I recently submitted a video of myself performing, that will be added into the mix for a YouTube Video. A sample can be found at this link. It’s not the one I perform in, but worth listening. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdyAMHpfV1M First, a big shout out and thanks to tonyrogerscello.com for even doing this. , and giving us all an outlet to share our playing with the world. If you participated, and you have the funds, the guy deserves a donation for this labor of love. Heck, even if you didn’t participate. Just as a background : to make these videos,you play along with a backing track, whi ..read more

Going to start writing every day now, even if it’s just to note when and what I prepared. 8/1 Marcello E-minor sonata, 4th movement, specific measures for intonation. 35 min Happy Birthday, Rick Mooney Double Stop book, p. 16 10 min Schroeder double stop etude, m. 2 and 4 5 min Revisit: On the Wings of Song. Check bowing and get ready to play along with piano tracks. 10 min Practice log 8/1 ..read more

Why? Because nobody can contact me on one of these ..read more

New 100 Day Challenge Group Been spending much of my time over at this facebook group. As you’ll recall, this blog started out as a 100 day practice challenge, and as I needed some motivation and community, I tried this group out. As much as I love it, I also need to post my practice logs here as well. Tonight I worked on just one shift, primarily on the metronome, and wasn’t a stickler for perfect intonation. I plan to refine this tomorrow. I’m under a great deal of job stress right now, but I also need to keep making whatever progress I can ..read more

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I have been posting my progress to a Facebook group, and it’s been hard to worry about keeping the two in sync, but I’m going to populate this blog with some of those posts, and then maintain from here, evermore ..read more

Gigue from Suite 1 Sounding more even, now work on giving the notes character. Think about rise and fall of each phrase. Crescendo towards the middle and decresendo towards the end. On the first trill, just work on a smooth upbow afterwards. And give yourself some credit, you’re doing some things well. Baccarole (third position piece) When there’s a lot going on, start with small chunks and get the intervals right, then the shifts, and watch for a delay in that first shift! A metronome will help, and I can always ask for help from somebody, to tell me if they hear a delay or rec ..read more

Lesson Objectives: Lesson last night focused on the Marcello Sonata and the Gigue from Suite#1. On the latter, he suggested that I get the rhythm, then the notes, then the bowing. For the bowing, use the metronome to get those fast first down bows and the notes in the first slur to be equal length. Also, analyze the piece and ask what are all the bowings and rhythms needed to learn this section or piece? Lesson Assessment: As far as the lesson itself goes, I didn’t show well what I learned, except perhaps in the position piece. I recommitted to doing things in the standard order ..read more

General Observations Learn to relax the right side of the right hand. The hand shouldn’t look like it’s trying to suspend the bow in mid-air. There are certain notes that should not only be 99% in tune but 100% in tune. Really go for that maximal ringing. This is particularly helpful on the lower strings where one has more overtones to hear. Scales F major is in pretty good shape going down, but work on making it habitual Start working on D minor Mooney Position Piece (3d pos. Waltz) Make sure all the A notes ring, Play with a pulse Still needs work to find the notes, and I’m a lo ..read more

Playing the Cello Well According to my teacher, playing the cello well consists of two things: Nice tone and intonation (those are the same, basically) with a rhythm Tone and Intonation Low D needs to be your home base #1 on the cello. You should know when you hit it right and imagine the note ringing with all of its overtones. You know, this is the note Pablo Casals said he practices every day, just to make sure he has the hang of it. Seeking it out and getting the reward should become a Pavlovian response. Scale F-major Find the trickiest part of each scale; work on the s ..read more