October 30, 2009 Cello Lesson

Cello Lesson October 30, 2009

Lesson went better than the last couple have.

Schroeder #32: Did OK, especially after I slowed the tempo down (second time through) and was able to play the difficult couple of measures.

For next lesson, work on #33

Play UH of bow

Watch dynamics

Don't play any faster than I can handle the most difficult passages.

Breval, Sonata in C Major

This was the first play through for BH. Did OK. Some sections weren't as good as at home, but overall, was fine.

Tempo was OK, though somewhat unsteady on the second page of the first movement.

Throughout, USE MORE BOW!!!!!

Three chords at the beginning: Take thumb off the back of cello to get a better vibrato, especially in the first and third chord. More bow is needed in the chords. Make sure the bottom notes can be heard in the third chord.

In many of the moving passages throughout the piece, PLAY INTO THE STRING, I.E., KEEP THE BOW ON THE STRING.

Overall, when leading into a chord, don't take the bow off the string. (This works!)

Overall, be generous with the bow; when changing bow direction, release and relax the sound.

Overall, when playing on the C string, make sure playing on tips of fingers.

Overall, don't saw the triplets.

Measure #7: Vibrate half notes and greater

Measure #13: Bow can travel through the air

Measure #29: No flat fingers!

Measure # 39: Don't lift fingers.

Measures # 58 and 59: Keep the bow in the air.

Measure # 73: Don't rush.

Measure #102: The trill. The beg. C is part of the trill. Must play the C with 1st finger; extension (x4) up to the E to begin the trill (baroque trill starts with the note above target note).

Measure #last: There is no space between last two chords.

Exercise to help with playing on the C String:

Play in the middle of the bow.

Play a C scale but alternate with open G.

Start upbow.

Next Lesson is Friday, November 13 at 11:30.

Squirre: Bouree Notes

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Bouree Notes

Squirre: Bouree: (9/2/2009)

DID NOT PLAY AS WELL AT LESSON AS I HAVE BEEN AT HOME!!!!! Really stunk!!

Bouree is a dance so make sure tempo is consistent and steady (problems with this throughout piece, but especially in eighth note "runs"

First measure: make sure is down and then up bow

Stacatto notes should be played close to the frog; about 3 inches from the frog (on bow)

Make sure the shifts are smooth; practice the nugget of shifting from 4 to 1 (many places in the piece)

Double stops: can keep first finger down on A (on the D string); use 4/3 for first chord and 3/1 for second. Don't need to move hand; just shift to other string. Use a fly casting technique for those chords

Use more bow throughout

Make sure the 16th note runs are smooth; how fast I play the piece will depend on how well and how fast these notes can be played

In the gliss. from the harmonic D to the open D, make sure the top D is held for the full 1 1/2 beats.

In slow section , make sure the E is hit perfectly each time

Go into second position in the eighth note run (DCCB/////BAAG#); can either make the switch at the B or at the A (on the D String); NO OPEN A!!

Pay attention to all dynamics

Continue with this first page only.

Squire, Bourree: (9/11/2009)

Was slightly better than last week, but still not very good (in my opinion, sort of stunk again). The notes are there but that is about it.

MORE BOW!!!!!!

Supposed to be a commanding performace, forceful

Smoother, don't separate unless indicated.

Thumb in crook in various measure throughout.

The G at the end of every 16th note run is upbow and last note of phrase.

1. Thumb in crook!! Smooth move from B to G; up and then down bow; start about in the middle of the bow and end at the end. Don't skimp on the bow. Start in mid point of bow; bow to point.

2. F# is long; by holding it the E and D will be easier to play; This repeats throughout piece

3. And other measures; play staccato, but is like a paintbrush staccato. Is this the spicatto?? Bounce and find the bouncy point. A slurred spicatto is a travel and bounce move.

6. This is a nugget; practice a smooth move from 4 to 1; also other measures

8, 16, 45. Gliss from harmonic D to regular D; make sure hold harmonic for full 1 and a half beats

14, 15 , 43, 44, Play the double stops as 4/3 and then 3/x1 Use the windshield technique here. Make sure these chords play well. In first chord get first finger down and in position for second chord.

19. Not a gliss; is animato.

21, 22, 23. E must be the same all three times and perfect pitch

21 and 22. Don't break between the E and B; smooth; practice without the ornament/trill

29. Don't rush the eigth notes; try to play with some feeling

36. Start pp so can show a difference when crescendoing to F

39. Keep tempo; don't rush after finishing the 16th notes

Bourree: (9/18/2009)

Better than last week. B liked that chords were better. Said gliss from harmonic D to open D was good.

Problems:

Inconsistent tempo; practice with metronome. Set it at 120 (Sousa March tempo) Play with metronome and then without (This seems to fast for me and I put it down to 105)

Still more bow

Staccatto Sections: in slurred stacato travel and bounce at the same time

Don't use shoulder and arm so much with these stacattos. Let them have their own momentum

In shift from B to G, move thumb with rest of hand.
Drop the ornaments in practice until I play better; this is in 21, 22, and 23
Make sure I move thumb when going from B to E in above measures.

October 23, 20009 Cello Lesson

Friday, October 23, 2009 11:30

Bourree:

Did not play well, though B said I did OK. Put this to bed for about 6 months; will revisit for my birthday.

Schroeder:

Did fine.

Scales:

Working on 8 scales every day; rotating the list. Doing well

Vibrato Notes:

Need strength and be relaxed

Once you stop on the string

Feel lubrication

Strong

Can move thumb

Make sure cello is secure; hold tight with knees and press against body

In Unchained Melody, slur some of it

Can rock hand once it is planted

Widen the vibrato so can hear it

DON'T BREAK WRIST

Can use the pad of finger

Wider swing on first finger

Sequence is: arm plant can use wrist

New Music: Breval, Sonata in C Major

Next Lesson is Friday, October 30, same time: 11:30

Orchestra Notes

November 18, 2009

Concert last night went well; much better than I thought based on our weak dress rehearsal on Monday evening.

