A Digital Device Reborn from Discarded Instruments

Reinterpreting Instrument Function and Form

"Reincarnated Instruments" is an upcycling project that transforms discarded musical instruments into digital devices. By reimagining their functions and shapes from a fresh perspective, the project gives these instruments a new purpose as tools, exploring future relationships between people and instruments.

As the first installment, a discarded trumpet was reborn as a PC shortcut keyboard. This project continues to revive various instruments that no longer produce sound, assigning them new roles and functionalities.

Issue

Giving Discarded Instruments a Second Life

Shimamura Gakki has been advancing its Instrument Upcycling Project, creating interior products from discarded instruments and donating the proceeds to support music education for children.

This vision—of extending the life of instruments and nurturing future musicians—resonated with producers, product designers, and artists, who came together to bring the project to life.

Creation

A Trumpet Reborn as a Shortcut Keyboard

A discarded trumpet is reborn as a PC shortcut keyboard. Each of its three pistons can be assigned custom shortcut commands—press one to save a file, print a document, or take a screenshot.

Rather than throwing away an instrument that no longer plays, this project gives it a new role as a work companion—letting you “perform” everyday tasks with the same gestures once used to make music.

Technology

A Device You Can Operate Like Playing Music

To preserve the original tactile feel of the trumpet’s pistons, a custom circuit board was developed that detects signals via magnets attached to the base of each piston. This allows users to trigger shortcuts without the clicking sound of a typical keyboard—enabling smooth, silent operation that feels more like playing than typing.