| Let's face it, we
don't find ads for Theremin instructors stuck to the phone pole
on the corner or the bulletin board at the laundramat with little
tear-off phone numbers all the time, like we do for guitar or piano.
We have to take our education where we can get it.
People
At this point I used to recommend a web site that facilitated local
Theremin get-togethers. However, they've started charging for their
services. Check back here in a month or so and I'll have a free
alternative available for you.
Your local thereminists almost certainly won't be prepared to
give you lessons, but they can be a source of valuable advice.
Videos and DVDs
The Moog Music theremins come with an instructional video. The
Etherwave comes with a videotape featuring Lydia Kavina,
one of the world's leading thereminists. I don't personally like
her method, but many people do. The Etherwave Pro comes with
a new DVD featuring Pamelia Kurstin, but I've heard it's almost
more of an infomercial for the instrument than a lesson.
However, I believe that the best educational material is a new
DVD called How
To Play The Theremin, by Peter
Pringle. Peter's excellent DVD demonstrates superior methods,
patiently and clearly, and includes detail about selecting and using
accessories such as amplifiers and sound effects. The DVD also includes
several performances which are really spectacular! I suggest that
you may wish to buy the DVD before selecting a Theremin,
as it shows the relative merits of different types of instrument.
Books
Virtuoso thereminist Clara Rockmore wrote a brief book, Method
For Theremin. With her permission, it's available for free download.
It's 14 pages long, has 9 pages of sheet music, and 5 pages of notes.
I find it's not very helpful to the complete novice, but may be
regarded as educational for its progressive exercises.
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