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

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.