What prompted you to\u00a0play theremin?<\/strong><\/p>\nI\u00a0started playing the Theremin as\u00a0a\u00a0substitute for the violin! As\u00a0a\u00a0percussion student at\u00a0the conservatory\u00a0I always played violin concerto\u2019s on\u00a0marimba (I\u00a0was know as\u00a0the Paganini of\u00a0the marimba). In\u00a0my\u00a0final year of\u00a0studying\u00a0I decided that instead of\u00a0playing this beautiful music on\u00a0a\u00a0marimba\u00a0I should pick up\u00a0the violin, so\u00a0I\u00a0did! After trying it\u00a0once\u00a0I immediately felt this was never going to\u00a0work since it\u00a0is\u00a0very hard, if\u00a0you already play an\u00a0instrument on\u00a0a\u00a0professional level, to\u00a0start a\u00a0new instrument (especially one as\u00a0difficult as\u00a0the violin). After I\u00a0gave up\u00a0on\u00a0my\u00a0dream to\u00a0be\u00a0a\u00a0\u00abviolinist\u00bb I\u00a0was a\u00a0bit down and on\u00a0that point the Theremin came in\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0life (although\u00a0I always knew of\u00a0its existence), the minute\u00a0I heard Clara Rockmore play\u00a0I knew this was the instrument for me\u00a0and got obsessed with\u00a0it. When I\u00a0finaly got one a\u00a0half year later, I\u00a0already knew so\u00a0much about the Theremin that\u00a0I could immediately play music on\u00a0it (although\u00a0I hope my\u00a0level of\u00a0playing has grown since then!) and never stopped doing that.<\/p>\n
What were your first feelings when you heard the sounds of\u00a0theremin and where did it\u00a0happen?<\/strong><\/p>\nWhen I\u00a0first heard the Theremin I\u00a0had the luck to\u00a0hear it\u00a0being played by\u00a0the great Clara Rockmore. If\u00a0I\u00a0heard it\u00a0being played by\u00a0anyone else\u00a0I probably woudn\u2019t have given the instrument a\u00a0second thought! I\u00a0felt the instrument was\/is the most expressive I\u2019ve ever heard and it\u00a0suited my\u00a0romantic idiom of\u00a0making music! I\u00a0can\u2019t really remember where it\u00a0happened but I\u2019ve played the instrument for 3\u00a0years now (18\/04\/2011) I\u00a0started in\u00a02009.<\/p>\n
What is\u00a0your musical philosophy and what place it\u00a0occupies a\u00a0theremin?<\/strong><\/p>\nMy\u00a0philosophy on\u00a0music is\u00a0that it\u00a0doesn\u2019t matter on\u00a0which instrument you make music, for all\u00a0I care one can do\u00a0it\u00a0on\u00a0a\u00a0violin, marimba, Theremin, piano or\u00a0on\u00a0a\u00a0dustbin!
\nAs\u00a0long as\u00a0people are passionate about it\u00a0and make music on\u00a0a\u00a0high level with every fiber of\u00a0their body I\u00a0am sure it\u00a0will apeal to\u00a0people, especially in\u00a0a\u00a0live setting. Although I\u00a0feel that
\nwith an\u00a0instrument as\u00a0the Theremin you have to\u00a0work twice as\u00a0hard to\u00a0be\u00a0taken seriously.<\/p>\n
Prospects for theremin and its place in\u00a0modern music space\u00a0\u2014 how you see them? For what qualities you value this tool?<\/strong><\/p>\nI\u00a0as a\u00a0Theremininst of\u00a0course see great prospects for the instrument, the problem is\u00a0that no\u00a0\u00abbig\u00bb composers are using the instrument and that there aren\u2019t enough people who can actually play in\u00a0an\u00a0orchestral or\u00a0ensemble setting (other than the obvious sound effects). In\u00a0order for the instrument to\u00a0be\u00a0taken seriously there\u2019s a\u00a0need for more trained players. It\u00a0also doesn\u2019t help if\u00a0on\u00a0internet there are\u00a098% clips\/soundfiles\/YouTubes that are really bad and only 2\u00a0procent that are worth watching or\u00a0listening\u00a0to!<\/p>\n
Which manufacturer of\u00a0theremin do\u00a0you prefer?<\/strong><\/p>\nThis is\u00a0a\u00a0hard question because\u00a0I don\u2019t really have any other experience besides playing my\u00a0MOOG Etherwave Standard. What I\u00a0can say about it\u00a0that it\u00a0is\u00a0a\u00a0good instrument to
\nstart with but for me\u00a0it\u00a0it\u00a0isn\u2019t a\u00a0good instrument anymore. The problem here is\u00a0that there are no\u00a0other alternatives available wich you can buy! I\u00a0feel that it\u00a0is\u00a0unwise to\u00a0buy any
\ninstrument online (if\u00a0for instance a\u00a0MOOG Pro becomes available) if\u00a0I can\u2019t try if\u00a0first. Luckily I\u00a0have a\u00a0very good friend by\u00a0the name of\u00a0Thierry Frenkel who helped me\u00a0make my\u00a0Standard into a\u00a0much better instrument than the one you can buy in\u00a0your local Thereminstore. My\u00a0range is\u00a0bigger, especially in\u00a0the lower registers (even lower notes than the doublebass). The instrument sounds much better than an\u00a0unfixed one and overall it\u00a0is\u00a0much easier to\u00a0play!<\/p>\n
What you can recommend for beginners thereminists, or\u00a0those who are just going to\u00a0start their way of\u00a0thereminist?<\/strong><\/p>\nThat\u2019s an\u00a0easy question! If\u00a0one is\u00a0serious about picking up\u00a0the Theremin, he\u00a0or\u00a0she should get professional help: find a\u00a0violin, viola or\u00a0cello teacher who wants to\u00a0give you lessons. He\u00a0or\u00a0she can learn you a\u00a0lot about tuning, making your way from one note to\u00a0the other, vibrato, expression, music theory, note reading etc. I\u00a0myself am\u00a0being coached by\u00a0Saskia Boon, a\u00a0cellist of\u00a0the Dutch Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra which impoved my\u00a0playing by\u00a0a\u00a0milestone. The Theremin is\u00a0a\u00a0very difficult instrument and deserves to\u00a0be\u00a0taken seriously, so\u00a0if\u00a0you start, take lessons!!! Just like anybody else does when they start playing the Clarinet, Piano, Drums etc ….<\/p>\n
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