AETHERPHON, global theremin family

I have just joined your group because of my interest in the theremin.  Actually my nineteen year old son is pushing for this, but I'm interested as well.  I joined because I wanted to get some education on this.  My son is interested in learning to play a theremin.  I wanted to know what was the best way to start (teachers, etc) and where the best instrument was.  
I'd be interested in whatever any one has to contribute. We saw a movie on the theremin several years ago and my son and I have not forgotten it.  He keeps asking me how he can do this, so your help will be appreciated.
Thank you.
Merrie

Hi,

i recommend subscribing to this list:

http://www.discoveret.org/mailman/listinfo/levnet

and asking the same questions there, as well as to visit that website:

http://www.thereminworld.com/

...have fun learning about an incredible instrument and be prepared to enter
a helpful, dedicated, little community...


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Thank you.  I'm going over now to see about joining.
I did find www.thereminworld.com mentioned at your site so I've been exploring that already.  I clicked over and listened to a concert of some people in the UK performing on the theremin.  Very interesting. 
Thank you for your help.
Merrie

--- henkel.chris@... wrote:

From: Chris Henkel <henkel.chris@...>
To: aetherphon@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Aetherphon] First post - interest in theremin
Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 06:53:35 +0100

Hi,

i recommend subscribing to this list:

http://www.discoveret.org/mailman/listinfo/levnet

and asking the same questions there, as well as to visit that website:

http://www.thereminworld.com/

...have fun learning about an incredible instrument and be prepared to enter
a helpful, dedicated, little community...

welcome to the theremin community.

Most everyone learns this instrument on their own without a teacher as a teacher is hard to find.

Most people will be able to play recognizable tunes within a year of play - that is when OTHER people can recognize the tune, not the player. There are those who take to it rather quickly and manage to do a lot more in a short amount of time such as Thomas Grillo, Thereminminstrel and Yeapystar, but those are exceptions. It is very difficult to play in the classical style so one may consider just doing it with a synthesizer, which is easy and accurate.

Two of the most difficult challenges is to stand still (sitting is easier) and holding the pitch hand steady. 

Available commercial theremin models:

http://www.moogmusic.com/theremin/?section=product&product_id=14
http://www.soundslikeburns.com/
http://harrisoninstruments.com/302/302_description.html

The last one uses horizontal antennas which requires a different playing style. switching from vertical pole antenna playing to horizontal antenna playing and vice versa is difficult.

You can play music either way.

In addition to a theremin you will need an amplifier or PA speaker such as the pole mounted JBL EONs or MACKIE powered speakers. To start out with a cheap guitar amp is sufficient until one knows whether or not one wants to continue. Pole mounted speakers are preferred because theremins are easier to play in tune when you can locate your ears near their speaker.

A mixer is nice if you want to play along with accompaniment, prerecorded or from a synthesizer.

Effects, reverb, distortion and delay are also desirable but the delay is helpful in learning to play the instrument so I would recommend it first. A delay pedal helps you keep on pitch and allows to lay down a drone or a pattern to play over which gives one a reference by which to play in tune better.

Most of the best players use "aerial fingering" based on Clara Rockmore's style and their are DVDs available to teach this style of play. The hand positions are a convenient way to symbolize note positions. It really doesn't matter to the instrument how you hold your fingers and hand, just how much of it is how close to the antenna.

You might want to think about what kinds of music you want to play and the more you play the better you will get but that increases if you are fortunate enough to have other musicians to play with.

Finally, the "offness" of the theremin is its primary charm as this makes it more human than a precise rock steady pitch and volume.

rupert

Mary,
Welcome to the strange world of theremin.

I think it is wonderful that you support your son's interest in this most unusual instrument.  

I remember asking my father for help buying a monophonic voltage controlled synthesizer in 1975 (I was 18 he was 58, a passion of mine since 1968), and that resulted in nothing.  He had always supported my instrument interests before that.  So, I bought my first micromoog 2 years later, for which I am forever grateful.

