Monthly Archives: February 2013

Improvisation in Strict Time
From the Dalet Concert Series
Featuring PascAli and Me

From Princeton’s Dalet Concert Series curated and run by the wonderful Irena Gobernik and Leo Vayn. This segment from the concert features PascAli and Kip Rosser playing together for the first time. A challenging eleven minutes during which two contrabasses and a theremin produce sounds so unusual that they seem to emanate from something other [...]

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Lesson 35
THE ESSENTIALS
Toward an New Pitch and Articulation Mindset
Part 2 – Embracing Imperfection
Chapter 4, Exploiting the “Slide”
continued

We’ll continue to exploit the “slide,” then combine it with the previous chapters’ vibrato techniques. It’s all for the purpose of bringing added depth to your practice while transforming the theremin’s “imperfections” into playing versatility.  

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Lesson 34
THE ESSENTIALS:
Toward an New Pitch and Articulation Mindset
Part Two – Embracing Imperfection
Chapter 3, Exploiting the “Slide”

Since its early days, the theremin has been criticized for its constant portamento, the sliding from one note to another. Even today, sliding tends to be looked at somewhat negatively. By adopting a different mindset and rethinking “the slide,” we can use it to greater advantage for both intonation and for sheer sonic effect. This [...]

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Lesson 33
THE ESSENTIALS:
Toward an New Pitch and Articulation Mindset
Part Two – Embracing Imperfection
Rethinking Vibrato, Chapter 2

Continuing with working toward a new mindset regarding vibrato, let’s look at intentionally making it deviate from the root pitch and begin to think of it in terms of pulses, both rhythmic and melodic.

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Lesson 32
THE ESSENTIALS:
Toward an New Pitch and Articulation Mindset
Part Two – Embracing Imperfection
Rethinking Vibrato, Chapter 1

We’re going to deal with what many consider to be weaknesses of the theremin and then turn them to your advantage as a player. In Chapter 1, we take an honest look at vibrato, work with a new mindset, and rethink its purpose and uses.

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