest artists
including Tan Dun, Evan Ziporyn, and John Zorn.
Participating in EMI@MIT

EMI@MIT is currently soliciting experimental musical instruments (hardware, software, or other-ware).

Submissions should be in the form of MPG video demoing the instrument. To send a note of intent or for submission information send email to "pemi-submit at media dot mit dot edu". Works in progress will be considered.


The EMI@MIT Schedule (always in progress)

Instruments from Beyond
Friday, April 23, 4:30pm
MIT Media Lab, Bartos Theater (lower lobby)

A conversation about organic music and alien musical instruments with a presentation of works by Tan Dun (1994 McDermott Award recipient), Professor Evan Ziporyn (Music and Theater Arts Section Head, Kenan Sahin Distinguished Professor of Music, founder of Gamelan Gala Tika, and soloist and member of the Bang On A Can All-stars), and PEMI (the MIT Performance with Experimental Musical Instruments Workshop).

Co-sponsored by EMI@MIT and the Office of the Arts. Free and open to the public.


Media Lab Colloquium with John Zorn
March 30, 4-6pm
MIT Media Lab, Bartos Theater (lower lobby)


In the studio with John Zorn to record game piece with our instruments
March 31 and April 1


Improvisation Workshop, "Games for Song"
March 5, 7pm
MIT Media Lab, 20 Ames Street, Cambridge, MA.
Meet in the lobby by the List Gallery.




EMI@MIT Instruments Online Video

Quicktime of James Patten's Audiopad

MPG of Joe Paradiso's Trinkets

Quicktime of Jonathan Bachrach's Beatrix in editing mode

Quicktime of Jonathan Bachrach's Beatrix in improv mode

Quicktime of Jonathan Bachrach's Beatrix visual styles

Quicktime of Dave Merrill's Adaptive Music Controller Prototype

MPG of Erik Nugent's bass trumpanet

MPG of Erik Nugent's flexi-doos

MPG of Erik Nugent's slide bagpipe

MPG of Erik Nugent's three-note didgeridoo

Quicktime of Diana Young's electronic bow sensor for the Tibetan prayer bowl

Teresa Marrin Nakra's Conductor's Jacket in improvisation

Mark Feldmeier's Dance Sensor - demonstrate sensor

Mark Feldmeier' Dance Sensor - sensor with musical stream

Mark Feldmeier's Dance Sensor - people at party dancing with sensors

George Lewis playing Mark Feldmeier's dance sensors with Japanese Children