CHRISTMAS TREE for Theremin and Piano

[Oxigenification]

Sorry first I laugh about your clothes but you're really amazing in the Theremin

[ThomasGrillo]

@Oxigenification LOL, that's ok, it was meant to be a bit of a gag anyway, ;)

Thanks.

[tinkermemandi]

this is so cool! you are great :)

[ThomasGrillo]

@tinkermemandi Thank you. :)

[ComradeAwsome]

You are amazing this is one of the coolest instruments i have ever seen

[ThomasGrillo]

@ComradeAwsome Thank you. :)

[F1dodido]

nothing to say, amazing!

[ThomasGrillo]

@F1dodido Thank you. :)

[AlanFudgedUp]

@ThomasGrillo haha you are absolutely fantastic.

[ThomasGrillo]

@AlanFudgedUp Thanks. :)

[jeanofarc4203]

You look like the theremin player in the stark trek clip!

[ThomasGrillo]

@jeanofarc4203 I'm not familiar with any Star Trek clips that feature a theremin player. Could you direct me to that clip?

[skatezombie83]

@ThomasGrillo the one where the guy gets beamed up then plays the star trek theme. I'm surprised you haven't heard of it ,but i forgive you just because you are a mean thereminist and an inspiration. I plan on making a band with one ,but making it sound trippy.

[ThomasGrillo]

@skatezombie83 Ah, Now I remember that clip. That was not from an actual trek episode. That was a real thereminist who did a very cool chroma key effect for the beam sequence.

Thanks for the compliment :)

I wish you all the best with your theremin band.

[privatefell]

That was some great playing!

[ThomasGrillo]

@privatefell Thanks, and merry Christmas. :)

[ThereminWeirdo]

Deck the Theremin! Nice touch. Can you do one for hanukkah, too?

[ThomasGrillo]

@ThereminWeirdo I'll have to consider that. I'll need to find an appropriate piece to match such decoration. :)

[Alxasaurus]

I really like the decorated Theremin, and your play. Too bad I don't have one though :P

Keep it up!

[ThomasGrillo]

@Alxasaurus Thanks. You can get theremins by checking out my channel for a list of manufacturers. The one seen here was unfortunately discontinued by Moog Music, but they still make other theremins.

[Alxasaurus]

@ThomasGrillo The reason is, Theremin isn't available in Indoensia. Means there are no Thereminists there.. So I only use emulated Theremin to try. (It feels like tapping on a touch pad rather than waving my hands around) But that is all the best I could get.

[ThomasGrillo]

@Alxasaurus There will be a theremin over there once you contact Moog Music, or Burns, because they ship internationally. So does the maker of the Jaycar theremin kit. Just visit my channel for links to their sites. I wish you all the best.

[PlayingPanda]

Interesting musical instrument you have there. how does it produce sounds ? i don't see any thing being struck or blown into.

[ThomasGrillo]

@PlayingPanda Thanks. Theremin's electronic. Uses energy field round antennas as interface to control 1 of 2 high frequency tone generators (Beat Frequency Oscilator) which beat at 250kHz. the controlable BFO is a few beats off. The combination of these 2 VHF tones produces audible tone between 20 and 8kHz (piano range). The sound is routed to an amp or sound system via audio cable. As I move closer, notes go up. As I move away, notes go down. Invented by Leon Theremin in 1919.

[harmon1197]

your really good!

[ThomasGrillo]

@harmon1197 Thank you. :)

[Senfgurk]

nerd instrument XD

[ThomasGrillo]

@Senfgurk Meh, could've been a geek instrument. lol ;)

[KasioKristmas]

Very SPELLBINDING!!!!!!!!!!

[ThomasGrillo]

@KasioKristmas Thanks. :)

[humanimal1738]

wow, this gave me such a christmas feeling, and its only june!

[ThomasGrillo]

@humanimal1738 Thank you. :)

[TheFlyingTiger129]

Great! xD

I've wanted to play the theremin for a long time, but I try to be happy with my violin (I've played it for almost eight years).

