(If you are looking for publicity photos and bios, please jump to my PUBLICITY PAGE)

I grew up near Bozeman, Montana, where I attended a one-room rural school. I graduated from MSU in Bozeman with a degree in Fine Art. I worked as a graphic designer in the manufacturing and agency sectors, and later as a freelance designer, illustrator and writer/editor for arts, education and nonprofit clients.

My musical background is rooted in folk, jazz, popular and rock music. I spent my college years listening to punk, new wave and reggae. More recently I’ve become interested in classical and experimental music. I never learned to read music as a kid. Our family played guitar and sang together in harmony. I was in choir in high school, but I had no idea how music theory worked, and could only learn songs by ear.

I was introduced to the Theremin in 2009 when I watched the 1993 Steven M Martin film, “Theremin, an Electronic Odyssey.” It’s the story of a brilliant Russian physicist, Lev Termen, who invented the gesture controlled synthesizer that now bears his name (long before the electronic instruments we know today). The documentary follows Termen and virtuoso musician Clara Rockmore through the instrument’s brief heyday in the 1930s, through its lapse into almost complete obscurity, and on to its small but enthusiastic revival in the U.S., aided by the efforts of legendary synth engineer Robert Moog.

Martin’s film catalyzed a Theremin revival in the 1990s, and from the time when I got my first Theremin (2009) and today, my Theremin journey has gone from the lonely pursuit of an obscure instrument (through blundering self instruction!) to immersion in a vibrant international community of Thereminists and Theremin educators.

At first, all I knew about the Theremin was that it was a box with two antennas, one controlling volume and one controlling pitch. My then boyfriend (now husband) and my daughter chipped in to get me a Theremin in 2009. I knew that if I plugged it in and amplified it, I could make swoopy sounds. Here I am, playing Auld Lang Syne, “trial and error style,” back then.

The Theremin remained a toy in our household that I enjoyed playing with, even as a public spectacle, though my skill level was very low. I found an old Karaoke machine in our storage shed and thought it would be fun to create a costumed character who stood on the sidewalk and played Theremin along with records.

Here I am in 2015, my first time playing downtown during art walk as “Polly Vinyl, Art Thereminist.” Polly’s costuming is inspired by the kitschy glamour of the Lawrence Welk show. (My early performances did their part to proliferate the notion that any idiot—me, in this case—who can go “wooo wooo” on a Theremin thinks they are a genius.)

My sidewalk-theater visibility (and the fact that mine was the only Theremin in town) led to my being featured in a couple of short films. Though my skill was poor by Thereminist standards, I had yet to meet another Thereminist, so I dressed up in wacky costumes and exhibited myself at events that I felt could use some color.

I often felt very frustrated about my skill level, regularly resolved to give up, and was afraid to watch the professional Thereminists that I could find on Youtube. Watching fine musicians like Carolina Eyck and Grégoire Blanc (both much younger than me, and so much more skilled!) made me feel physically ill! Yet, the sheer fun of playing Theremin kept me coming back.

After many such peaks and valleys, I got up the nerve to try learning “The Swan,” by Saint Saens, which is generally recognized as basic Theremin repertoire. In other words, I got brave enough to attempt music, not just novelty.

In 2017 I booked my first lesson with Berlin-based Theremin instructor/virtuoso, Carolina Eyck. Carolina is a musical genius who began her Theremin studies at age 7. She published her first curriculum for Theremin technique in 2006. From her I learned the basics of hand and body positioning, and something I had not known for the first eight years of playing: How to tune the instrument!

After a few lessons with Carolina, I realized I needed much more practice, and to learn how to read music. But who could give me the full battery of primary music instruction I had missed in my youth?

In 2018 I learned to read music: Somehow, I emailed an instructor in the music department at Montana State University and out of sheer kindness, she not only answered my email but invited me to informally audit her Music Fundamentals class! Picture me, a dumpy 50+ year old woman, bright eyed and eager to learn the scales, theory and basic music notation skills that most people learn in primary school, sitting alongside 18 year olds who really did not want to be there. But each day my wonderful teacher, violinist Mary Kothman was there, dispensing pearls of knowledge in perfect succession, with good nature, mastery and the deep reservoir of compassion that characterizes the very best teachers. I will never be able to thank her enough!

I learned enough to enroll in MSU’s Music Technology program. I took music technology, aural skills and music theory, sat in on seminars and even studied performance with kind, supportive Mary. Meanwhile, I took occasional lessons with Carolina and in 2019 I was lucky enough to hear the first episode of the Theremin 30 Podcast, which features Theremin music and interviews with Theremin with musicians and engineers from around the world. I continue to be a huge fan of this labor of love by producer Rick Reid!

In 2020, the single good thing that came from the global pandemic was that Russian-born Theremin virtuoso Lydia Kavina started giving Theremin workshops through Zoom! I gathered my nerve to attend. I had heard of Lydia, (professional Thereminist, Lev Termen’s grand-niece, and teacher of many of the world’s finest Thereminists) and I felt as nervous as if I were meeting a music icon like Ray Charles or Ella Fitzgerald! I also met—for the first time—other musicians of all backgrounds who, like me, just happen to be nuts about this unique instrument. And it turned out that Lydia is a wonderful, generous teacher.

