I'm just wondering if any other cellists have problems with the muscles in their left forearm when playing the Bach Cello suites? I always find that very early on in the Prelude, during a cello lesson, the muscles in my left forearm become almost entirely spent which of course doesn't do much for my playing until the muscles relax again. But, it never happens when I'm playing at home or during anything else that I play. I still practice about an hour a day and do loads of playing with other people in various forms each week. I'm supposed to be playing the 3rd suite at a function shortly and I'm worrying because I obviously can't afford to have spent muscles so early on in the whole performance. Does anyone know any specific warm up exercises I could do before playing?

Not so much in the Bach, but I do find that certain pieces make my arms tense and aching much more than others - I remember this being a problem in Bloch Nigun in particular, though that was my right arm - and, in fact, now in Bloch Schlomo I find my LH fingers ache, so maybe I have a Bloch block to match your Bach block!

Seriously though, try and pause as soon as your arm starts to seize and work out why - is your elbow in a funny place? Are you lifting fingers when you don't need to be? Obviously, the best thing to do is to ask your teacher about it.

Before you play, do some athletic warm-up exercises - "windmills" one arm at a time, slowly; stretching your arm across your body by using your other arm vertically to press against it, and so on.

Good luck!

Hi Charlie,

I hesitated to answer this as I don't play 'Cello. I've never played 'Cello. I've never even played someone who played a 'Cello on television.

You get the idea.

Having said that, it sounds a little similar to problems that some guitarists have with long pieces with lots of, what in 'Cello terms I suppose would be, double/multiple stopping.

It's usually to do with over pressing on the strings along with the associated tension and one of the drills we have is to rest the fingers on the notes to be played so gently that the strings aren't making contact with the fingerboard then slowly bring them to the point where the notes are just sounding clearly (just beyond the buzz moment), possibly using a very small amount of arm weight when stopping all six strings (barre).

After doing this a few times then play through a few measures trying to maintain the light feeling in the left hand playing at a very low tempo then apply to the piece in increasing measures/tempo/etc...

Gradually over time you work more at it and the whole piece is performed with what the guitar teacher Jamie Andreas calls, "the incredible lightness" (Ideal world and all that).

I would agree with cellocase too in that the first port of call should be your teacher who'll be able to see what the problem is in far greater detail and, in all likelihood, have a better solution.

Sorry if this was non-applicable to 'Cello or a waste of time.

All the best,

Matt.

Hi! Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you. Thank you both for your replies. Cellocase, it's interesting that different pieces cause you similar problems. Unfortunately in this case my normally very helpful teacher's attitude is, "It's Bach, it's tough"!!! Matt - I found your reply really interesting and to a certain degree can see the similarities to playing the cello.

Anyway, I've tried stopping each time I can feel the tension starting to creep up and from this have managed to deduce that my whole arm and fingers are just too tense so I'm trying to stay relaxed and hopefully this will improve everything in time for the performance.

Did you manage to find a new cello cellocase? I gave the one I had on loan back in the end. The tone just wasn't "me". I felt really ungrateful but there you go.

Hi Charlie,

Glad if any of it was of any use. Can see your teacher's point too as I'm currently working on the Prelude - Presto of BWV 995, the third "Lute" Suite (same as your 'Cello Suite No. 5 I believe) and it's tough.

Another trick I've tried with some success is to play the passages pianissimo which seems to trick my left hand into working in a really light and relaxed fashion then slowly increasing the volume whilst concentrating on keeping the light feeling in my left.

Sounds like you've nailed it though.

All the best for the function,

Matt.

I don't know if this would be of any use to you, but the "It's Bach, it's tough" comment just reminded me of something,

I'm currently tackling the Bach Preludio in E major and I would imagine it's similar to the Bach cello suites? Anyway, I've also been working on my stamina and strength in general and my teacher's been talking about achieving strength through softness with the left hand. I guess that this would be similar to what Matt was saying about the lightness of the left hand, that there should always be a feeling of sofness and lightness, that the hand is never tensing up. Also, she's been getting at me for leaving un-necessary fingers down, as this can tense up the whole hand. Also, maybe any added pressure in your lesson could be adding to tension in your hand/arm?

Don't know if any of this would be useful, as it's all from a violinists perspective. Hope you get the problem sorted though and enjoy the Bach

Hey, it's your cello, it's your heart, it's your sound. No ingratitute involved.

And yes, I found a cello, and it's great I did have to stop looking for a Strad for a fiver, and compromised on price and sound, as neccessary, but it's lovely. And called Wolfgang.

Oh, that's brilliant. I bet that's a load of your mind. Just in time for that big exam looming up!!! Good luck with your preparations although it sounds from your post in the other forum that you're more or less sorted.

Well - I definitely wouldn't say that!
As far as the recital is concerned, I reckon that, if I'm good enough, I'll pass, and if I'm not, I won't - in other words, it won't be too hard to get the pieces up to the top standard I'm capable of; we'll just have to see if that's good enough!
QS - well, my sightreading isn't bad.
But programme notes and viva - that's another question entirely. And with A-levels looming in the next couple of months, I haven't got hours to spare, either...