[ThomasGrillo]

@TheFlyingTiger129 Thank you. You should not have too much difficulty transitioning what you've learned on the violin to the theremin. Not to say it'll be easy. :) Check my channel for a list of links for theremin makers. Burns has some for less than a couple hundred dollars.

[Richolh]

What an incredible instrument! And then to think it was the first electric one aswell. Seems futuristic playing with your hands in open air.

If I had the time and money I'd try and learn in. Just because it's so .. different!

Good work by the way. Seen some of your videos, and you do a great job! :)

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you.

I hope you do get a chance to try theremin. :)

[ZuWrath0]

You play so very well, but one think that urks me is that it doesn't look like you're playing with passion, although I'm sure you are.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. Yes, I agree. At the time this was done, I'd only been playing theremin for about a year, and a half. :)

Try my latest videos, and see what you think. :)

[zoddo10]

woow grande!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[kickedrs]

Pretty nice instrument. Never had heard of it before. I'm a piano/guitar amateur player. It's interesting how many techs there are for knowing where the notes are. Keep with the good work ^^.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you. :)

[CrackaBobby]

Cool, but a wierd instrument :P Are you the guy that did the star trek theme to?

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks. It is a wierd but cool instrument. :)

Nope, the trek tune was played by someone else.

[cclus]

Is this fake? Looks photoshopped.

[ThomasGrillo]

Nope. Not faked at all. I really did cram a Christmas tree, the theremin, and me into that little corner. And yes, I really did have a model of Santa and all those tiny raindeer on the theremin. :)

[dethshred356]

wow it amazing that it was made in the 20's yet it seems so futureistic

[ThomasGrillo]

Yes, the theremin really seems ahead of it's time. :)

[supermonkeyninja]

selfish man named it after himself but you do a very well job 5/5

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks.

[TheBlessingsProd]

how long does...Theremin excist...weew...

i found it today :Z

never though that these things excist..0_0

i'm surprised....

[ThomasGrillo]

Theremins were invented in the early 1920s by Russian physicist, Leon Theremin. :)

[TheBlessingsProd]

0_0////

Is it difficult too play???

[ThomasGrillo]

Yes. It's difficult to play "well". :)

[Excuseify]

You look very ascetic up there. I wonder if you're hand gets all twitchy and shaky after long hours of practice? The music was very festive, as was your tie and atenna.

[ThomasGrillo]

Actually, my hands don't get shaky at all after rehearsals. However, at my age, I'm starting to get a touch of arthritis in the volume hand, but it's not affecting my playing just yet. ;)

[dncviorel]

I think he's in shock!

[ThomasGrillo]

Yeh, lol. Check out my later vids. :)

[superchosto12]

:O niceee!!!!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks. :)

[luisabrito11]

I'm dizzy with it...very nice!!!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks. :)

[washumaru2]

smile!!! is christmaaas!!!... or was... =D

[ThomasGrillo]

Indeed. LOL. I'm working on that. :)

[lagger25]

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA

[pizzabite12]

wow nice, do you know anywhere online i can get a theremin, they look really cool to play. And it might be fun to play aswell. please reply.

[ThomasGrillo]

Yes, you can get theremins at

soundlikeburns . com, moogmusic . com, theremin . ws, ebay, and others.

[phly23]

You rock, You rockstar!!!!

just ordered an Etherwave (ash), based on your great videos! I am a professional keyboardist, I hope with patience and practice my ear training will help as well!

Thanks Thomas!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you for the kind words.

I wish you all the best with the theremin. :)

[zebrastripe3]

nice ordiments

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks. :)

[DrummerCoCa]

Great playing!

I love the decorations on your theremin :P

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks for the kind words. ;)

[MapleCousins]

'Oh denne boom, ooh denneboom. Wat zijn je takken wonderschoon. Ik had je laats in het bos zien staan.'

[DEJAVIEW2007]

Merry Christmas Thomas!!! Thanks for the inspiration. What a gift you have!

