BRIGHTNESS knobs. The WAVEFORM knob
adjusts which harmonics are strong and which
are weak, while the BRIGHTNESS knob adjusts
the overall amount of harmonic content.
Correct Playing Position: Position yourself slightly
left of center of the instrument. When your right
arm is fully extended, your knuckles should just
touch the pitch antenna. The right hand is
moved horizontally toward and away from the
pitch antenna. The left hand is moved vertically
over the volume antenna.
The PITCH and VOLUME tuning adjustments
should now be checked. Without moving your
feet, place both hands at your side and stand
erect. The instrument should produce a very
low-pitched tone, or be completely silent ('zero
beat'). Now bring your right hand up to your
shoulder. The pitch should be about one to two
octaves below middle C. If this low note is not
heard, then adjust the PITCH knob until the
desired condition is obtained. Note that the
PITCH knob is a tuning adjustment. It sets the
distance that you have to stand away from the
pitch antenna in order to obtain zero beat.
When you turn the PITCH knob clockwise, the
distance is reduced, thus compressing the
distance between musical intervals.
Check the volume adjustment as follows:
Place your left hand eight inches above the
volume antenna. This should produce a
noticeable reduction in the loudness of the
tone. If it does not, then turn the VOLUME knob
counterclockwise until the desired effect is
obtained. On the other hand, turning the
VOLUME adjustment knob too far
counterclockwise will prevent you from
producing loud tones. Note that the
ETHERWAVE'
s VOLUME knob is a tuning
adjustment. Its purpose is to adjust how the
instrument's volume changes as your left hand
approaches the volume antenna. This knob is
not a 'volume control'. That is, it does not simply
make the tone louder or softer. It should not be
used to set the instrument's maximum volume.
The volume control on your sound system is
used for that purpose.
You will rapidly develop a feel for these
adjustments. After a few practice sessions, you
will be able to tune the theremin rapidly and
accurately.
Techniques of practicing: Like any expressive
musical instrument, the theremin takes some
practice. Start with the following simple
exercises:
1. Stand slightly left of the center of the
instrument, with your right shoulder about 24"
from the pitch antenna. Relax your wrists. Think
of a note and hum it to yourself. Then move
your right hand toward the pitch antenna until
the theremin pitch coincides with what you're
humming. Now hold the note. This is not as
easy as it sounds, but is an important
technique to learn. You will find at first that it is
actually hard to stand still, but a few hours'
practice will work wonders.
2. Hum two different notes, one after the other.
Find the first note on the theremin, hold it, and
then slowly glide to the second.
3. Repeat the above exercise, but bring your
left hand near the volume antenna while your
right hand glides from one note to the next.
Move the left hand slowly at first, and then
more rapidly as you learn to move your left
hand independently of your right. This exercise
teaches you to 'feel' where the notes are, and
to impart expressive dynamics.
4. While playing a note, introduce a vibrato by
moving your right hand back and forth from
your wrist, several times a second. Concentrate
on making the vibrato even and steady.
The above exercises will give you basic skills of
theremin playing: finding notes, playing
intervals, articulating notes, and introducing a
vibrato. With these basic skills, you can play
slow melodies. Practicing regular scales and
arpeggios will increase your proficiency. Focus
on accuracy of pitch and precise control over
dynamics.
