It's give-away time again! Carolina has graciously donated an autographed copy of her brand new theremin technique book, "The Art of Playing the Theremin" - and you can win it!
To enter, just post a comment to this story. On Sunday, March 26th, I'll pick a winner at random from all the people who have left comments. You can post multiple comments, but all your posts will only count as 1 entry.
Not sure what to post? Tell us something interesting about how you learned to play the theremin or perhaps why you want to learn. I'm looking forward to reading all the entries!
Update: Congratulations to robonil, our randomly-drawn winner in the giveaway contest. We'll be contacting Robonil via e-mail to confirm the prize shortly. Thanks to everyone who posted, and we're really sorry we can't give prizes to everyone who entered. Happy practicing!
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Dear Lord, he makes an awful din,
when he's on his theremin.
It sends me right out of my tree;
that awful lack of harmony.
He needs to learn the proper ways
to make good music when he plays.
No more of pulling out my hair,
let him pluck beauty from the air.
A book that has the skills within
might keep me from the loony bin,
and I've heard there's no tome finer
than this one by Carolina.
So Lord, before it's far too late,
will you tip the hand of fate
when Jason gives the dice a spin
and, just this once, let Gordon win.
Gordon, TPL
I wrote a little program to try to make a digital theremin with a webcam. It's far to be as cool as a real theremin but it's an attempt and you can contribute if you want.
Here is the file Theremin.pd (http://publicaccess....) You'll need the software Pure Data to make it work (puredata.info).
And if you need help, here is the page about it : Public Access (http://publicaccess.azylum.net/archives/144)
Thanks!
I've wanted a theremin since I was kid often struggling to imitate it with synthesizers throughout my music life but they fell short.
Then my music life went away for years while all my time was dedicated to work that provided security for my household. While I was pondering getting a theremin I got the old Moog video of Clara Rockmore and I knew like a lightening bolt that my guidance was sound. Moog released the Etherwave Pro and it met all the requirements I had for space and functionality and I set to work manifesting the money to get one.
At Thanksgiving all was ready, I ordered and I counted the days, then I counted the weeks, then I counted the fortnights, then I counted the months as the instrument was delayed.
It arrived on my birthday the next year and I stayed up for two nights straight playing after work, it's all I wanted to do. But there was a flaw in it and I had to exchange it but the wonderful little company helped me and I didn't need to be without it as a new one was prepared for me.
Just three weeks after EWPro arrived I was laid off. During the seven months of job searching daily playing kept me focused and sane. Something else compelled me to play, Bob Moog who had made this all possible for me was preparing to leave this world and I could not stop myself from playing in honor of his health everyday at 4 pm. During that process it was I who healed and was evenutally able to play from a place of joy when I expressed my grief for Dr. Moog's death.
The theremin was summoned into my life to restore music and connections to other musicians and it has been doing that as if by magic. I have enjoyed vibrant encounters with thereminsts from all over and have a drive to set up old equipment and make music that has been dead for years. Just recently for three weeks I had to part with EWPro while he went to Moog for modifications and that wonderful little company returned him to me in time to once again play as part of a special surprise favor for someone (that was the TW b-day tune); and with all the modifications he feels just perfect. I can't play everyday at 4 now because I got a job but I always rush home afterwards, step into that magic circle, and start to play the aether.
The theremin truly was a resurrection machine for me.
I just love the little company that build my EWPro.
And with that bit of pedantry, I enter the contest!
im in.
I can't wait to see and hear one played, and have a go myself. The history of how it came about is pretty damn neat as well.
Congrats on having such a great site about such a unique instrument.
My first (and only so far!) encounter with a theremin was at a local synth store in Phoenix about 5 years ago. They had a Moog theremin and I made some noise with it.
Fast forward a bit to about this time last year. I was taking my final classes for my design and illustration degree and decided that I was going to finally build that replica RCA cabinet with the help of a very talented sculpture professor and to use the shop before I went away. He's a busy guy and this was just an independent study project, and I was busy as well, so we both put it off a bit. Well, at my graduation ceremony I was up on stage shaking hands with professors when I get to him. He said, "see you at 8 AM tomorrow." We hadn't even gotten the wood yet. So, I spent about 2 weeks after graduation working on the cabinet, using Jason's drawings and about 5-10 photos. I did a pretty good job upon comparing it to the nice drawings that I just downloaded (Thanks Mark, Jeff, Andy, et. al.!!) and now I'm ready to get on the milling machine and lathe and get started on the antennae!
