Don't drink and play theremin...

Due to some rather depressing "real life issues" I started an unintended self-experiment: Had some cups of Orvieto (Italian white wine) and some cups of Grappa (Italian pomace schnaps) accompanied by some Espresso before my daily practice session...

+++ I never had such a smooth tone and relaxed vibrato before

--- Serious pitch issues due to stability problems...

ahah, I agree.
It happened to me while playing live. Now, I know I'm keeping the free drinks tickets for after the concerts !!

[i]Due to some rather depressing "real life issues"[/i]

Best wishes - hope these get resolved quickly and satisfactorily.

If it is anything related to your spouse / partner not appreciating the effort you are putting in to the Theremin world, I empathize fully.

As for the experiment - With my Theremin at the moment, I dont need to wobble to get a wobble... 8-( .. I think perhaps it got depressed over how long I am taking to sort it out, and took to the bottle!

Best regards.
Fred.

Thierry, I look forward to your dissertation.

[i]The Effects Of Various Psychoactive Drugs On Theremin Playing[/i]




(Nicotine, caffine, alcohol ...and... theobromine?)

Thierry, I also can relate to this.

I hope things get better for you soon.

As for alcohol, and theremins, well,
I just tell the audience, the more of those you drink, the more amazing this thing sounds. :)

Ahh...

I recall the first time I discovered the fact that you can't get away with having a few drinks and playing the theremin like you can other instuments.

I don't imagine there will be too many rock and roll overdoses by theremin virtuosos anytime soon.

Given the right set of circumstances, the theremin could be the road to sobriety.

"If you don't stop drinking, you'll never master this truly unique and esoteric instrument".

Dae23, I agree on both accounts.

I've actually witnessed a professional thereminist, (wasn't me), who shall remain nameless, suffer the effects of 4 glasses of alcohol during a live concert.

Intonation just went right out the window.

Nope, just can't consume alcohol at the theremin til after the performance.

As a theremin "experimenter," I can vouch for the fact that smoking a bowl will not improve your playing, but it sure sounds better.

Back in the early 80's I played an entire concert stoned out of my gourd on coke. I was on tour, we arrived late at the venue (which was a hockey arena), we had no time for a sound check of any kind and I was so tired I didn't think I could even get out onto the stage.

The sound guy suggested I do a line or two of coke (something that is always on hand in larger towns and cities) - SO I DID.

What a concert that was! I sailed through the whole thing and I was FABULOUS. After the event, I told the sound guy (who we affectionately called "Uncle Dad") that it was possibly the best concert I had ever given.

"Really," replied Uncle Dad, "I think you'd better wait until you have heard the recording I made of it." (U.D. had a habit of taping every concert we did).

It was TERRIBLE! But thanks to the coke, I had no idea how bad I was. In the cold light of the following morning I was amazed at how totally "out of it" I must have been.

I never did THAT again!