Just wanted to say: Hello!

Hi, I'm a a theremin newcomer and i 've quickly become a theremin-addict. After playing the piano for 17 years, after getting a diploma in piano at the conservatory, during this summer i felt in love with the theremin. I met in Pisa, Tuscany, a theremin player who performed in a square in the city center. I was captured by the sound of the instrument itself and wante to have one for me. After some months i had a little spare time so i ordered a Kees Enkelaar theremin to begin with.
Now it's alike one month that i've started practicing...
I just wanted to share my story with you and to say that this site and this forum is really great!
See you soon!
P.s:
Sorry for my english... it's a little bit poor!

Ah...another victim...er...I mean convert lured by the siren voice of the theremin! Welcome!

And congratulations on your accomplishments on the piano. I'm sure the experience will serve you well as you learn to play the theremin.
Please tell us more about your work with the piano and the theremin. What styles of music do you enjoy playing?

Don't worry about your English...it's not that bad. It's far better than if I tried to write Italian, that's for sure.

Thanks Jeff... Well, due to the fact that i attended the conservatory (a kind of school of music very conservative) i' ve always played classical music, and my favourite author is Chopin. Maybe just because my strong exercise on classical music i've never learned to play other styles, like jazz. That's a real pity, i've tried for like one year but i wasn't able. As for the other music i listen to a lot of different music styles, but i prefer electronic music like Massive Attack, Radiohead, Portishead, Air and similar.
As for the theremin, my approach is quite classical, i can't stop thinking how beautiful is a theremin performing with an orchestra or with a piano.
Being a professional musician has a little side-effect: you begin to be really accurate in playing expecially regarding pitch and intonation. That's definitely my priority in playing theremin: being accurate in "centering" any single note.

Welcome to Thereminworld.

You can find much info about precision playing in the "Aerial Fingering" thread.

Yes, "conservatories" can be "conservative". As you know, when one is in a music conservatory, one is focused on repertoire, juries, competitions, etc... and there is little time to venture out on one's own, so to speak. While those of us with conservatory training have obtained great educations, we often emerge from the experience with a diploma in hand and an intense focus on the technical demands of classical music. One of the challenges after such training is to build upon the knowledge and to explore a larger artistic world.

One of the great things about the Thereminworld community is the opportunity to learn from others. I am continually challenged and inspired by people here regardless of their musical background.

Regarding your desire to play jazz...

Jazz has many forms. Of course, there is improvised jazz and there is written-out jazz such as Gershwin. There is lounge-jazz, Big Band, Dixieland, etc. Go ahead and explore many styles of jazz and most likely, with your desire and motivation, you will find a genre in which you will flourish.

Best wishes to you as you take up the Theremin. To play the Theremin beautifully has its challenges and rewards. Enjoy the trip!

-- Kevin

Thanks Kevin... i'm really enjoying the trip in the world of the theremin... At the moment it's a little bit challenging trying to get together enough time to study the piano and the theremin after an entire day of studying for the university. At the moment i'm preparing (with a female friend who is also a pianist) a 4 hands piece by Satie, "Trois moreceaux en forme de poire". I think i'll also ask her to perform together in a duo piano-theremin, that could be interesting.

Welcome to the maddening world of thermin playing!

Which piano-theremin duet do you think you will be playing?

Stated that i' ve got a terrible flu and now i'm writing lying on the bed, i can't wait till i'll be able again to play the theremin.
Anyway to answer last question, i think i'll try to find as many cello-piano duets scores as i can at the conservatory library...
I' ve a female friend who is a really talented pianist and she agreed to try to play the piano with me at the theremin. Our first attempt will be of course the swan, then the various "Ave Maria" and one or two pieces for piano and contrabass (double bass). To be more specific i've found a nice score, "Chanson triste" by Koussevitzky.