Stephen Hamm Theremin Man

Discipline: Music
Homebase: Vancouver
Regions Available: Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island Lower, Virtual
Languages: English

A legendary member of the Vancouver Music and Arts scene for over thirty years, Stephen Hamm continues a prolific, adventurous, and unique musical career as a performance and recording artist in many projects, including his solo music project Theremin Man. Stephen Hamm has played in bands like Slow, Tankhog, Canned Hamm, and Nardwuar and The Evaporators and has toured on three continents. A multi-instrumentalist, Stephen Hamm has shifted his focus to mastering the theremin in more recent years. The theremin is an early electronic instrument that one does not touch but plays by interacting with magnetic fields around two antennae. Stephen has studied under the tutelage of German theremin virtuoso Carolina Eyck and New York-based thereminist Dorit Chrysler. Over the past several years Stephen has been thrilling audiences with a wildly creative solo show, based around theremin and synthesizer, and has been taking them on an electro-musical journey into new abstract dimensions of sound!

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Stephen Hamm: Theremin Man is a history lesson, a science lesson, a lively discussion, and a demonstration. Students will hear the strange story of its inventor, Leon Theremin, who took the world by storm in the 1920s and 1930s. Next, a demonstration of how theremins work. They are very unique because rather than touching them, you play them when your body interacts with the instrument’s electric field. The story of the theremin is a story of science, technology, engineering (invention), arts and music (my own personal version of STEAM!). It also allows students to see how Leon Theremin’s interests in music and physics led to the invention of the theremin.The presentation ends with time for kids to come up and try the theremin, to get curious about their creativity, their energy, and how this affects them and the world around them. The story of the theremin is an intersection of science and art. It is about looking at the world through a different lens: creatively, culturally and historically.

Performance(s)

Stephen Hamm: Theremin Man

School Year: 23-24
Discipline: Music, Storytelling, Interdisciplinary, Other
Offered Languages: English
Grade Suitability: K - 12
Duration: 45 mins
Capacity: 500
Tech Requirements: Electrical outlet, Powerpoint Projector, Projector Screen, microphone
Available Formats: In Person, Virtual

The Performance I’d like to add to the ArtStarts Directory is Stephen Hamm’s Theremin Workshop: the story of the oldest electronic instrument. Stephen Hamm: Theremin Man is a history lesson, a science lesson, a lively discussion, a demonstration, a performance and an interactive workshop. It starts with questions to engage the kids and spark their curiosity. What is electricity? What do we do with electricity? What is it used for? This leads the conversation to 1920s Russia when the theremin was first invented by physicist/musician Leon Theremin. Next, a demonstration of how theremins work and how they are very unique because rather than touching them, you play them when your body interacts with the instrument’s electric field. Scientific concepts behind how a theremin works and how the instrument is played are also covered. Students will hear the strange story of its inventor, Leon Theremin, who took the world by storm in the 1920’s and 30’s living the life of a celebrity but also patenting his inventions. The workshop ends with hands-on experimentation with the instrument. There will be time for kids to come up and try the theremin, to get curious about their creativity, their energy, and how this affects them and the world around them. The story of the theremin is an intersection of science and art. It is about looking at the world through a different lens: creatively, culturally and historically. How is it relevant to today's students and curriculum? The story of the theremin is a story of science, technology, engineering (invention), arts and music (my own personal version of STEAM!). It also allows students to see how Leon Theremin’s interests in music and physics led to the invention of the theremin and how my interests have led to my career as a thereminist.

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Testimonials & Reviews

Student interests in technology, and the cross-curricular connections of science and music being the foundations of the theremin, made the kids excited to learn about this 100-year-old instrument which is still being used today in progressive and modern musical applications by creative people like Stephen. Sophia Francescutti (Performing Arts Teacher)

Stephen’s presentation highlighted how the sciences and the arts intersect, touching on historical and cultural elements as well as exploring students’ own musical connections and inventive imaginations. There are so many curriculum crossovers! He provided a hands on experience which brought the invisible world of electricity alive and created a soundscape of science, history, mystery, and beauty. Kyla Kinzel (Pacific Spirit School)

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