The second edition of this popular and successful event in France

A new "Theremin Summer Academy" will be held by Carolina Eyck and Thierry Frenkel in the City of Colmar, an enchanting small medieval town in Alsace/France at about half an hour from German and Swiss borders.

We decided after last year's overwhelming success to expand the program on five days and to extend considerably the courses offered (you will find the registration form below):

The teachings

Individual lessons by Carolina Eyck

These lessons are available to theremin players at all levels from beginners to professionals and include all music styles, be it classical or techniques for experimental music. Carolina has already demonstrated in an impressive manner the whole palette by publishing a theremin method and a CD, but also by playing concerts and teaching around the world. We recommend you in order to obtain optimal results to ponder before which pieces or techniques you want to be outlined during your lessons and to write that down in your registration.

Improvisation group lessons by Carolina Eyck

You will learn to improvise together on the theremin in small groups. The pupils shall learn basic techniques and elementary structures which will help them to develop their own improvisation style later.

Theremin repair shop by Thierry Frenkel

The electronic components of a theremin are subject to tolerances and aging. It also happens often that brand new instruments whose playability is not optimal come to market. A systematic re-tuning of the oscillators makes sure that you get a differentiated volume response on one side and a better linearity on the other side. The pitch range may be extended towards higher frequencies if you wish so. The repair shop will also be ready to make more complex repairs or install add-on modules.

Theremin chamber music group lessons by Thierry Frenkel

Chamber music is a very different challenge compared to solo performance with or without accompaniment and poses totally different musical requirements. It's still more difficult with the theremin: The setup should already avoid interference, the own acoustical feedback and harmonic position inside the ensemble are extreme challenges. The goal here isn't learning rapidly a piece in order to perform it 2 days later as it is usual at similar events, but to start the necessary musical ear training with simple polyphonic exercises. Those lessons will be continued at the coming Without Touch festivals in Lippstadt/Germany, at the Node festivals in Lausanne and eventually at Hands Off in England in order to gather a European Theremin Ensemble at long term. Thierry has conducted youth wind orchestras and a-capella choirs during many years and will bring in this experience as much as his knowledge as "Thérémingénieur". The participants are required to read music and be able to play simple melodies within a range of one to one and a half octave.

Theremin technics group lessons by Thierry Frenkel

The participants shall learn, even without being graduate engineers, how their theremin works, which external factors have which influence, and how they can use this knowledge and understanding to get optimal playability and linearity results beginning with the setup and how to react in a smooth and competent manner.

Social aspect will not be neglected

We meet all together on Sunday afternoon for a musical coffee. The participants who wish to do so, may present their musical progress while we will have cake/pie, coffee, tea and soft drinks and time for talk and exchange.

Details

Registration

A registration form which can be copied and pasted into an email can be found below. Please understand that formal registration is needed, so that we can set up a schedule and guarantee a smooth organization.

The earlier you send it back the best we can plan the timetable following your wishes!

Fees (not the most important but usually the first question)

• The price for a 60min. individual theremin lesson with Carolina will be 45€.
• A one hour group lesson in improvisation (max. 4 participants) costs 15€ per person.
• The chamber music class takes 3 hours (one hour on Friday, Saturday and Sunday) and will cost a total of 50€ per person.
• The fee for the theremin technics group lesson is 15€ per person.
• Theremin repair shop tasks are not so easy to quote because the needed time and spare parts will vary on the complexity of the problem. Some standard tasks are listed and quoted in the registration form. For other technical problems you may use the standard contact form of this site, describe your problem and request an estimation of costs.

Accommodation

As Colmar is a such beautiful town that it is invaded by thousands of tourists in Summer (and not only then) you should book your accommodation as soon as possible. The less expensive stay can be found at the Hotel Primo which is only at 2 minutes by foot from the event location. Out of that you may refer to the Colmar Tourist Information or the neighbored Tourist Appartments. On the latter both websites you may also find lots of suggestions for excursions and other leisure activities in one of the most beautiful regions of Europe. Please contact Thierry if you need help with your reservation.

Contact and further information

The event location is Thierry's home, 9 rue des Serruriers, F-68000 Colmar. Please use the contact form of this site for further information. "Emergency calls" can be made on Thierry's cell phone +33 6 75 82 80 14.

We would be delighted to welcome you here in Alsace

Carolina & Thierry

Registration form

Please select the entire text, copy and paste it into an email, fill out and send it to theremin@tfrenkel.com

Personal information

Name: ...
First name: ...
Street address: ...
Town and postal code: ...
Country: ...
Phone: ...
Cell Phone: ...
Email: ...

Individual lessons by Carolina

My level: ( ) beginner, ( ) intermediate, ( ) advanced, ( ) professional
Piece(s) and subject(s) I want to work on during my lesson(s): ...
Desired hours of lessons:
... on June 09th
... on June 10th
... on June 11th
... on June 12th (Pentecost Sunday)
... on June 13th (Pentecost Monday)

Improvisation group lessons with Carolina

My level: ( ) beginner, ( ) intermediate, ( ) advanced, ( ) professional
Days on which I'm available:
( ) June 09th
( ) June 10th
( ) June 11th
( ) June 12th
( ) June 13th
Based on these informations we will try to combine optimal groups before confirming the schedule

Chamber music class with Thierry

( ) one hour each day on June 10, 11 and 12
or I prefer ( )

Theremin technics group lessons with Thierry

Days on which I'm available:
( ) June 09th
( ) June 10th
( ) June 11th
( ) June 12th
( ) June 13th
Based on these informations we will try to combine optimal groups before confirming the schedule

Theremin maintenance, repair and upgrade

My theremin is a: ...
My theremin needs:
( ) Check and tuning in order to meet original factory specifications (all models) (35€)
( ) Special tuning in order to have an extended pitch range and a more brilliant sound (Moog Etherwave Standard only) (50€)
( ) Installation of the Moog Plus Kit field upgrade (Moog Etherwave Standard only) (80€ + price of the Plus Kit, actually about 139€)
( ) Installation of the EPVM1345 module in order to smoothen the volume response and increase the dynamic range (Moog Etherwave Pro only) (70€ including the EPVM1345 module)
( ) Installation of a ESPE01 module for deeper basses and a more stable pitch field. (Moog Etherwave Standard/Plus only) (80€, including the ESPE01 module)
( ) Other (please use this contact form in order to describe the problem and request a cost estimation

Setup:

( ) I bring my own theremin, ( ) I bring my own amplifier and I'm ready to lend it to others who cannot bring their own.

Musical coffee

( ) Out of lessons and maintenance/repair I want to participate at the musical coffee on Sunday afternoon and I will contribute 8€ for coffee/tea/soft drinks, cake/pie etc.