AETHERPHON, global theremin family

Thank you, Kevin.  Just from having had experience as a musician, performing and teaching, I know that a poor instrument can sometimes really damage a student.  It's not that you need the top of the line, but you at least need something that will produce the sounds you are learning to make without causing you to develop bad habits or something that will keep you away from overwhelming frustration.  I'm not surprised that this is also true for the theremin.  

To begin with I doubt that my son will be looking to do anything with me.  He likes his independence.  I play to be available if he needs me.  I also play the piano, but I think the harp probably tunes into the theremin better.  In any case, we'll see what happens.  

I agree with you that a beginning student might not realize that their instrument is causing them a lot of their problems.  A beginner doesn't know enough to recognize that.  I have a beginning adult harp student that hasn't realized this with her celtic harp even after the legs fell out from under it and the sound was stuck in the wood not knowing if it could or should vibrate off of anything in her instrument. Naturally I cannot tell her this.  She bought the instrument without consulting me and thinks that because it looks good, it is good.  In her case she spent a little over $1200, quite a bit more than $200. lol!

Thanks for all your imput.

Merrie  

--- kkissinger@... wrote:

From: kkissinger@...
To: aetherphon@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Aetherphon] Rupert - First post- interest in theremin
Date: Fri, 04 Dec 2009 07:36:58 -0600

Quoting Mary Jones <harp@...>:
>
> Naturally the $79 and $83 ones appeal to me as a  beginning  
> instrument, but I'm not sure if that's wise.  Sometimes a  less  
> equiped instrument can make things too hard for a beginner.
>
Your instinct is good.  Since you are a musician and you wish to  
accompany your son on the harp to play (presumably) tonal music you  
will need a theremin with sufficient playability to allow this.

I own an Etherwave Standard.  It has excellent stability and  
playability.  I don't have experience with the Burns or Harrison  
instruments.

According to the Harrison website, the Harrison theremin is a  
non-traditional design -- the volume response is reversed and it uses  
a horizontal plate for pitch rather than a vertical rod.
>
> So, thank you very much for your help.  I'm going to keep   
> researching this and see what I can come up with.  Has anyone tried   
> these cheaper theremins?  Are they worth considering for a beginner?
>
> Merrie
>
The Moog Etherwave Standard is a good entry-level theremin that is  
quite playable for both tonal and non-tonal music.

A beginner may not realize that an inferior instrument contributes to  
the struggle to play it.  The theremins priced under $200 will likely  
disappoint you if your goal is to play traditional melodies.

-- Kevin