The theremin is a strange instrument that you can play with your hands.Many people think it's a novelty used to create horror-movie soundtracks, but you can play many styles of music on the theremin.You'll be able to make your own beautiful music with this unusual instrument if you learn to orient your body properly, identify key notes, and position your fingers to manipulate melody.
Step 1: For maximum stability, adopt a slightly split-legged stance.
Put yourself in between the pitch and volume antennae by facing your theremin.Place the foot that is on the volume antenna side a little closer to the pitch antenna, and then place the other foot on that side farther away.The split stance will give you more stability than standing with your feet under your shoulders.Your fingertips should touch the pitch antenna if you extend your arm outward.The toes on your pitch antenna-side foot should be pointing in the same direction.
Step 2: You should move your hand towards the antenna.
You will use your dominant hand to control the pitch antenna when playing the theremin.The pitch antenna should be on the same side as your dominant hand if you face the theremin.Turn around if this is not the case.You will need a left-handed theremin if you are left handed.Some theremins are built for right-handed people, but you can build your own.Instructions on how to assemble a left-handed theremin will be included.
Step 3: Use your non-dominant hand to move towards the antenna.
If you are facing in the right direction, your non-dominant hand will be on the same side of the theremin as the volume antenna.The arm should be horizontal if you hover your hand over the antenna.If this isn't the case, raise or lower the height of your theremin so you can hold your arm straight.
Step 4: To find the theremin's range, reach toward and away from the pitch antenna.
The higher the notes will be if you move your hand closer to the antenna.Extending your dominant arm will allow you to find the upper end of your theremin's range.As described in the previous step.Slowly move your hand towards your body to find the lower end of its range.You will know the lowest note when the theremin begins to sound like it is vibrating or humming.
Step 5: The tuning knob can be used to adjust the size of the pitch field.
If your hand is near the center of your body, you should reach the lowest note.If you reach the lowest note while your hand is still a ways in front of you, turn the pitch tuning knob to the right.Turn the tuning knob to the left if you have to reach behind you to find the lowest note.When you disturb the theremin with your hands, it makes sounds.You can access every pitch the instrument can make in the area between the pitch antenna and your body by adjusting the size of the field.
Step 6: As much as possible, keep your body still.
If you move any of your body parts, you can disturb the theremin's field and change the sounds you make.You will not be able to dance or nod your head while playing your Theremin because of this.To avoid playing off-key notes and scales, try to keep all of your body parts besides your hands, arms, and fingers.
Step 7: Take your thumb and index finger and make a circle.
Theremin players use subtle changes in finger positioning to play different notes.Put your dominant-hand fingers in the eighth position by making a circle with your thumb and index finger.The circle should be parallel to the floor.You should extend your fingers, ring finger, and middle finger.The back of your hand should be facing the pitch antenna.
Step 8: With your dominant hand, find a high "c".
Turn on your electronic device.If you keep your fingers in the same position, you can move your dominant hand closer to the pitch antenna.
Step 9: Curl your fingers to find the middle one.
Curl your fingers in toward your palm if you keep your index finger and thumb in a circle.Start curling your index finger inward as soon as they align with your finger.If you have small hands, you may not reach middle c until your fist is closed.You might reach it earlier if you have larger hands.
Step 10: Try to play scales with aerial fingering positions.
The lowest note in a given octave is produced by your hand.The highest note will be produced by position 8.You should be able to play the six notes between high and middle with the help of anaerial fingering.The space of your hand has an entire octave within it.The basic 1st and 8th positions are similar for most theremin players, but the exact positioning of your fingers that produce each note in between will vary based on the size of the hand.An absolute pitch does not correspond to a specific finger position.
Step 11: Scales are used to find the best finger positions.
You have to play many scales until you know which fingerings yield which notes.If you want to listen to how the pitches shift as your finger positions change, try extending or uncurling your fingers.As you learn to associate the placement of your fingers with certain notes, playing accurate scales will soon become instinctive.
Step 12: Practice with staccato notes.
You will learn how to use your non-dominant hand to shape the sound of your music as you progress from scales to songs.You can play staccato notes on your theremin.These short sounds will be produced when you use your volume hand up and down.The sound will be cut short by the downward movement of your volume hand towards the end of the note.
Step 13: There is work to be done on playing smooth, continuous legato notes.
Keep your non-dominant hand above the volume antenna to play a string of notes.As you switch from note to note, this will make sure that nothing changes.
Step 14: A smooth sound can be achieved with the use of a vibrato.
The theremin can sound cold and eerie if you keep your hand completely still.If you keep your fingers in the correct position for the note you want to play, you will produce a warm, vibrating tone.To perform a glissando, which is a smooth, quick run of notes, you can vibrate your hand slightly while extending your fingers from position 1 to position 8.
Step 15: Attempt to play simple exercises.
Once you have played enough scales to become confident in the relationship between your finger positions and the pitches they produce, give some simple exercises or songs a try to practice switch between notes that aren't sequential.A book of instructions and exercises for beginning theremin players was published by Clara Rockmore.For simple, short tunes that will help you build your skills, visit https://zwentzen.files.wordpress.com.