Theremin drop out rate...

True... Probably a large number of them are closet players and I bet you, several of them are probably amazing at it! I'd love to see/hear that!

I think probably many theremins end up in the back of the garage or in the attic rather than on the open market.

"I think it would be wonderful if there were thousands of Clara Rockmore's swimming about, but there aren't."  Clara Rockmore

Back in the "Coalport ~ Talking Machine" thread, [7/17/2012 3:37:24 PM]  Amethyste said:

"i still do not know to this day "what" kept me going rather than making it firewood for my furnace."

I wonder if this might be a clue to where the "missing" theremins go..

Even when I gave up on playing my EWS I didn't really consider getting rid of it.  It's much too cool of an electronic music oddity / anachronism.  I suspect many buy them just for that factor alone.

[EDIT] Perhaps "gave up" was too strong a phrase.  More like "experienced first-hand what a bear it was to play, and didn't think I could do it justice, particularly given my rigid goofing-off schedule".  Never say never and all that.

I believe that by the time Bob Moog died in 2005 a total of about 10,000 Etherwave theremins (mostly kits) had been sold. Since then perhaps a few thousand more have been purchased...

The Etherwave Standard I bought almost two years ago is serial number 19215. The Plus model I just purchased is #2766. I don't know if they both started at #1, but if so you have some more accurate numbers to hypothesize about.

Well. If it helps, I'm not stopping anytime soon. I may not be in a band or record songs I've created on the ole you tube..But.. I have played many songs on her. Some I've made up and others with others.  

I think that the Theremin was directed into a specific avenue.. then when it came to the intersection sat for a moment with its hazards on. 

So it depends where you want to turn. I like playing bluegrass myself. I cant play a Tchiakovsky or a claire de lune, but I can keep a mean bass line when it comes to bluegrass, or some plain ole blues.

So I believe that there will be an increase in known theremin players and an increased interest as an instrument as a whole. 

So if we account for the increase, and then divide by the amount of thereminists we know plus 21981 minus all the quitters and that leaves us with..

I/T + 21981 - Q = U   And thats where you'll find me

but... Q would be

I/T + 2198 - U = Q     Lemon drops