Viewed recording after concert; I displayed almost every technical fault B has been bringing to my attention during my lessons.

Fourth finger stuck in the air

Short, sawing type bow strokes; not always, but enough

Looking at the fingerboard to make sure fingers are in right place

Playing too close to the fingerboard; chalk on fingerboard proved that

Not enough vibrato, though I consciously tried to vibrato when appropriate

And I'm sure there were many other "mistakes"

Video is like a documentary on "How to Not Play the Cello"

Will try to transfer to a DVD so can share it with other orchestra members, though not sure how they will enjoy watching two cellos for over 60 minutes.

Cello "sound" was OK; probably because euphonium player overplayed the cellos.

November 17, 2009

This is a really busy week; three concerts. Last night was "dress rehearsal" for the concert this evening. Didn't think we'd ever finish. I felt rusty as I had missed the previous two weeks of practice; not so much with the notes, but with tempo changes, etc. Program tonight seems long and unfortunately the last piece is Grease. Hopefully I'll have enough energy left to play the "solo" part well. Jane is conducting Chicago and does a great job; very easy to follow.

Saturday is the concert for the city employees and Sunday is the combined orchestra/choir Thanksgiving Concert.

At least the week is not filled with doctor appointments.

Right Hand and Bowing Issues

Right Hand/Bowing

Some Web sites and articles I've found useful.

Bow Hold
http://www.pohutukawa.com/orchestra/cello/bowhold

The Importance of Bow Technique by Anna Johannsen

Spiccato

Spiccato by Simon Fischer from The Strad, October 2006

I Need Help Introducing Spiccato to Sixth and Seventh Grade Students by Gary Wolfman from Teaching Music, October 2004

On the Rebound by Helga Winold et al from The Strad, May 2002

I Need Help With Spiccato by Harry Wimmer
http://www.wimmercello.com/topten9.html

Practicing Spiccato; Mastering Spiccato is an Absolute Necessity by James Reel from Teen Strings

Jump Start by Rok Klopcic from The Strad, May 2004

Bowing Questions from Cellists by Night

Loose Bow Hold on the Cello
http://ww.celloprofessor.com/Loose-bow-hold.html

Right Hand and Arm Position on the Cello
http://www.celloprofessor.com/Right-hand47arm-position.html

Sautille Bow Stroke
http://celloprofessor.com/Sautille.html

Loure or Portato Bow Stroke
http://www.celloprofessor.com/Lour23347portato.html

Power at the Bow's Tip
http://www.cello.org/cnc/tim7.htm

An Engineer's View on Cello Bowing Technique
by Roland V. Siemons
http://www.cello.org/Newsletter/Articles/engineer.html

The Orchestra: A User's Manual: Cello: Bowing
http://www.mti.dmu.ac.uk/~ahugill/manual/cello/bowing.html

Ornamentation

Sheet Music

Left Hand and Fingering Issues

Some Web sites and articles I've found useful.

Left Hand: Elementary Cello Technique
http://www.pohutukawa.com/orchestra/cello/left

The Orchestra: A User's Manual: Cello: Left Hand
http://www.mti.dmu.ac.uk

Position of Left Thumb in Cello Technique
http://www.celloprofessor.com/Position-of-left-thumb.html

Shifting on the Cello
http://www.celloprofessor.com/Principles-of-Shifting.html

Cello Fingering Chart
http://www.celloonline.com/cellofingeringchart.htm

October 9, 2009 Cello Lesson

Friday, October 9, 2009 2:45

Scales

Did not play scales today

Keep practicing every day on all scales; can split into thirds

OK to go on to the next set of scales

Continue to do three times each: Slow, separate bowing; Faster, separate bowing; and Slurred

Schroeder

Played #29 OK

Had some problems with trippling the dotted eight and sixteenth slurs

Work on #30 for next week

Pay attention to musicianship and lyrical nature of song; try to think of "How would Yo Yo Ma play this/sound?"

Watch out for the G# on the G string

Use the entire bow and watch the dynamics; a lot of P and PP and even PPP in song

Bourree

Begin double 8th notes;

play 4 inches from the point;
play in the middle of the playing area;
use fingers only until the loud part in second line;
elbow should be slightly lower in order to let the fingers do the notes; but not Quasi Modo
arch the wrist;
squeeze the fingers up and down in an exercise

In the slow part, try Vibrato and watch the tempo especially when I am still playing song at a slower tempo

In measure #63, my fingering is OK, but the turn must be 1 3 and then back to 1 (not 4)

In ponticello section; play ON TOP of the bridge; will get a glassy sound (doesn't sound nice, even when Brenda plays it; very scratchy). Arch wrist, lower elbow.

Potter says to make a cave with the fingers for Ponticello (page 162??)

In the Pizzicato sections:

Fold the bow in and pinch fingers.

Use the 1st finger to pluck. Do the plucking toward the top of the fingerboard, about 4 inches from the end of fingerboard.

TRICKY: In measure #89, pluck the D while keeping the finger on the C. Don't repluck the D for the grace note; had some luck with this when I made sure that all fingers were on the string when going from the D to the C; actually did this consistently, Sunday, October 11!!!

All the chords must ring out

In #92, can use a harmonic, even though is not called for.

Gabrielli Canon

Play attention to tempo, especially in the slower sections; don't rush, count

Eventually, work out better fingerings so don't have to cross strings.

NEXT LESSON IS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16 AT 11:30

October 16th lesson: Did not take notes!!