Electronic instruments are wonderful.  The theremin is unique, however.

As Peter Pringle always quotes Clara Rockmore (my paraphrase) 'you have to know where you want to go with the theremin'.

What kind of music does he like that he has heard on the theremin? 
What does he want to play?  That is the starting point.

I concur with Kevin, the Moog Etherwave standard is a great start (and well beyond).  

I would say it is the modern reference standard, in that it has probably the highest number sold, in use for the most years, as well as stable, well documented, and easily repairable and modifiable (a fun hobby for the technically minded).  Bob Moog should be sainted for his promotion, and the proliferation of the theremin, Clara and Nadia, and fine theremins (not toys like pitch only).

The the etherwave standard sounds very good (is adjustable in timbre, when played well it sounds very good, can be processed to sound great), and is clearly playable in a precise fashion (by those skilled in the art, a hard task melodically, and delightfully fun playing experimental/Avant-garde).

I play guitar, bass, synth, hammond, harmonica, etc, but I have a devil of a time playing melodic, traditional music on a theremin (which I can do on the other instruments).  But, that's not what I want to play.

Gordon's approach is closer to my own personal theremin entertainment playing, with effects and processing to transform it to a sonic synthesizer, that is spacially controlled.

That said, I most adore the sound of my 1929 RCA ar164 direct to a loudspeaker.

If you want a starter theremin, that is inexpensive, stable, sounds good, completely playable (with much diy sound mod potential), you can't go wrong with an Etherwave standard.  

Try one first if you live near a seller, or owner.  There is likely a theremin owner not too far away.  Thanks to Dr. Bob., among others.

Get an effects box, and an amplifier speaker.  And headphones.  hehe.  No, really.

Etherwave standards (and all Moog theremins for that matter) resell easily if interest isn't held.

bret

--- In aetherphon@yahoogroups.com, "bluestreak7cva" <harp@...> wrote:

>
> I have just joined your group because of my interest in the theremin.  Actually my nineteen year old son is pushing for this, but I'm interested as well.  I joined because I wanted to get some education on this.  My son is interested in learning to play a theremin.  I wanted to know what was the best way to start (teachers, etc) and where the best instrument was.  
> I'd be interested in whatever any one has to contribute. We saw a movie on the theremin several years ago and my son and I have not forgotten it.  He keeps asking me how he can do this, so your help will be appreciated.
> Thank you.
> Merrie
>

Mary wrote:  I wanted to know what was the best way to start (teachers, etc) and where the best instrument was. 
---------
Mary,
Finding an appropriate theremin teacher, depends on where you live, and what you seek.

Peter Pringle's 'How to play the theremin'  DVD is an excellent introduction to learning precise theremin playing, in your home.  

http://www.peterpringle.com/dvd.html

There are other methods presented in print (Eyck, Rockmore, others).   Classes are held at theremin conferences around the world.

best,
bret



      

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--- In aetherphon@yahoogroups.com, "echoplex" <echoplex@...> wrote:

> I concur with Kevin, the Moog Etherwave standard is a great start 
> (and well beyond).  

A somewhat less expensive alternative is the Burns B3 Deluxe, which runs $200. 

http://www.soundslikeburns.com

The B3 Deluxe is not a toy or a novelty box, it's a fully playable, two-antenna instrument with a five octave range (the website has many videos of professional players using it.) It's very "basic" - unlike the Etherwave it has no tone controls. It's one tone is very "mellow", where the Etherwave has controls to make the tone brighter.

Burns also offers the "basic" B3 instrument for $150, the difference being the box. The B3 is built into a smaller plastic box, so the antennas are a bit too close together to be played properly (theremin antennas should be at least 18" apart so as to not interfere with each other.) The B3 Deluxe is well worth the extra 50 bucks.

Burns also makes a B3 Pro, which is housed in a nice wood finish cabinet with performance "preview" mute switch, but the price ($350) is getting close to the cost of an Etherwave.