In the years since 2020, I’ve made Theremin friends all over the globe and followed the careers and interests many more on social media.

Lydia Kavina is a human museum of Theremin history and also a well trained and experienced music educator. Among her special talents is the ability to select the perfect repertoire to demonstrate any particular skill. Like my first teacher, Mary Kothman, Lydia never looks down on beginners at any stage. The generosity she shows to players of all levels and her embrace of all styles of Theremin playing is an inspiration. She divides her workshops between practical teaching and topical presentations that have included many fascinating stories of her global performances, historical topics, and guest performers. Thanks to Lydia, I’ve improved my technique, learned a lot of Theremin history and explored a shocking pile of repertoire, including classical pieces, movie themes, folk songs, jazz, sci-fi soundtracks and experimental works.

Where I am now: In the 15+ years since I discovered the Theremin, I’ve become a persona-based performance artist, learned to read music and taken up sight-reading as a hobby. I’ve played a folk song on Russian TV, memorized dozens of classical works, composed scores for independent films, appeared with a bluegrass band, headlined at an art venue, played on the street, Christmas caroled with a harpist, played at galleries, and art openings, improvised with musical saw, koto, fretless ukulele and found sound, traveled to Denmark to participate in International Theremin Camp, soloed with a women’s orchestral band and made friends all over the world! I currently enjoy performing, collaborating with friends to compose and improvise music, and doing workshops and demos on basic Theremin operation and artistic applications.

If you live in Montana and want to begin playing the Theremin, get in touch with me. I’ll be happy to help you get started!

• Marla Goodman’s Theremin Youtube Playlist
• Polly and Dolly Vinyl’s Youtube Playlist

UPCOMING
SPRING/SUMMER 2026

SUMMER 26, BUTTE — Residence (con)Temporary Art Occupation Watch for updates on Polly Vinyl’s Instagram for live pop-up performances in the unique uninhabited spaces above Isle of Books during Butte Summer Art Walks and Montana Folk Festival. Open dates will be during Butte First Friday Artwalks June 5, July 3, Aug. 7 and Sept. 4, 2026, as well as during Montana Folk Festival (July 10-12, hours TBD) and by appointment.

May 1 – Butte MT Theremin and Art at Convergence Gallery Grand Opening 5-8pm 202 W Park

May 22-23 Helena MT Fri May 22 (concert) Sat May 23 (workshop) visit Holter Museum for tickets and registration

JUNE 2026, Europe — International Theremin Camp 2026. Marla will be heading to Edinburgh, Scotland and Copenhagen, Denmark

JULY 12 2026 Butte — Join Marla for a Theremin Brunch Date at 11am during Montana Folk Festival at Isle of Books, 43 East Broadway, Butte, Montana.

August 8 Basin Montana Theremin Performance and Workshop Visit ArtMine for details.

August 14 Boulder Montana Watch for Polly or Dolly at the Gates of Mooshfest!

Events

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RECENT PAST

2026
Bozeman (Jan) I sat in with Jeanne Kennedy of Subvert Savant at Izakaya and Dolly Vinyl sat in with Jeanne at the Keithfest Memorial Tribute at The Filling Station
Bozeman (April) I co-hosted a night of Theremin and music trivia at Last Best Comedy with Wren Garverick.

2025
Bozeman (March)— I played a short free ambient concert with soundscapes and projections by Nottingham England artist Peter Challoner at the Public Library.
Butte (July) — Dolly Vinyl performed during Butte Art walk in the Residence contemporary art Occupation above Isle of Books.
Bozeman — Polly Vinyl did a street performance in downtown during Bozeman Art Walk.
Billings(Aug) — Dolly Vinyl performed at Kirk’s Grocery in Billings
Bozeman (Aug) — Dolly Vinyl played a free concert for Play Music on the Porch Day
Butte (Sept) – Dolly Vinyl joined jazz trombonist MJ WIlliams in an impromptu concert in the bathroom of the Residence Contemporary Art Occupation, Butte.
Livingston (Sept) Dolly Vinyl played at Bring Your Own Art Show and got to improvise with spoken word artist Abraham Smith
Billings (Oct) — I joined the Virginia Vinyl Women’s Band Festival as a soloist on Erika Svanoe’s Haunted Carousel at the Lincoln Auditorium with Jennifer Kirby conducting.
Bozeman (Nov) — Dolly Vinyl joined Winter Zero, Sparkle Bear, Sun Occulter and Connie at the Labor Temple

2024
Helena — I taught a workshop “Drawing Sound” at the Holter Museum in Helena.
Butte — Dolly Vinyl, Cowgirl Thereminist performed an hour of music and stories from her imagined autobiography at the Covellite Theater in Butte, preceded by an afternoon workshop and followed by an after-party.
Copenhagen (June) — I met up with 25 of my Theremin friends for a week-long Theremin camp and where I hosted sound collage and film score improv workshops
Basin (June) — I collaborated with artist Kate Huston for a Theremin and shadow performance at her opening at the Montana Artists Refuge in Basin Montana.
Bozeman — I joined Montana jazz legend MJ Williams to provide sounds in celebration of Kate Huston’s installation at Bozeman’s outdoor DADI museum.
Bozeman (Sept) — I presented my interactive workshop, “Drawing Sound” at MSU School of Art “Maker Friday.”