Bozeman, Montana based artist and Theremin scholar Marla Goodman offers a 2-hour workshop that transforms sound into imagery and back again. In “Drawing Sound” Goodman demonstrates her use of graphical scores (ways of drawing musical ideas) and graphical synthesis (ways of making drawings into sounds) and invites participants to explore different ways of transforming pictures into sound. She uses one of the world’s rarest and most fascinating electronic instruments:, the Theremin, to help illustrate the connection between lines drawn on paper and sounds “drawn” in the air. One of the first electronic instruments (invented c.1919), the Theremin is played entirely through gesture control. The musician never touches the instrument, instead “drawing” the pitches out of thin air. Participants in the workshop have the chance to create and interpret their own visual soundscape using provided art materials, take turns playing the Theremin, check out the Virtual ANS Synthesizer (which makes drawings into sound) and participate in a multimedia art performance. No musical or art experience is required. (The workshop is intended for people who can engage for 2 hours unsupervised. Please inquire about children’s workshops.)
Participant Responses
“It was 100% fabulous!”
“My face hurt afterwards from my jaw dropping and so much ha ha!“
The most interesting aspect of the workshop was:
“Getting to play with the Theremins, although the virtual ANS synthesizer was also so, so cool.”
“I signed up for the class because I was really excited to play the Theremin!“
“I can’t pick a ‘most interesting aspect,’ it was all so unique and engaging!“
“I especially loved hearing Marla play, and getting to play the Theremin with our artwork.
Drawing Sound has worked well with all ages and is appropriate for people with no previous musical or drawing skill. The sample syllabus below includes the full workshop, which can be customized to your group’s interest level.
Workshop Compensation covers travel, meals and lodging, all provided materials, and promotional packet.
Promotion — The artist provides press releases, poster PDF, artist bio and photo. The artist’s contract requires the host to promote the workshop using provided materials via one or more social/electronic channel (e.g., facebook, instagram, email list) and one or more traditional media channels (TV, radio, newspaper, newsletter) no less than 2 weeks prior to the event and a reminder (e.g. instagram story) 2 to 4 days prior to the event.
Additional Options — Hosts are welcome to add a Theremin performance alongside the Drawing Sound workshop (for example the evening of a daytime workshop, or the evening after an evening workshop). 1-hour performance options include:
• Theremin Happy Hour – Incidental Theremin music (choose from classical, jazz, country/Americana, folk, sci-fi, improv or a mixed bag) followed by casual Q&A.
• Theremin History Performance – A fascinating 1-hour slide show tells the 100-year history of the Theremin, punctuated by live performance of a variety of musical genres.
• Vinyl Sisters Fraternal Twin Theremin Show – An imaginative costumed performance art event with storytelling, projections and live Theremin music. (read more)
• Youth/School and Elder/Assisted Living Workshops Shorter workshop modules can be customized to fit your needs on a variety of mini topics: for example, sound synthesis basics, hands-on Theremin “petting zoo”, mini concert with Q/A, sound collage making, or performance experimentation.