Comprehensive Lessons and Concepts

The imperfection inherent in hunting around for the correct pitches, particularly while you’re
playing a piece of music, can be very challenging. The key is patience and the ability to
develop an extremely delicate and soft “touch” when moving from one pitch to another, doing
it so softly that it is inaudible to anyone but you. Once you get the hang of it, you can use
it to your advantage. Also, be sure to watch the companion piece, “Let’s Talk About a Pitch
Preview” in the TIPS category.
 

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.
 

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 chapter and the next will explore the “slide”
in detail.
 

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.

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.

To put this and the next four tutorials in to the proper context, be sure you’ve seen the
introduction to this new series. In this lesson, we start by working with a very basic but
effective way for coming face to face with inhibitions – we all experience varying degrees
of tension and anxiety associated with playing, as well as the notion that we must stand
still, constrain ourselves as we play. Time to have fun and loosen up.
 

This intro is essential to the five tutorials that follow; it will help you gauge whether you’re
at the optimum point for incorporating a new set of approaches to your playing. To move past
and work beyond your current level of ability, it helps to shake things up, challenge your
comfort level and create more choices for yourself.