November 13, 2009 Cello Lesson

Lesson went well today. Played Schroeder #33 and managed to hit most of the down bows correctly. One problem was that bow was not parallel. Will go onto #34 for next week. Should be fun as I'll need to make sure I use the entire bow and leave enough for the whole notes.

The end of a phrase should always be a down bow (except in Schroeder #34) so you can taper the end of the phrase. #34 looks like it might be easier to play the faster I can play it.

Went onto the Breval Sonata. Played basically OK; about what I've been playing at home.

Didn't vibrato as many notes as I should have.

Looked too much at the fingerboard.

Play with more bow throughout.

On measure 7, etc. need to play more staccato and keep bow on strings. Play as if am playing on the wood.

Watch the phrase endings and the dynamics throughout.

In measures 29 and 30, need to play 29 louder to make sure the P of 30 isn't too quiet, but is different from 29.

Vibrato more notes.

In measure 59 watch the E to C (bigger stretch than previous notes)

Triplets on second page are stressed, tight and not fast enough. Try to loosen up and relax when playing the triplets.

Overall, played as if stressed. Need to try to relax, especially in the throat, neck, chest areas.

Try to tighten these areas and then relax them to tell the difference. Possibly some yoga?

Overall, make sure bow is parallel.

Play more toward the middle and not on top of the fingerboard.

Bow strings should be flatter.

Keep cello closer to the body and don't look at the fingerboard.

In spite of all this, will play for 1 more week and then start on Vivaldi #5 Sonata.

Bowing Distribution Exercise:

Play on an open string; metronome set at 60. Bow a 3 and then a 4 beat. Goal is no change in sound as the bow changes. Go from frog to tip and back. Aim for consistent sound. Taper at the end of the bowing.