[Doubledig]

Great playing Thomas, though this tune will always be 'The Red Flag' to me. Merry xmas.

[ThomasGrillo]

This work was composed in 1824, long before it Jim Connel was even born, and "borrowed" such a fine melody for his tune-"the red flag".

happy holidays to all.

[stevenscottoddballz]

Hey, Mr. Grillo! Long time, no read! I was wondering if you have ever played "Auld Lang Syne"?

[ThomasGrillo]

I posted a brand new video of Auld Lang Zyne on New Years Eve. Have a look in my channel, and enjoy! ;)

Oh, and Happy New Year. ;)

[omnomanon]

Nice touch with the antenna

[RashtraVishnu]

Look at the skill and how well he is on key.

[Ohnigumo101]

You look like your head is about to explode >_>

[jeremyfrancis]

he's constricting his breathing, as it can affect his body movement and therefore affect his playing.

[ThomasGrillo]

I'm not holding my breath, but I am, however, taking very slow, shallow breaths because, as you guessed, normal, or deep breathing can indeed affect intonation. ;)

[kvitske]

I am so learning and buying (in reverse order) this instrument! This is just great. Isn't it the first electronical instrument?

Well, I already play 4 instruments, I guess one more won't hurt...

[ThomasGrillo]

Yes, the theremin was the first electronic musical instrument.

[peternyonberg]

Love your stuff ^^

[Myrkman]

Say I want to use a theremin in a rock concert. Are there any precautions I should take to ensure that there is no interference? What kinds of things could interfere with the instrument and how can I prevent them from doing so?

[ThomasGrillo]

Keep the theremin's pitch antenna away from the guitar players, specifically, the side where the guitar's fingerboard is. Stay on the strumming side (where possible). There's less movement from the guitarist there.

Keep the theemin at least several feet from stuff with lots of metal in it like lighting structures, or metal beams, ect.

Also, try to set up so you're not too close to where people could walk within 6 feet of the theremin and affect your intonation. (not allways doable).

[sorrysorryA]

i know :)

how long do you need to learn one song?

[ThomasGrillo]

Depending on the tune's length, and comlexity, it can take anywhere from sevearal weeks, to a month, and a half to properly pollish up a work for theremin.

[sorrysorryA]

XD i thougt it was a german song

[ThomasGrillo]

Yes it is. It also goes by the name "Oh Tanenbaum". ;)

[stevenscottoddballz]

It would SEEM that the decorations on the antenna on your right would have an effect on the sound.

[ThomasGrillo]

Actually, allthough the ribbons on the antennas are reflective, they're not metalic, nor do they contain enough carbon to affect the intonation. The ribbons are made of thin plastic. The stuff used on presents. ;)

[stevenscottoddballz]

OH! Thanks! I want to start saving up for one! Thanks, again!

[1mirkat]

50 years ago, at the world science fiction convention in los angeles, i heard a theramin concert and got to play on it a little. talkabout awesome!

[BigBuddha3]

hahahhaha this is comedy

[BatmansJournalist]

You have made my year.

[Funnymangule07]

how much are these things ? plz tell

[kilereren]

They are very rare, I've heard around 30 or so in the entire world, maximum. The chances you'll find one you can purchase are slim, and if you are lucky enough, the price probably doesn't matter :)

[ThomasGrillo]

Actually, there were 1500 of the etherwave pros produced sinse 2004. They are nolonger made. The Etherwave Standard is still in production, and costs less than $400. The Travelcase theremin is in production, and costs $800. The B3 is in production with two models, B3 Pro for $295, and B3 for $152. I'm sure Kilereren was talking about the RCA theremins, of which 500 were made in 1928, and 29 by RCA Victor, and fewer than 100 are still working.

[rayunseitig]

So far I liked this one best. I sounds like music, and you had a real feel for what you were doing, (I got that impression)

Magnetics is it? I wonder if the earth magnetic fields some how get played? What would that sound like? But, I digress.

