A University of Maine Interdisciplinary Ph.D. candidate is redefining musical performance by combining classical traditions with cutting-edge digital technology. Using the university’s renowned 3D-printing capabilities, Ruixin Niu has created an innovative instrument and an immersive performance experience designed to captivate modern audiences.
Drawing on her expertise as a violist, violinist, and conductor, Niu developed a groundbreaking 3D-printed violin/viola hybrid. This unique instrument, crafted from transparent PLA material, features internal lights that glow in different colors in response to the notes played. Collaborating with engineering students at HackerSpace, Niu spent months designing the instrument to visually enhance her performances and help audiences connect with the nuances of Chinese pentatonic music.
Advised by Susan Smith, associate research professor and graduate coordinator of UMaine’s Intermedia Program, Niu integrates visual artistry into her performances. She transforms the stage into a dynamic exhibit, incorporating silk projections, multimedia displays, and color-coded lighting to create a multisensory experience. This approach aims to engage audiences who are increasingly accustomed to digital distractions.
“In today’s world of shortened attention spans and constant distractions, integrating visual technology into music performance is crucial,” Niu wrote in her dissertation proposal. “By combining 3D-printed instruments, light displays, and multimedia elements, musicians can create immersive experiences that enhance audience engagement and accessibility, while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration across art forms.”
Niu’s innovative approach stems from the subtle differences in the five modes of Chinese pentatonic music, which can be difficult for Western audiences to discern due to their familiarity with major and minor scales. Her use of visual cues helps bridge this gap, allowing listeners to better understand and appreciate the music.
“This idea began as a way to better present pentatonic music,” Niu explained. “The differences between the modes are very subtle, and with the help of lights and visuals, audiences can easily distinguish them. Technology helps make the unfamiliar more accessible.”
Niu’s journey to UMaine was inspired by the university’s prominence in 3D-printing, including its globally recognized Advanced Structures and Composites Center. She discovered the program while completing her second master’s degree in viola pedagogy at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Liege, Belgium. A musician since the age of four, Niu has a rich educational and performance background, with degrees from Nanjing Normal University and the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, as well as studies in Switzerland and Belgium.
Her performances, including a recent one in Paris, have deepened her appreciation for cross-cultural exchange. Niu draws on the history of Chinese pentatonic music, tracing its evolution along the Silk Road, where it absorbed influences from Arabian, Italian, and other Western musical traditions. She also integrates the Five Elements theory of Earth, Metal, Wood, Fire, and Water into her performances, creating a conceptual bridge between nature and human experience.
Additionally, Niu’s research delves into ancient Chinese theories like the Eight Tones and Eight Trigrams, further enriching her visual and musical presentations. These elements add depth and context, allowing audiences to experience music through both sound and symbolism.
Niu’s culminating performance at UMaine is scheduled for April 2025. The event will feature collaborations with Intermedia students and Simon Debierre, a Guqin player involved in her Silk Road project. Together, they will create a cross-disciplinary showcase that celebrates the convergence of tradition, innovation, and cultural exchange.
As digital technology continues to evolve, Niu hopes her work will reimagine the role of music in connecting people, enhancing experiences through light, color, and artistry to create performances that inform and inspire.
