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!!