I should start by saying that this input isn't from an experienced thereminist, but just someone who has been learning since February. However, the points you raise all sound familiar to me, as I was struggling with them myself just a month or two ago.
I agree that consistency in everything is absolutely key. Until I got the hang of daily tuning to a consistent interval, progress was almost impossible. As you'll know, the weather in the UK can change from heatwave to frostbite in 24 hours, and, as this effects the tuning, I found that aerial-fingering/muscle memory that had worked well one day could be inaccurate the next day. Whenever that happened it felt like I was starting over and having to relearn, and, even if I managed to retune the theremin, it often hindered my practice and dented what little confidence I'd gained. It was only once I got used to daily tuning to a precise interval that I felt able to make any (small) advancement at all.
From what I've observed, it seems that, despite certain "schools" of aerial-fingering, no two thereminists appear to have an identical style of play. I guess everyone champions the method they prefer leading to inevitable ongoing debate. Personally, I wonder if everyone has to find what "fits" right for them as an individual, so there's probably no harm in experimenting in the early stages; I know I did. Personally, I found knuckle extending didn't work for me, although it's probably one of the most efficient ways of playing. My problem was that I broke my little finger several years ago, and it has an annoying habit of "popping" from fully bent to fully open; this is beyond my control, and cannot be rectified by practice, (despite the fact that as a lifelong pianist I used to be able to move it entirely independantly of my other fingers). This "jumping" litle finger made the knuckle-extending method unworkable for me. I also tried an open-handed method, which, although I found it easier for larger intervals, was much less stable generally. Over a period of time, I settled into a style of aeriel-fingering that felt natural and seemed to work ... although I still have much to learn.
Finally, you mentioned about playing at a slight upward angle towards the antenna. I've observed that people play both at an angle or straight, but I guess whatever you chose, (or feels right) you must be consistent about it. With non-linear theremins, (where the notes intervals are narrower closer to the antenna) I personally find that there's a line or path of optimal play which, for me, seems to curve upwards towards the antenna, in a way that allows me to use more or less consistent fingering over narrower intervals by adjusting the angle of play, (if that makes any sense; I've possibly not explained myself very clearly).
Above all things, I'd say that the most important is to enjoy yourself, have fun, and don't let anyone discourage you!
I agree that consistency in everything is absolutely key. Until I got the hang of daily tuning to a consistent interval, progress was almost impossible. As you'll know, the weather in the UK can change from heatwave to frostbite in 24 hours, and, as this effects the tuning, I found that aerial-fingering/muscle memory that had worked well one day could be inaccurate the next day. Whenever that happened it felt like I was starting over and having to relearn, and, even if I managed to retune the theremin, it often hindered my practice and dented what little confidence I'd gained. It was only once I got used to daily tuning to a precise interval that I felt able to make any (small) advancement at all.
From what I've observed, it seems that, despite certain "schools" of aerial-fingering, no two thereminists appear to have an identical style of play. I guess everyone champions the method they prefer leading to inevitable ongoing debate. Personally, I wonder if everyone has to find what "fits" right for them as an individual, so there's probably no harm in experimenting in the early stages; I know I did. Personally, I found knuckle extending didn't work for me, although it's probably one of the most efficient ways of playing. My problem was that I broke my little finger several years ago, and it has an annoying habit of "popping" from fully bent to fully open; this is beyond my control, and cannot be rectified by practice, (despite the fact that as a lifelong pianist I used to be able to move it entirely independantly of my other fingers). This "jumping" litle finger made the knuckle-extending method unworkable for me. I also tried an open-handed method, which, although I found it easier for larger intervals, was much less stable generally. Over a period of time, I settled into a style of aeriel-fingering that felt natural and seemed to work ... although I still have much to learn.
Finally, you mentioned about playing at a slight upward angle towards the antenna. I've observed that people play both at an angle or straight, but I guess whatever you chose, (or feels right) you must be consistent about it. With non-linear theremins, (where the notes intervals are narrower closer to the antenna) I personally find that there's a line or path of optimal play which, for me, seems to curve upwards towards the antenna, in a way that allows me to use more or less consistent fingering over narrower intervals by adjusting the angle of play, (if that makes any sense; I've possibly not explained myself very clearly).
Above all things, I'd say that the most important is to enjoy yourself, have fun, and don't let anyone discourage you!
