HOW TO ORDER AND USE
THE EMPTY JEWEL BOX
THE EMPTY JEWEL BOX is a CD of the accompaniment tracks for A THEREMIN JEWEL BOX, without the solo theremin. It is specifically made for thereminists who are unable to create their own musical recordings to work with for practice or performing. Those of you who are experienced musicians will know how to work with practice tracks but for those of you who are new to the game, this page contains some advice on how to use the CD effectively.
THERE ARE TWO WAYS YOU CAN PAY FOR YOUR CD
If you live in North America you can pay by cheque or by postal money order payable to
PETER PRINGLE
The cost of the CD is $25.00 U.S. or $25.00 Canadian (within Canada). Send your payment to:
THE EMPTY JEWEL BOX
400 Merry North, Unit 6
Magog, QC, J1X 2G5
CANADA
If you prefer, or if you live outside North America, you can pay by using PayPal.
Simply click on the ““Buy Now”” button above.
PayPal will notify us immediately when your transaction is completed.
Your CD will be sent to you without delay.
Make sure you include the address where you want the CD to be sent.
The price includes first class postage and all applicable taxes.
PayPal transactions are in U.S. dollars.
SOME ADVICE ON HOW TO USE
THE EMPTY JEWEL BOX
Several years ago, I heard a “piano only” practice tape recording made for thereminist Clara Rockmore by her sister, Nadia Reisenberg. In the background, Clara could clearly be heard singing along very softly with the piano. Before you begin working with any of the 20 selections on THE EMPTY JEWEL BOX, make sure you can sing along with them accurately. First, listen carefully to the version of the piece with the theremin so you know exactly where you should play and what you should play.
Your first instinct, when you receive your CD, will be to put it on right away and play along with it. If you do this, you are liable to be disappointed by your inability to follow along accurately. You should first choose a particular selection you enjoy and acquaint yourself with the theremin version of the composition. Once you are familiar with how it goes, put on the accompaniment track and sing along with it. If you get lost, go back to the theremin version and listen to it again. It is only when you are able to sing or hum along with the accompaniment of the piece, from beginning to end, that you are ready to start working with the theremin.
I have used three different theremins in the recording of A THEREMIN JEWEL BOX, and you can hear my Moog Etherwave (which I built from a kit in 1996) on cuts #4, #14, and #20. Many of you are probably playing the same (or a very similar) type of “entry level” instrument. I wanted to make sure, by including an Etherwave on the CD, that nobody tried to blame their own inadequacies on their instrument. If you practice, you'll get it!
Ever since the instrument was introduced by RCA in 1930, the single biggest mistake people have consistently made when starting out with the theremin is to believe that they do not need a method to play it and that they can more or less teach themselves.
RCA itself is partly to blame for this because their original slogan was, “If you can hum or whistle a tune, you can play the theremin!” If they were to try that today, consumer advocates would shut them down. One general rule that applies to the learning of all musical instruments is: never take advice on how to play from someone whose music you either have not heard, or do not enjoy. It has always amazed me how many people ignore this and end up wasting their time practicing techniques that either don't work or that are taking them where they don't want to go.
The theremin is by far the most difficult instrument to play that has ever been invented. It is also one of the most satisfying and truly “magical”. Remember, MUSIC IS IN THE SOUL OF EVERYONE. All you need to do is to go inward and find it. When you do, the theremin will provide you with a unique voice with which to express it.
Good luck with THE EMPTY JEWEL BOX.