AETHERPHON, global theremin family

Hi all,
I'm giving a workshop this weekend for 'young people' (apparently this is a
definition of what the UK government refer to for 14-25 year olds).  It's 3
hours long and there will be 10 participants.  I have two theremins (but
only one amp).   It is in a gallery and is part of an exhibition about a
Russian girl with X-ray eyes!

INTROSPECTION - EXTRAMISSION considers the interaction of invisible
phenomena and the body using various media including photographs, objects,
projections and light boxes. The exhibition, devised for Leamington Spa Art
Gallery & Museum, explores the claims of a Russian teenager known as 'The
Girl with X-ray Eyes', magical myths surrounding calculus stones and the
work of Austrian physician, Franz Mesmer, who conceived the notion of
'animal magnetism'.

Artist Phillip Warnell uses the body as a site of exploration producing
works using performance, images, and sound. His work is distinguished by its
attention to detail, to scrutiny, to humour, to technique and to the complex
relationship between live performance and the mediated image.
***

I would be interested to know aetherphon listers thoughts on how I can
structure this as I'm relatively clueless when it comes to education - and
'young people'!  (NB; not allowed to call the kids).  I can give a small
talk about theremin and play a few pieces at start so there's some
educational value.  There will be an assistant and the 'young people' can go
and look round exhibition during workshop.  I wondered about splitting the
group into two and to use the exhibition as a space to gather ideas to bring
back to the theremin, rather than just letting everyone queue up to make an
unstructured racket.  Apparently they're all 'nice' young people (Royal
Leamington Spa is v. posh) and most will be likely to play another
instrument.  I'm worried about noise carriage (was thinking of alternating
instruments with headphones), and also people getting bored with waiting to
play.   And also 3 hours is a fair whack of time.  I'd also like the ones
who may have some theremin playing potential (which I guess might be 1 or 2
in the group) do actually get a chance to do something useful in the time,
and maybe have a performance at the end (would this be too much pressure on
them?).  I also wondered if graphic scores would be a good idea to encourage
a bit of structured music making?

Anyway, your thoughts welcomed.

I picked this project up this week.  Can you believe that the gallery
promoted and filled up this workshop which was suppose to be given by a
musician who didn't play the theremin or even OWN one?  They got in touch
with me when they realise you can't even find anywhere that would hire you
an instrument in this country.  I do find it unbelievable (this isn't the
first work I've picked up like this), i mean, I wouldn't give a violin
workshop if I neither played nor owned a violin would I?

There are still many miles to go...

-- 
Susi
(aka Ms Hypnotique)
Tel: 07981 222799

http://www.hypnotique.net
http://www.lunette.co.uk
http://www.babyslave.net

See our blog: http://www.babyslave.wordpress.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Don't get too technical or talk too long or you'll lose them. Demo a 
song that they'll likely already know. Plan on some "hands on" time. 
Keep it light and FUN! Don't be boring. 

Perhaps the best advice, however jaded, is don't make them think too 
much. They already do a lot of this at school.

Philip

On 2 Jun 2008, at 18:15, Philip wrote:

> Don't get too technical or talk too long or you'll lose them. Demo a
> song that they'll likely already know. Plan on some "hands on" time.
> Keep it light and FUN! Don't be boring.
>
Just a thought; you could tie into the current fad for talent shows  
and make the "hands on" time a "Got Theremin Talent?" deal - whisper  
the name of a popular song to each participant, and if the audience  
recognises it he gets a Mars Bar or something.

Gordon

> Perhaps the best advice, however jaded, is don't make them think too
> much. They already do a lot of this at school.
>
> Philip
>

> the name of a popular song to each participant, and if the audience  
> recognises it he gets a Mars Bar or something.
> 

Gordon, that Pavlov's Dogs Technique works every time!!

Philip

On 3 Jun 2008, at 11:53, Philip wrote:
> > the name of a popular song to each participant, and if the audience
> > recognises it he gets a Mars Bar or something.
> >
>
> Gordon, that Pavlov's Dogs Technique works every time!!
>
> Philip
>

Ha ha. I hadn't thought of that. Perhaps not every time. I bet you  
couldn't play a merengue, even if I offered you a pavlova.

Gordon

True true. But I can tuna fish.

FEELEEP

> 
> Ha ha. I hadn't thought of that. Perhaps not every time. I bet you  
> couldn't play a merengue, even if I offered you a pavlova.
> 
> Gordon
>

I don't think these guys know what a pavlova is. And
I'm certain they wouldn't want one if they knew. Not
something we have in the US. Still can't figure out
why the Kiwis go crazy for 'em here.

Oh....I just got how it might be connected to merengue
(or marenge). Nevermind.

C





--- Gordon Charlton <gordonc@...> wrote:

> 
> On 3 Jun 2008, at 11:53, Philip wrote:
> > > the name of a popular song to each participant,
> and if the audience
> > > recognises it he gets a Mars Bar or something.
> > >
> >
> > Gordon, that Pavlov's Dogs Technique works every
> time!!
> >
> > Philip
> >
> 
> Ha ha. I hadn't thought of that. Perhaps not every
> time. I bet you  
> couldn't play a merengue, even if I offered you a
> pavlova.
> 
> Gordon
> 
> ------------------------------------
> 
> AETHERPHON, the global thereminist community
> 
> To contact the moderator, e-mail
> porphyrous@...
> 
> 
> Yahoo! Groups Links
> 
> 
> 
> 
>

On 3 Jun 2008, at 23:19, carvin knowles wrote:

> I don't think these guys know what a pavlova is. And
> I'm certain they wouldn't want one if they knew. Not
> something we have in the US. Still can't figure out
> why the Kiwis go crazy for 'em here.
>
The yielding crumbly crispness of the shell, the gooey creamy  
sponginess of the insides, the tart intense flavour hit of the soft  
fruit, the pure, snowy whiteness dramatically streaked and stained  
with juices, the massive portions, the opportunity to snipe at their  
Aussie neighbours about where it was invented. What's not to like?

G

>
>
> Oh....I just got how it might be connected to merengue
> (or marenge). Nevermind.
>
> C

Oh, is that what it is supposed to be? I always
thought they were made of styrofoam as some kind of
joke to play on people who were expecting dessert. 


--- Gordon Charlton <gordonc@...> wrote:

> 
> On 3 Jun 2008, at 23:19, carvin knowles wrote:
> 
> > I don't think these guys know what a pavlova is.
> And
> > I'm certain they wouldn't want one if they knew.
> Not
> > something we have in the US. Still can't figure
> out
> > why the Kiwis go crazy for 'em here.
> >
> The yielding crumbly crispness of the shell, the
> gooey creamy  
> sponginess of the insides, the tart intense flavour
> hit of the soft  
> fruit, the pure, snowy whiteness dramatically
> streaked and stained  
> with juices, the massive portions, the opportunity
> to snipe at their  
> Aussie neighbours about where it was invented.
> What's not to like?
> 
> G
> >
> >
> > Oh....I just got how it might be connected to
> merengue
> > (or marenge). Nevermind.
> >
> > C
> 
> ------------------------------------
> 
> AETHERPHON, the global thereminist community
> 
> To contact the moderator, e-mail
> porphyrous@...
> 
> 
> Yahoo! Groups Links
> 
> 
> 
> 
>