I feel like I’m more of an exploratory tinkerer with music and sounds. I like to experiment with different types of instruments and software. I take joy in learning new things, and I find some of the instruments more meditative. I’m also a clown, so I’m often on the lookout for small instruments that I can carry with me in my pocket. Most are fairly inexpensive, but occasionally I’ll treat myself to something a bit harder to afford.
Musical Instruments
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Coconut Kalimba
A $5 coconut-shell kalimba from a Samuels Library fundraiser, valued for its deep, earthy tones and handmade character despite tuning challenges. It now serves as a bassy, experimental companion to a more practical 17-key kalimba. Read more (context & memoir)
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Toysmith Harmonica
A lightweight Toysmith harmonica joined my pocket-sized clown instruments after I misplaced my original. More playful than precise, its translucent plastic body and free-reed tones invite casual, private improvisation—even if the notes wander off-key. Read more (context & memoir)
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Roland Digital Piano (FP-30X)
The Roland FP-30X is an 88-key weighted digital piano chosen for realistic feel, MIDI connectivity, and high-quality sound. It bridges traditional piano technique with modern learning software, turning a living room into a flexible practice studio. Read more (context & memoir)
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Irish Tin Whistles
A pair of Irish tin whistles became my pocket-sized clown instrument, inspired by Celtic melodies and Lord of the Rings. Durable enough for life with Gwinn, they introduced me to octave-shifting breath control and playful, wandering tunes. Read more (context & memoir)
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Dog Whistle
A five-pack of colorful dog whistles doubles as both canine communication and an unusual aerophone in my instrument collection. Stocked in my dog-themed Little Free Library, they explore ultrasonic sound while reliably catching my dogs’ attention. Read more (context & memoir)
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Teenage Engineering: OP-1 Portable Synthesizer
March 2022 – Present. Purchased and utilized a Teenage Engineering OP-1 portable electronic music workstation. Experimented with synthesis, sampling, sequencing, and tape-based workflows for creative focus and stress relief. Released experimental tracks exploring voice sampling, rhythmic structure, and playful sound design during independent music exploration. Read more (context & memoir)
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Kalimba: 17 Keys
A simple kalimba became a portable soundscape, replacing a paper music box with something more alive. Played in quiet parks beside wandering dogs and flowing water, its gentle tones turned small moments into meditative, wandering melodies. Read more (context & memoir)
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Amahi Ukulele
An Amahi ash-wood ukulele became a camping companion for Teddy and me, tied to healing, gentle YouTube moments, and favorite pop-culture melodies. From Ryan and Gatsby to IZ and Adam Sandler, its bright strings carried comfort, memory, and quiet joy. Read more (context & memoir)
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The Blues King Harmonica
A $6.49 Johnson Blues King harmonica began as a playful experiment to make Teddy howl, but became a pocket-sized sound toy instead. Its breath-driven reeds, tactile vibrations, and simple design make it inviting, accessible, and gently chaotic. Read more (context & memoir)
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Laguna Electric Guitar: LE122
A Laguna electric guitar became my gateway into gamified music learning, from early note-recognition software to Rocksmith’s adaptive practice system. Chasing real musicianship over plastic controllers, I explored punk and new-wave songs while navigating gear, software, and sore wrists. Read more (context & memoir)
Songs
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Growing up, I learned how to play the Piano and Trumpet. I didn’t go too far with either.
Here are some of the instruments that I have (or had)
- Slide Whistles
- Plastic short/long
- Wooden Train Whistle (or was it slide whistle?) WHS
- Bamboo Flute
- Peruvian Face Flute
- Carry-on 88 Key Folding Piano (donated to Friends of Samuels Library)
- Electric Piano Soldering Kit
- Plans for a Senior Organ Grinder
- Lyre Harp
- Baoding balls
- Theremin
- Cow Bell
- Dog/Counter Bell
- Dog Clickers
- Nautical Command Whistle / Boatswain’s Call / Bosun’s pipe
- Tibetan Singing Bowl
- Signal Generator
- Noise Machine
Loops
In the late 90’s and early 2000’s, looping became pretty popular where you could use looping sounds to create songs. I used Sonic Foundry ACID Loops along with many loops that I purchased to make a few songs. Eventually Sony purchased the software. Back then, people didn’t believe it was “real” music to take recordings and put them together. However, you often heard loops at raves and other events as DJ’s added in sounds on the fly.
Songsmith
Another auto-tune app was Microsoft Songsmith. It plays a metronome sound as you sing. Afterwards, it added background music and removed the metronome ticks. I didn’t experiment much with it. I just sang about the software itself. Afterwards, I created a video with many screenshots from Second Life where I was known as “Dedric Mauriac”.
AI Music
Eventually AI music was all the craze, and I decided to experiment with it. Eventually I learned how to publish the music via a distributor and released a concept album “re: Cubicle 13” under the artist name of The Bard of Bizarre. I made a music video for the first song on the album as well.
Clown Relation: Tools of Wonder