The Future of Therapy Is Theremin
The Theremin is the only instrument in the world that is played without being touched,” says Thereminist Kip Rosser, an endorsing artist for Moog Music, which builds Theremins under the brand name Etherwave (pictured on page 36). That, combined with the physical interaction with the instrument, allows for a number of unique applications in music therapy—emotional, psychological, and physical.”
Rosser was speaking to a conference of the American Music Therapy Association (www.musictherapy.org) held in late 2006 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Theremin’s use for stress relief, as a catalyst for imagination, its potential as a mode of nonverbal expression, and its use in combination with other healing modalities was discussed. “This instrument can have a dramatic effect on the well-being of music therapy patients,” explains Rosser.
The Theremin is known as the world’s first commercially available electronic instrument. It was invented in 1919 by
Russian Léon Theremin and popularized by American Robert Moog. The instrument produces an electromagnetic field between two prongs that when disturbed by the hand, creates a spectrum of musical notes. Its eerie sound is a staple of horror flick soundtracks.
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