The Motor Can Kalimba is an electromechanical instrument designed for experimental and playful exploration of sound and rhythm. I developed it in 2025 for a workshop at the Offene Jazz Haus Schule e. V. for a fourth-grade class.

The Motor Kalimba consists of a tin can with an integrated motor, a contact microphone, and a control panel with electronics for regulating the motor speed and amplifying the microphone signal. Six tunable wires are attached to the can, which are vibrated by the motor via one or more plastic tongues. By changing the motor speed, the length of the melody or tone sequences can be adjusted. Both single notes and simple chords can be played. Additionally, it is possible to modify the strings with various objects (Patafix, metal springs, magnets, paper clips, etc.) to alter the sound.

In the workshop, the instrument can be built without any prior knowledge of electronics. First, the control electronics are soldered onto a prepared circuit board, and then the mechanical components are assembled. The instrument is powered by a 9-volt block battery and features an audio output to which an active speaker or headphones can be connected.