AETHERPHON, global theremin family

>Is it that the stumbling block is that as a melodic instrument it  
>takes a deal of time and dedication to achieve the basic requirement  
>of playing in tune, and that this conflicts with the requirement for  
>relatively instant gratification that goes with being 19?

Yes.  That's exactly it.  I'm concerned that he may not have the same approach I have that was developed in me from the age of 3.  It's not realistic to expect him to have it.  Most people have no idea what it takes to play an instrument well.  Short of living it, I can't expect them to, my son included.  

>You may like to consider an alternative approach - thinking of the  
>theremin not as a melodic instrument but as an ur-synthesizer and an  
>instrument of electronic and experimental music.

I have to say that you're moving out of my turf.  I am going to have to sit with this concept a while to assimalate it, I think.  I'm conditioned totally into pitch and tone quality in producing on an instrument.  My forte is classical piano and harp.  Outside of being a amateur radio operator (my son is, too) we have no electrical experience.  I'm willing to explore this area.  It's just foreign to me.  

>This is the way I approached the theremin - not concerning myself  
>with praying precise pitches, but by feeding the output through a  
>simple delay pedal - this adds pseudo-polyphony, a rhythmic base and  
>a way of enriching the tonal qualities of a held note. Plus it sounds  
>neat right from the get-go and is (at least for me) just a ton of fun.

I had almost felt something like this might be possible with the theremin.  To have that kind of flexibility would make it well in advance of all other instruments I know.  Perhaps there are other instruments that allow for this, but I don't know them.  
Very interesting and the concept alone is interesting to contemplate.  In my experience, an approach like this on a classical instrument would lead to nothing short of disaster, however I'm willing to even rethink that.   

>Whether this approach is something that might appeal to you or your  
>son is a matter of personal preference. To help you decide I invite  
>you to visit my youtube account and listen to a few recordings I have  
>made using just a moog etherwave theremin and a marshall echohead  
>delay pedal.

I have dial up, so it's taking me a while to get your youtube presentation.  I'm downloading it as I write this.  
I believe this kind of approach might work very well for my son.  For me it could be like learning a foreign language with nothing serving as a guide.  My life is pretty involved at the moment so I don't know how much attention I could put on this, but my son is available.  He has time and he has interest.  

>Account http://www.youtube.com/user/GordonCharlton

>Recordings with just one delay (and some reverb and/or faux stereo in  
>post-production) - Moths Are Made Of Dust, Bouncing Blumfeld, Chikhai  
>Bardo.

>Gordon Charlton
>recording/performing as Beat Frequency

Thank you very much, Gordon.  These conversations are very helpful.  

Merrie