Author Archives: KipRosser

Lesson 58
The Xtremes: Moving Toward Free Flow, Part 3

Here, you’ll pick up where the first two Free Flow exercises, Lessons 13 and 14, left off (that was way back in The Fundamentals). You’re beginning lessons where you’ll dig into exploring your own personal means of self expression. And once again, we want to do it in a way that feels as if it [...]

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Lesson 48
The Xtremes: Xtreme Pitch Jumping, Part 5

Please make sure to practice Part 4 before working on this one. Part 5 is directly builds on the previous lesson. In this final pitch jumping exercise you’ll play along with music again and you’ll eliminate all traces of sliding. In addition to your ability to listen and consistently intuit the locations of compatible pitches, [...]

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Lesson 47
The Xtremes: Xtreme Pitch Jumping, Part 4

This lesson focuses on refining muscle memory, building on your natural ability to intuit, pinpoint and play pitches that are far apart. You will have to adapt your earlier skill set of sliding from one pitch to the next, because here, while you are intentionally sliding and accentuating each destination pitch, you will also be [...]

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Lesson 43
The Xtremes
Working at the Threshold, Part 2

IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to view Part 1 before trying this lesson; it can make a big difference in your progress with most of the lessons that follow. Without making the interior adjustment described in Part 1, you may find a) that your volume hand is so close to the volume loop that you hit [...]

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Lesson 42
The Xtremes
Working at the Threshold, Part 1

WATCH THIS VIDEO IN ITS ENTIRETY BEFORE MAKING ANY CHANGES TO YOUR THEREMIN.   This is the first in the series known as “Extremes.” As such, they’re the most challenging lessons in this course, with each one a) building on everything from the the preceding lessons, and b) each lesson becoming increasingly difficult. But first… [...]

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Lesson 41
THE ESSENTIALS
Getting Out of Your Own Way, Part 2

Let’s look at the second choice you can make to work past the obstacle of stopping and starting. By using this distinct “stop and start” method as a conscious choice, you will improve muscle/ pitch memory, relieve tension and make it all the way through a song.

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Lesson 40
THE ESSENTIALS
Getting Out of Your Own Way, Part 1

As thereminists, we want to get the melody right! We practice and practice, going back and forth through a piece, and a lot of times, it seems we’ll we never make it to the end! Here is the first of two ways to overcome what is probably the most common obstacle thereminists face when working [...]

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Lesson 39
THE ESSENTIALS
Toward a New Pitch and Articulation Mindset
Part 5 – Working With Yourself

This last tutorial in the New Pitch and Articulation Mindset series brings everything back to you. As you find a way of once again centering yourself, practice all of the tutorials for a while and return to them periodically, particularly if you reach a plateau and want to advance your practice.

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Lesson 38
THE ESSENTIALS
Toward a New Pitch and Articulation Mindset
Part 4 – Taking New Control

Remember what it felt like when you first tried playing a theremin? Adopting a new mindset in this instance requires challenging even your most basic ability to play. Can you take control in the face of new, and sometimes unusual playing parameters? Good luck; and get ready to remove your shoes.  

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Lesson 37
THE ESSENTIALS
Toward a New Pitch and Articulation Mindset
Part 3 – Inviting the Impossible

We begin this tutorial with a hilariously lame demo. That’s the point! This is an extremely effective aid to adopting a new pitch and articulation mindset: push yourself so far beyond what you are capable of that it releases you from a result-oriented attitude and encourages more long-term exploration that you’d never otherwise try.  

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