Theremin lessons

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

I just got my first theremin and I'm trying to find someone to teach me how to play it. No luck on craigslist yet; I myspace messaged the Lothairs to see if they could help but haven't heard back.

If there happens to be a good theremin player here who can at least get me started, hit me up. Likewise if you know of a place/person who can help out.

Comments

[ron_newman]

That's the most unusual request I've seen here all year. Perhaps The Noise Board would be a good place to repost it?

Really?

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

That's the most unusual request? Awesome! I would've put my money on

[Error: Irreparable invalid markup ('<a [...] canoe</a>') in entry. Owner must fix manually. Raw contents below.]

That's the most unusual request? Awesome! I would've put my money on <a href="http://community.livejournal.com/davis_square/1509196.html"?asking for any sightings of a very unique canoe</a>, but I suppose that was more of a query.

Re: Really?

[ron_newman]

Yeah, I'd forgotten about that one ;-) If you don't get any leads here, try b0st0n too.

Re: Really?

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

I can't edit my crappy html 'cause there's a reply.

Re: Really?

[ron_newman]

Sorry! Even if I delete the reply now, I don't think LJ will let you edit anymore.

[whitefire.livejournal.com]

I play a little and might be of some small assistance. What kind do you have? A two antenna model or a single?

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

A two antenna Moog one! I had a single antenna and then realized I couldn't really make melodies with it.

[whitefire.livejournal.com]

A lot of it is going to be practice and figuring out the quirks of your individual machine. Something that will help will be to go on youtube and try to find videos and watch the technique people use to make various sounds. Clara Rockmore is an obvious first step though there are is surprising amount of material out there.

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

Haha, yes, I've been watching plenty of Clara Rockmore, and there are some YT tutorials, plus the dvd that came with mine.

I'm convinced the tinfoil turban thing Clara Rockmore wears is responsible for her genius. That should be my first step.

[qwrrty.livejournal.com]

Drop tfarrell a line - I bet he knows who you could talk to about this.

[tfarrell.livejournal.com]

I'm flattered.

The first thing I would do is buy a copy of "How to Play the Theremin with Peter Pringle", from Peter Pringle (http://www.peterpringle.com). I would say it's the definitive guide to learning to play it.

If you then still want a live instructor, one of the Lothars, Jon Bernhardt, is on the Somerville Arts Council (http://www.somervilleartscouncil.org/aboutus/index.html). Perhaps you could reach him through them. I have no idea if he gives lessons, but he is quite good with it.

I don't give lessons, I am not any good with it, because I don't practice.

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

I just stumbled across your Etherwave review on Amazon. Neat!

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

wobblymusic is the Lothars...you could try contacting him directly.

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

Ooh, hot gossip. Thanks!

[shaxxon.livejournal.com]

He's a great guy too! And my best friend's landlord. He plays at the Bizarre Bazaar every year.

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

oh him! Super cool :)

[countlibras.livejournal.com]

I just wanted to say that's pretty awesome. I now feel the need to say that you should listen to Buck-Tick. Lots and lots of Buck-Tick.

(ifotismeni is probably going to tease me if she ever notices this post.)

:)

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

HAHA thanks. I will seek out Buck-Tick.

*blush*

[countlibras.livejournal.com]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r90oGQctKYQ

XD

Hel-lo!

[wobblymusic.livejournal.com]

If all you want to play theremin like Buck-Tick, then you won't need lessons. Or, based on that youtube video, even any practice.

Hi! I don't know of anyone in the Boston area who gives theremin lessons, but if you do hear of someone, I wouldn't recommend getting lessons from them unless you've actually seen them play. Many thereminists have an inflated sense of their own ability (I have never claimed to be anything more than OK, as is obvious from watching my own YouTube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-3lU3bgOgE)).

In addition to the Rockmore and various YouTube instructional videos, I would recommend two purchases:

1. Peter Pringle's instructional DVD. Peter is quite a character, but he's also an excellent thereminist and his DVD offers very specific techniques that will help you out. It can be purchased here (http://www.peterpringle.com/dvd.html).

2. Carolina Eyck's book, "The Art of Playing the Theremin". She's an excellent young German thereminist who's been playing since she was a child. I haven't used the book, but people I respect have recommended it. You can get it here (http://www.carolina-eyck.de/ENGLISH/method.html).

Other than that, practice-practice-practice! Practice scales. Practice intervals. Play along to music you like. Record yourself and listen back. You'll be surprised at how much more off-key you sound when you play it back that you thought you sounded while you were playing! Then practice some more.

Good luck!

Re: Hel-lo!

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

Thank you muchly for the tips!

Now that I've actually been messing around with a theremin, I have a whole new appreciation for anyone who gets anything songlike out of it. Do you just figure things out by ear? Also, did you just reverse the instrument to play it left-handed, or do you have to get a different theremin?

I can't wait to see the Peter Pringle dvd. He looks awesome.

I will employ your tips and I will surely surpass Clara Rockmore by the morning! (What's that about thereminists having an inflated sense of their own ability?)

Re: Hel-lo!

[wobblymusic.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I pretty much just figure things out by ear. I have to be able to hear the melody in my head before I can play it.

When I used an Etherwave like you have, I just flipped it around to play left-handed. The one I use now is fancier and I paid a little extra for a lefty-specific layout.

[squonk.livejournal.com]

What the hell is a theremin?

*Googles*

Wow. Wow. That is so freaking cool!

[ron_newman]

This event on January 19 may interest you.

[wobblymusic.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah! If you haven't seen the Theremin documentary, I endorse it highly (even if the filmmaker got a few facts wrong).

Awesome!

[mermaidcafe.livejournal.com]

Sweet! I'll totally check that out.