EWI: Electronic Wind Instrument

A new, important advancement to music technology is the Electronic Wind Instrument; its acronym, EWI, is the more common reference name for this instrument.  It was formed by a man named Nyle Steiner, and it works as any woodwind instrument works.  It mostly resembles the soprano saxophone in the way that it is held with a neck strap as well as played on, but the instrument can be switched so that it plays back as and woodwind instrument, such as the flute or clarinet.  There is a mouthpiece that can be blown into that senses the air pressure being blown into it to mimic desired dynamics.  It is also sensitive to teeth pressure, which determines how much vibrato is desired.  The instrument also has a setting, Electronic Valve Instrument, so brass players are able to play on the instrument as well.  Since this instrument is also a synthesizer, it is able to mimic around eighty different sounds as a MIDI controller already would.

I found out about this instrument when I was watching a jazz concert on Montclair's campus.  It was a student jazz recital, and a student I know that plays lead alto saxophone was playing this mysterious electronic device.  I was very intrigued and enjoyed the idea.  I felt that because the student was also playing with other students that were using amplifiers, such as the electric guitar and electric bass, it was appropriate to have the student play with an electronic and amplified sound as well.  Although I felt that some of the human connection was taken away from the performance, it's great for woodwind doublers that do not want to carry many instruments out on stage.  I have seen jazz concerts where woodwind performers will have a saxophone, a clarinet, and a flute on a nearby stand waiting to be played on.  Having the EWI able to switch between instruments with ease takes away all that extra weight to carry.

More information can be seen about the EWI here.