Congratulations on selecting a fascinating project. It may be a little complex for the beginner, but I believe it's achievable. After all, if Lev Termen could invent the instrument with 1918 technology, it has to be able to be done with 2005 technology. Just be glad if your professor isn't making you hand-wind your own coils, as he had to...
> Also, what are they like to play from peoples own
> experiences?
The Theremin is, bar none, the most difficult musical instrument to play, ever. Don't expect anyone to necessarily be able to play it before you graduate. If you can't find a local thereminist on:
http://theremin.meetups.com/
then you might want to call your friendly neighborhood college of music and ask if they have anyone with perfect absolute pitch who is willing to try toying with it for you.
> Are they particularly sensitive to body movement as well as
> close range hand movement?
Yes. After I bought mine, I noticed there was a strange wobble to all the notes I tried to play... it was detecting my chest breathing. I had to lose quite a bit of weight before that particular problem went away.
Think of it this way: your entire body becomes part of the instrument, as you are part of the inductive capacity of the volume around the antennas. So, any movement at all alters the inductive capacity, which changes the balance of the heterodyning. A well designed theremin is responsive to an extent that has to be experienced to be believed.
If you're interested in how the Theremin is actually played, go to:
http://www.peterpringle.com/
and get his DVD, "How To Play The Theremin". He demonstrates how he uses his entire body in his playing, and his performances on the DVD are amazing. For some more historical information, get the DVD "Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey" from your favorite online video retailer. Finally, this videotape features Clara Rockmore, who was the greatest Thereminist virtuoso yet:
http://www.moogmusic.com/detail.php?main_product_id=52
The tape mixes short performances with a discussion about the history of the instrument and its inventor, from Clara's personal experiences.
Your college library may be willing to buy these videos for you to watch, particularly if your professor is willing to request that they do so.
> Also, what are they like to play from peoples own
> experiences?
The Theremin is, bar none, the most difficult musical instrument to play, ever. Don't expect anyone to necessarily be able to play it before you graduate. If you can't find a local thereminist on:
http://theremin.meetups.com/
then you might want to call your friendly neighborhood college of music and ask if they have anyone with perfect absolute pitch who is willing to try toying with it for you.
> Are they particularly sensitive to body movement as well as
> close range hand movement?
Yes. After I bought mine, I noticed there was a strange wobble to all the notes I tried to play... it was detecting my chest breathing. I had to lose quite a bit of weight before that particular problem went away.
Think of it this way: your entire body becomes part of the instrument, as you are part of the inductive capacity of the volume around the antennas. So, any movement at all alters the inductive capacity, which changes the balance of the heterodyning. A well designed theremin is responsive to an extent that has to be experienced to be believed.
If you're interested in how the Theremin is actually played, go to:
http://www.peterpringle.com/
and get his DVD, "How To Play The Theremin". He demonstrates how he uses his entire body in his playing, and his performances on the DVD are amazing. For some more historical information, get the DVD "Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey" from your favorite online video retailer. Finally, this videotape features Clara Rockmore, who was the greatest Thereminist virtuoso yet:
http://www.moogmusic.com/detail.php?main_product_id=52
The tape mixes short performances with a discussion about the history of the instrument and its inventor, from Clara's personal experiences.
Your college library may be willing to buy these videos for you to watch, particularly if your professor is willing to request that they do so.