[laser633]

Wow. That and Holography. Dude, we gotta meet.

Laser633

[lilbambi01]

Beautifully done. Thanks.

[holyfire001202]

wat were u watching?

[ThomasGrillo]

My intonation, balance, the music soaring off into the heavens, ect, ect. lol

[indyfan402]

holy cow your good at the theremin!!!!!!

[oiuuu123]

you make it look so simple in this video

[Number09]

The little Santa and rein deer were a nice touch.

[Rubmaster88]

Awsome :D

Tis is a amasing instrument:D

From the second I wached your video I was browsing the internet to find out where I could buy one:D

So now I`m just waiting to sell my car and then buy one :D

(I`m not selling it to bye a instrument, it has been for sale for weaks now)

I wil Feedback you on my work with some videos if you like:D

Keep up the good work:D

[Sarn0]

Cool! :D A really nice instrument, however extremely difficult to learn.

[ThomasGrillo]

...But, not impossible. ;)

[twiggr]

thank u for this funny xmas video!!

[Mintkarla]

Thomas, this video is great! I really enjoyed your Spellbound broadcast, and this was my fave of the bunch.

Keep on making awesome music! ...But I don't really need to say that, 'cause I know you will. ;)

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks, I got the music in today, and now it's time for me to get back to production on Golgotha. ;)

Keep up the great works!

[kuri9810]

Thanks for subscribing my clips!

[thereminy]

Wow!

Merry Christmas!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thank you, merry christmas, and a happy new year to you as well.

[SoakyBeaver]

Great!

[Smebninja]

nice video, well played...

...but again, you have to work at your performance, show more emotions, just give it a try, please ;-)

Greetings from Berlin

[synthezer]

Awesome simply Awesome the Theremin is an instrument not nearly as well known as it should be,But with talent like yous it may well be soon

Thank you

Happy Holidays

[bluebeardit]

Very nice!

Merry X-Mas and Happy New Year!!!

Peace

Massy

[simonchrist]

you are the master

[ashura2k]

Great thereminship! We could all learn a lot from you.

[ooo6]

Nice! Happy X-Mas and Merry NewYear, Sir!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks, and the same goes out to you too. ;)

[MisterPSA]

It's great to see a new performance from you. Thank you for putting up these videos.

[Zsy6]

I must say, etherwave pro theremins are such beautiful pieces of furniture but your decorations make it look amazing. Love your work, keep it up!

[romapsychic]

very nice thamos! 5 stars!jim

[ravensky23]

Yay! Thanks for the Christmas theremin song! Love the way you decorated your theremin. My only criticism is you should smile a bit. ;-) Merry Christmas!!!!

[ThomasGrillo]

To smile, and play the theremin requires more bandwidth than my brain can handle at the moment. I'm allready multitasking between standing still, coordinating my left, and right hands, and listenning. But I'm working on that. ;) Thanks

[ravensky23]

LOL! I totally understand where you're coming from there. My brain would explode doing any two of those things ;-)

[Zsy6]

You could always get a fake smile and tape it on your face XD

[fa11enSeraphim]

i love the sound :) and tyvm for making this very nice video ^_^ and a merry x-mas to all who have a x-mas and to the other ppl happy [i dont rember and cant spell the other 1's]but a happy dec to every1 ^_^

[carport888]

Very nice job!  Merry Christmas!

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks, and may you heave a verry nice Christmas too.

[BeFrSc]

Have a great Christmas Thomas, and Great performence.

[ThomasGrillo]

Thanks, and you do the same. Merry christmas!

[Makron5]

All the decorations do not ruin the sound? I thought putting something on the poll would ruin it.

[ThomasGrillo]

As long as it's nothing metal, living, or has a foil backing, or carbon ink, you should be ok, as long as you can still tune to your capacitence. Happy holiday!

[asdfqwerty2000]

Bravo!

[thecamraman]

Wonderful! So nice to see a new video from you Thomas! Love the Christmas themed theremin too!