I know! Good , isn't it?

I was in a music shop last week : couldn't resist looking to see what the grade 1 pieces look like

I had a look at viola G1 pieces the other day, They all look so easy

The cello ones look straightforward, but probably aren't!...

I found the viola ones easy until I played them with the CD accompaniment

I'll find the 'cello ones easy until I apply the bow to the strings

Cello lesson no. 2 today...

Have fun

How well I know that feeling . . .

I will

Enjoyed it again and lots to work on before my next lesson in a fortnight.

If you want 'cello lessons in SE London, give iona a call. She's great

I can do a C major scale, pizzicato

OK, it's out of tune, but from little acorns...

That means that you can also do 1 octave of G and D major.

That's my next project. Hopefully to be completed by this coming Wednesday...

The fingerings are the same as the 1st octave of the C major, so if you can play C major you can play G and D as well.

I'm sure I can find a myriad of different ways to play those two scales out of tune too...

One thing to be careful of is to not move your fingers further towards the scroll as you go up to the next string. It can be very easy for it to feel like you're moving your fingers straight across when you're actually moving them back ever so slightly, and this would obviously affect the intonation.

Thanks Flossie!

As always, I'll let you know how it's all gone on Wednesday

Lesson no. 3...let's see how much I've forgotten since two weeks ago...

so how was it, how was it???

I've had a good report from Barry. Am sure he'll put an update on here when he's next around.

[quote name='Flossie' date='Oct 14 2009, 08:37 PM' post='884339']
[/quote]

so how was it, how was it???
[/quote]
I've had a good report from Barry. Am sure he'll put an update on here when he's next around.
[/quote]

Enjoyed it again. Still have plenty to work on, but I felt I made progress. I have lots to work on for a fortnight's time...

...and today I bowed half of Frere Jacques! And bowed something that sounded a little like a C major scale if you have a very vivid imagination and a sympathetic ear

How stretchy are you finding it finger-wise?

It's OK, but tuning is leaving a lot to be desired!

Is that partly the stretch though? I find on violin that the stretchier notes start getting dodgy intonation-wise when I start getting tired. On cello I found my intonation improved quite radically in 4th position when this was introduced compared to in 1st position, so I'm sure that was partly to do with how stretchy 1st position is.

I think Flossie it's probably just me not really being used to stringed instruments in general. Before I began studying the 'cello, the only stringed experience I had was an attempt at the guitar which wasn't too successful - just not my instrument...

I wouldn't judge your string instrument ability from your guitar experience Barry - I have a guitar and did not click with it at all. It hasn't been out of its case for a number of years now.

Mine went to a home where it would be better used. If I'd have kept it, it'd have probably stayed under my bed for ever and ever and ever...

I thought stretches were challenging, until I tried the double bass in first position!

now, THAT is a stretch I will NEVER be able to achieve, it is just 'physically impossible!', my fingers are just not long enough (and I have medium to big sized hands for a 'lady', at work I wear gloves more or less same size as the male doctors).

So the solution (for me anyway) is now to always have to 'jump/slide' a centimeter or so with my hand up or down (depending which note I have to play) whenever I go from 1st to 4th finger or other way round

It was very nice to meet your double bass yesterday!

you're very welcome to have a play on it next time

Might well take you up on that offer jojo thanks!

ok, I could teach you a couple of tunes

It's more likely I'll be observing the deep grooves in my left hand fingers

My left hand fingers are already displaying signs of use on a 'cello

Ruts appearing in the finger pads eh?

That's the technical term, I assume...'rut'...

I can play C major. With a bow.

It means you have improved even though it is the simplest scale in existance.

You haven't heard the tuning of it VH!

If you can't play it in tune then I wouldn't consider you able to play it.

It's getting closer...as with anything, the more I do, the better it'll get...

I like the cello...it's fun

...and today I tried some Dotzauer exercises.

Not entirely certain what Dotzauer would have thought of them. He might have recognised his work...

you're having a WHALE of a time barry!!!

Don't know who Dotzauer is but 'exercises are COOL' I love them

It's all good fun : I'll show you the exercises next time I see you jojo!

Sounds like you're having a great time, Barry!

I wouldn't worry too much about dodgy tuning on scales and things for now - it takes a while to get reliable intonation. I think Violin Hero's comment is somewhat condescending, actually - I have yet to meet a beginner who plays anything perfectly in tune - are we supposed to imagine that they can't play anything at all for the first few years? No. It takes time (as VH will surely remember as he went from grade 3 to 8 in about two years if I remember correctly - so his beginner days aren't so far away if he thinks really hard I'm sure he can remember what it's like to not play perfectly, as his comments lead us to believe he does now - although I have never met a grade 8 player who played perfectly either...).

Enjoy your cello - it might just be the best instrument ever (how many instruments can you hug whilst you play?)

Allan

It took me about 5 years to get to grade 4 standard. I did quit for 2 years and then when I returned to the violin I went from grade 4 to grade 8 standard in under 2 years.

Now I seem stuck at grade 8 level!!!!


It all depends upon the individual. A grade 1 player can play grade 1 pieces but a grade 8 player can play them a whole heap better.

On clari, I'm beyond grade 8 : I certainly haven't learned everything there is to know, and I never will. I still thoroughly enjoy having occasional clarinet lessons and participating in masterclasses...

Tuning is a hazard on 'cello : and I'm always really hard on myself with both that and tone quality. If it isn't right, I'll keep at it, and at it etc. etc.



You certainly can't do it with a clarinet! - thanks for your good wishes

Does this mean he'll have trouble trying to play Clarinet straight after the 'cello... not being able to cover the holes properly so air escapes? Oh dear...!

I have gone straight from 'cello to clari. There are no problems