September 11, 2009 Cello Lesson

September 11, 2009 (Friday)

Overall:

Bad tone is due in part to tightness and really short strokes of bow; too jerky

Unfold elbow, but keep on same plane; don't raise elbow, just extend it when appropriate

Need to take longer bow strokes overall

Play closer to the fingerboard without playing on top of it; can't get a good tone and a solid tone when playing on top of the bridge

Play more on tips of fingers!!

Don't SAW

Don't compress fingers

Moves to practice:

Windshield Wiper: Hold bow with thumb, first finger and baby (4) finger and move back and forth like a windshield wiper

Something about this being good practice for spiccatto????

Press the hair on bow to the string

Fly casting

Very stingy with the bow; leads to squeaks and bad tones

Schroeder:

Not real bad; should have played better. Seemed to make mistakes that I never made at home. Last section, which was the part I was worried about, was much better than the first section.

Messed up the first part, compared to how I was playing at home

Note all comments above as they apply to #26

For next lesson, #27: Use upper half of bow, watch dynamics, note starred passage (something about this being a classic move???)

Squire, Bourree:

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

Next Lesson: Friday, September 18, 2009 at 11:30

Shroeder #27

Same scales (make sure I play them so I can get over them and move on)

Keep working on the Bourree

Lightbulb: With thumb in crook (firmly), use whatever fingering works on upper notes (4th position)