Disclosed is an electronic musical instrument which comprises: manipulator for defining a manipulation region of at least one dimension and for achieving performance manipulation within the manipulation region; position detector for detecting the position of performance manipulation within the manipulation region; arithmetic operation unit for calculating information pertaining to the direction and velocity of movement from the time change of the position of performance manipulation; tone signal generator for generating a tone signal using the information pertaining to the direction and velocity information as a parameter of controlling the tone signal; and latch unit for latching information pertaining to at least one of the direction and velocity of the movement, wherein the tone signal generator generates a tone signal using said information latched by the latch unit when the latch unit is operated. Whereby, information pertaining to the manipulation of the performance manipulator against player's will can be neglected by the player's will and a continuous tone can be generated as desired.