Ever wanted to play an instrument without actually touching it? Introducing the Ultrasonic Theremin — a motion-controlled music machine that turns hand-waves into sound and colour!

This theremin has two ultrasonic sensors: one controls the pitch of the note you’re playing and the other controls the volume. Wave one hand to slide smoothly up and down the musical scale, wave the other to bring the sound in gently or blast it out proudly. There’s also a colour-changing LED onboard that shifts its hue based on the pitch you’re playing — a visual light show to go with your new musical masterpiece.

The unit is powered by USB, has its own inbuilt speaker, and includes two dials: one for master volume and one for vibrato so you can add that classic theremin wobble. Check out the video below to see it in action.

On the day you will get to solder together the custom printed circuit board we’ve designed for this project, wire up the sensors and LED, assemble the frame, and load the code onto the onboard ESP32 microcontroller. At the end of the day you’ll walk away with a fully functioning instrument that you built yourself — ready to plug in and start composing eerie sci-fi soundtracks or impressing your family with spooky musical skills.

No previous experience is required and you’re welcome to bring a grown up if you want to.

Please note it is a one-day workshop so students should only book for one session.