Another Amateur Approaches!

Hello Theremin World!

I just got myself a Theremini, I've watched some online videos, and I'm having a go at the instrument. I'm exited and a complete amateur, so expect some stupid questions!

In my day job I'm a statistician, moonlight as a fire breather, and used to train horses, so I suppose I just have a penchant for pursuing odd skills. If anyone wants to trade Skype theremin lessons for stats tutoring... let me know!

At the moment I've gotten to the point where I can somewhat consistently produce notes rather than just sounds (small steps) and have even played an almost unrecognizable couple of bars from a song (with some help from pitch correction). I am currently trying to figure out if I should emulate one performer's hand positions or use them as inspiration to develop my own that are comfortable for me (I've seen both as advice on these forums so it seems there isn't a solid consensus on that). I have a pre-existing neck injury, so my primary focus is on being able t perform comfortably even if that means sacrificing precision. I have seen several comments that many techniques require a lot of body tension and those are certainly not for me. 

Anyway, that's my introduction to the community, looking forward to learning from y'all and improving my skills! 

Best,
Dakota

PS, I'm located in Northern Virginia right outside DC. I don't know if there is an existing theremin community around here?

My advice is to pick a pitch field "sensitivity" (fraction of octave per open/closed hand - I picked 1/3 octave) and develop your vibrato first.  Play everything with heavy vibrato as this is easy and fun and will mask many pitch issues.  Pitch field sensitivity will determine your vibrato technique, which will heavily influence your approach to playing intervals.

In my day job I'm a statistician, moonlight as a fire breather, and used to train horses, so I suppose I just have a penchant for pursuing odd skills.

New theremin player here: chemist, fire dancer, and former doorknob salesman.  I feel you on the "odd skills" front.

Hey Stray,

I agree everyone here has odd skills or are just odd people in general.

You stir up some old memories of mine, in my hippie days (1970) I spent a lot of time in Paradise and Sterling up the hill from you, a forest so thick I could not walk through it. Thought I would retire there but got stuck here in Temecula, not so bad as no real wild fire danger.

Christopher

Hi Chris,

I was actually born in Paradise, though perhaps a few years after you left.  It's still pretty and forested, and only very rarely is it on fire.  Until you come back or I learn otherwise, I'll call myself the best theremin player in Butte county.

-Stray

Stray said:

"I was actually born in Paradise, though perhaps a few years after you left.  It's still pretty and forested, and only very rarely is it on fire.  Until you come back or I learn otherwise, I'll call myself the best theremin player in Butte county."

Happening at this moment: A lot scary and I almost retired to this beautiful place, today the entire town of 26,000 people is burning to the ground and now his city of Chico is threatened.

To the finest Thereminst in Butte County be safe.

Christopher