So here's the plan: finish the cabinet, get the electronics part working, learn how to play music (ha!) then learn how to play the thing!
Mike
Well, guess I'm in the drawing now!
-- Kevin
I can make it sound like Ethel Meremin
The book by Ms Eyck, tho the cover I like
Is vexingly written in Geremin
alors ne vous inquietez pas;
I know of a disk in English
that will make your playing Pringlish!
Gordon TPL
(Yes I know double entries don't count - I just couldn't resist!)
here is my "epic" history, my theremin was made in Argentina, and an pair of days before it arrived i received a letter that it sais that the package received in the airport (the theremin) it will be burned to have a "gallery of insects", after to read a similar message I went to the airport to fix the matter and nobody knew what really happened and they said to me that the theremin will be returned to Argentina, because the package was "a danger for the flora and Chilean fauna", the only solution that they finally gave to me was that it will be again checked for an entomologist and he will decide the final destination, after i discovered the specialist's name and found his telefone number in the directory, i spoke with him before that the theremin gonna be revised, i said him the history and he understood it perfectly and reacting very astonished by the ignorance of the employees of the customs. finally 5 days later it arrived the theremin at my home in good conditions.
A fellow who'd opened a door
To Pringle and Clara Rockmore
Got on his bike
To be taught by Ms Eyck
Making his theremin soar!
Another feisty young rogue
Played in the nude with his Moog
Like Jude and Sienna
With his pitch antenna
He's on the front cover of Vogue.
You can play with whatever you please
A Wavefront, or maybe a Kees
A Jaycar's okay
But a good RCA
Will make you feel weak at the knees.
Anyone else play for hours straight until your back and feet are aching?
Whoops. I've gone and done it. I suppose I'm in the drawing too now. I'll post a nice relevant story later, and reveal some really spectacular news about me and the theremin. . . . . duh duh duuuurrrr!
I've learned to play thrtrmin a little by me and then with Pringle's DVD. By the way I am not too confortable with the thai-ci position. :)
http://www.thereminw...
They set up a Paypal account for purchasing Carolina's book.
Currently 25 Euros (around $31 USD).
I'm sure many of us are looking forward to getting the book.
whodathunkit?
the thing i like most about the theremin, is that you don't have to touch it, therefore it is without a doubt, the most sanitary of all musical instruments.
i still don't know about learning how to play it though.
Jason is not (as yet) giving away a theremin. The "winner" of this contest will receive Carolina Eyck's instructional BOOK on HOW TO PLAY THE THEREMIN.
As for the theremin....you're on your own. ;-)
Andy
I would love to your "Wacky Waving Inflatable Flailing Tube Man" technique in print. What a hoot it would be :~)
And in general:
SERVI has been very helpful despite their limitations with banks and credit cards. If the pay pal option does not work for you, place an order any way and reply to the conf. email (they don't do anything till after the conf. and you set up payment) and ask for additional advice; they know a couple less conventional ways if you're willing to take a chance on parce post from the U.S.
If you can read any Spanish you should also check out Victor's free PDF method. It's very detailed with lots of photos, music exercises and fingerings, you can find his download link in the technique forum.
If nothing else this sure brought a lot of new members to register. Not a bad TW outreach event as well, thanks Carolina and Jason.
It'd be cool to hear about someone's first theremin book experiences and if this one is working for you.
I posted my amateur "impressions" of it but am already on my own path and so will not have the same relationship to it as a new practitioner will.
Please tell us all the blow-by-blow accounts!
Congrats again and happy playing.
I have written to SERVI three times and am awaiting their response.
Well, like the EWPro when it was first announced and now the Alesis Transact50 which is almost a year behind shipping the piano book was a bit of a tease too.
SERVI reports: "We hope to publish the piano book (probably with a CD with instrumental
accompaniments) in late summer this year."
So it's not out now after all, but sure looks like something to look forward towards. Maybe I'll win the give-a-way for that! :~)
I've written SERVI twice this year to check on the piano book and CD.
But they have not replied.
So I have to consider those additional resources "still in process".
hth - j
well, i received finally the book after 2 hands, and 2 or 3 months later, and the book was very important for me, in the musical thing and the a very special thing too, cos when i knew that i won the book i thought that like a message from somewhere who says...you have to live this life with a theremin..., and at this time im playing frecuently theremin on a little concerts and exhibitions and im the first one in chile, so far, the book had a good use, dont worry and keep you all playing theremin
salud!