September 25, 2009 Cello Lesson

September 25, 2009

Scales:

Didn't play scales today. Will continue to work on 1/3 of scales every day. Will also play scales very slow and try to get good tone.

For October 9, do E major and C# minor

Schroeder:

Revisit #28 and use all of the upper bow. Concentrate on tone and intonation.

Was usually playing on the tips of my fingers; make sure I concentrate on this.

Also do #29 for next lesson: Is in mid-bow but make sure to use more of the bow; 1/3 of the middle is OK. Make sure extensions are extensions and not shifts.

Bourree:

Some of the stuff I did OK last week, didn't do OK this week. Gliss was not as good. I continue to compress my fingers (BAD)

In measures 6, 14, and 43 work on finger placement and having the thumb move up the fingerboard.

Practice: shifting from B to G and from B to D and then to G. Make smooth, move thumb, good intonation. Separate fingers. DON'T CRICK FINGERS!!

Tempo was better this week. Continue to play with metronome; 112 is an OK setting. Play once with metronome and then without.

Ready to begin Page 2!!!!!!!

B played most of page 2.

First run starts P and then gets F. When P, mainly use fingers. As it gets louder use more of arm. Make sure to use arm and not shoulder. Not spiccato but on the string.

Measure # 61 the 5 note run is just an ornament.

In measures 66, 67 and 68 have harmonics.

66 is an open string chord, not harmonic

67 is regular harmonic on A and D

68 can be played two different places on fingerboard; way up high (try to find spot) or on the tuning harmonic area (will be easier to find, but less showy)

Run starting at measure 69 get played close to the bridge until music indicated "natural" then you can play normal.

Once music is back to original melody it is tons faster, Vivo than played initially.

Starting in measure #87, Chords (strum with thumb) are:

4 2 4 1

3 1 3 0

1 1 1 0

1 1

Pits following chords are accented.

Last measure chords:

4 4

3 3

1 1

1 1

Exercise for Next Week:

Hand/finger compression (look in Potter book for good example); make sure thumb is bent.

Use whole bow for scales; concentrate on sound; can use vibrato; do a 4 or 6 count

Keep using the metronome.

Next Lesson is Friday, October 9th at 2:15 p.m.