Due to its hands-free interface (your body’s interference with its electromagnetic field controls the sound), the theremin is famed for both its novelty and its importance in 20th-century music. When I started building this kit, I had little soldering experience, but the straightforward instructions made for a great introduction to the world of circuits. The wooden casing needs a brief sanding and varnish or paint, and the mostly constructed circuit board only requires soldering the components that determine tone and waveforms. Bonus: the kit comes with a hilarious performance DVD of Clara Rockmore, one of the first theremin players, and a somber demonstration by her granddaughter.
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