Updated 09.20.07

Illusion: "If I practice long enough, master good technique, my instrument will sound good?"

This above statement is the illusion that causes most people to quit. They buy anything "labeled" theremin, eventually get discouraged, never understanding what makes it difficult if not impossible to play. This webpage lists some of the theremin variables to watch for between the different models. Generating a theremin like sound is easy enough but developing a beautiful true analog voice with control can be very illusive if not impossible for most.

"Think of your theremin as the blind date your musician friends convinced you would be good. She ends up being an awful model, you've spent a lot of money and now you're desperately trying to unsuccessfully salvage a bit of intimacy from her."

"You're not the problem if your theremin is difficult to play, it is the theremin model you're entertaining."

Dan Marchetti on YouTube after three weeks
Demonstration of the playability of an EtherWave Standard

Beginners would not quit if they understood before they purchased their first theremin the importance of the 1 & 2 features listed down below.  Most enthusiasts don't mention the importance of these two after they discover them on their new linear theremins. They just keep recommending that old theremin model that didn't work for them,  hum . . ? 

~Maybe. . . they don't want you to know~

Theremin playing doesn't have to be difficult.

"Something profound happened in late 2004. . . linear pitch for the masses introduced itself."

Linear pitch control is a fascinating theremin attribute.
Two gesture controlled synthesizers, the Moog EtherVox, the EtherWave Pro along with two true voiced analog theremins moved to the forefront in 2004 with their easier to play "ideal linear pitch". 

The linear analog theremin kits I like are my RS Illusion & the PAiA Theremax. These are "build yourself" models for around $100 usd. Use the remarkable Lev Antenna tuning with these for perfect pitch linearity. All four models will effectively move you into the new era of  less demanding theremin control. In time more models will add to this list as other theremin designers catch on.

What is linear pitch control? (The New Age of Theremin Control)
Imagine all the notes (piano keys) are the same width from the outside playing field right up to 3/4" (18 mm) next to the antenna. The RS Theremin with the Lev Antenna allows you to set the octave widths and linear note spacing. Adjust the playing field to match the size of your hand and the movement of your arm.

What is Non-linear? (Most Theremins Today)
It's like your fingers stumbling over a piano keyboard when the keys gradually get narrower approaching the higher notes. Key/Note C1 = 4" wide, C2 = 2" wide, C3 = 1" wide and C4 = 1/2" wide. 

"The EtherWave standard is a quality theremin replicant, built solid,
 controlled effectively within a non-linear pitch field."

1. You quit because your theremin doesn't have linear note spacing.

I am not a musician and obviously I don't practice! With linearity you could make a 3 octave jump in notes as heard in my attempt at "Greensleeves"  (270k). Without any volume control you can hear the note distinction. Play this effectively within a few days, three octaves up or down responds the same. Linearity also makes precision tuning by ear a snap for a repeatable theremin field playability. 

2. You quit because you don't have a theremin with an interesting or musical voice.

If you haven't bought a theremin yet think long and hard of the sound you want. If you just need a whistle sound then most theremins should be able to give you that, but listen to the smoothness of the lower frequencies. As of Summer 2006 I have been moving closer to Clara's Voice, an RS Theremin $10 analog wave shape technique  thevoice16.mp3  (225k).  Many Thereminist resort to hundreds of dollars of digital effects, digital synthesis, digital filters to create their sound. 

The analog heterodyne theremin properly designed is actually a very simple device with strict design rules that can create a sound as beautiful as the sound of Clara Rockmore's theremin, if it is understood how the voice comes about.

"Most musicians that play publicly on a EtherWave Standard move up to the Moog E-pro rather quickly in search of a better sounding pitch with linearity, some . . .even hope to find the illusive Clara's Voice."

A beautiful true analog voice (The Termen Effect) can degrade with to much digital reverb added. A poor or artificial voice always sounds better with reverb, echo and added effects to mask the unnatural wave-shape or synthesis. The inside a "Concrete Water Pipe" echo affect.

"Don't buy a theremin model that doesn't furnish a raw sound byte!"

3. Volume control/response would be the 3rd significant component and 
my CdS Optical Method blows away the standard RF hoop methods.

Illumination Volume Method

Illusion:  "Watch out for self appointed teachers giving theremin lessons."
Just like when buying a new theremin instrument, first get sound samples of the teacher instructing you on how to play. There are different techniques and it is very preferable to get lessons from someone that plays the same theremin model you have. Different models respond differently. A Video/DVD instruction works much better than a book.

"Future theremin models will one day be interchangeable with identical adjustable pitch response. Sometimes we head down the wrong path, need to pause, rethink our goal and maybe back up a bit."  Christopher

Illusion:  "The same aerial finger style works for everyone's theremin?"
No, Clara Rockmore "mastered" the non-linear pitch response of three octaves within her own Lev Termen built theremin. She could not effectively play today's EtherWave Pro without modifying her style, adapting and polishing her instincts.

Illusion:  "Does fancier aerial fingering create better sound?" 
No, aerial fingering gives a performer a controlled method of selecting the distance from the most forward point of their fingers to the antenna and then the ability to return back to that original position or note. It can enhance what you hear but a clam shaped hand or fist is still selecting the notes from the distance of the most forward finger or hand tip to the antenna.

Thomas Grillo A Teacher of Theremin who plays in the theremin classical style.

Kevin Kissinger presents an excellent 4 minute teaching video 

For aerial fingering to work accurately your body must remain in a solidly fixed position with your elbow near your side. Stand slightly sideways towards the antenna. Different finger distances to the antenna generate the different notes. I use a hand position for fingering similar to holding a cup of coffee and roll my finger outward toward the antenna.  A change of 1/2" (13 mm) more or less is a note change!

Illusion:  "Does effective volume control improve the sound.?"
Yes, it gives accent and shape to the sound which molds the illusions to what you hear. 

Lydia Kavina  video on YouTube posted by 42hz. Lydia plays the Tvox (her own design) a "True Theremin Voice"  using transistors. Observe her excellent Aerial Fingering movements. The notes are selected from the most forward point of her fingers (distance) towards the antenna, her hand positions give her predictable note distance-selectivity while playing. This video is "very" educational, learn from a beautiful theremin master..

Lydia Kavina is universally recognized as being one of the world's greatest virtuosos of the theremin. The niece of Lev Termen's first cousin, Kavina was born in Moscow and began studying the theremin under the direction of Lev Termen when she was nine years old. Lydia's CD & MP3 Samples  


The Moog EtherVox and the EtherWave Pro are *fixed at linear 3" (7.5 cm) octave widths. Performers with a larger hand often looks like they are warping their hand/fingers to play the notes within the narrower linear octaves.

My RS Illusion with the Lev Antenna tuning is linear and adjustable to match any hand size within the 18" to 24" pitch playing field. It can also be set to 6 1/2" octave widths to match the piano keyboard and be played accurately over a keyboard graphic like a Electro-Theremin without touching a slider. The Electro-Theremin technique is interesting but nowhere near as fluid or visually beautiful as basic aerial fingering; which can be just as note accurate.