SYNTRUM
Redefining traditional practice
for professional trumpet players
Skills
Sketching
Prototyping
Animation
UI/UX
Timeline
12 weeks
Winter 2025
Software
Rhino
Solidworks
Keyshot
Figma
After Effects
Team
Individual
A LACK IN FLEXIBILITY
Trumpets are one of the most popular wind/brass instrument yet continues to lack flexibility in practicing and skill advancement. The loudness of trumpets requires dedicated practice spaces, and practicing in general is physically tiring on the lips, ears, and lungs.
TARGET AUDIENCE
Professionals are past sound production
They can practice longer to perfect memorization and musicianship when breath work is taken care of. A beginner - intermediate wouldn't be suitable because it would be detrimental to their breath work development.
Professionals focus on song memorization, fingering, tonguing, and ear training
BENCHMARKING
There is yet to be a device that allows both portable and silent playing intended for serious musicians.
RESEARCH INSIGHTS
Exhaustive practicing has long term limitations
01
Practice Overload
Players get caught up repeating the same parts juggling multiple variables at once, leading to frustration and overextended practice
02
Confidence Drain
Practice can leave players feeling incapable when progress is only rewarded at the end, making improvement feel distant and discouraging
03
Limited Practice Space
Finding a space that feels calm and doesn’t disturb others is challenging, leading players to put off practice
04
Lack of Motivation
The repetitive and tiring nature of practice makes it difficult for players to stay engaged, especially without accountability
HOW MIGHT WE
Create a silent practice tool
that minimizes fatigue, boosts confidence, and
makes practice sessions more enjoyable?
DESIGN CRITERIA
Supporting consistent practice by breaking up long repetitive sessions and allowing users to focus on a few techniques at a time.
Segmented
Focus on few techniques at a time to make practice more manageable
Reduce fatigue by preventing players from getting stuck on sections
Guided
Break up long, repetitive sessions with variety and guidance
Create more rewarding moments to boost confidence and motivation
Non-Disturbing
Portability will encourage consistent practice in various settings
Should be silent to observers to reduce disturbance and maintain privacy
CONCEPT 01 SMART MIDI TRUMPET
A portable MIDI instrument that guides, tracks, and monitors practice routines and habits. Designed to embody traditional practice but with more ease and trackable progress.
CONCEPT 02 POCKET VALVES
A fingering and ear training device that measures accuracy and timing. This solution would not produce any sound to train the ear to recognize notes, but still provides guidance through visual cues.
Valves light up to indicate misplayed note or when giving hints if player cannot identify notes by ear.
A cool down mode reminds players to take a break
Buttons contract for the ultimate compact form
CONCEPT 02 FINAL DIRECTION
A compact, simplifed, digital trumpet with full capabilities and removable valves.
Buttons contract for the ultimate compact form
PROTOTYPING
Iterating Ergonomics & Sizing for Trumpet Hand Positioning
Crucial touchpoints highlighted
Right hand rests against the lead pipe
Left palm rests flush against valves
01
Too tall, big, bulky and valves were not flush against left palm
02
Matches hand positioning and reduces unnecessary bulk
01 vs 02
Size is greatly reduced and the form is softened to embody trumpet characteristics
MOODBOARD
Sleek, clean, fluid to follow a more soothing and inviting form, signaling a new practice experience
FORM DEVELOPMENT
Refining the form to improve details and emulate the moodboard GPT
01
Sharp corners interrupted form
Fully rounded edges felt toy-like
02
Rounded corners out
Chamfered edge for variety
Now appeared boxy and bulky
03
Slimmed down inner profile, while rounding it out
Button Details
Removed buttons from top to keep an uninterrupted surface
SYNTRUM
GUIDED AND SILENT
Creates digital sound for silent playing through headphones—letting professionals play at ease anytime, anywhere.
SEGMENTED PRACTICE
Removable valves enhance portability and make practice more manageable by enabling focused fingering and ear training.
Control details
The player can control the intensity of their practice by playing/pausing the backing track.
ANIMATION
Smart Capabilities
Syntrum will analyze timing and accuracy to provide meaningful feedback through light-up valves. They flash blue as a reminder to take a break when sessions run long, and they illuminate misplayed notes when learning by ear without sheet music or sound production.
UI WIREFRAMES
At Home Setting
For additional structure, a paired app helps suggest pieces, track progress, and provide three guided practice modes in increasing difficulty to help break up repetitive sessions.
UI WIREFRAMES
On-The-Go Setting
The mobile app doesn’t have a sheet music display as it is designed for users to recognize and memorize notes and their fingering pattern by ear.
Thank You~
<— ALL WoRK
