I've just had my first cello lesson in 20-odd years. Things seem to have changed in the cello world while I've been away! My teacher commented on my cello's relatively short spike - in comparison to hers it's almost half the length. Crazy. She plays her cello with it leaning back at quite an angle - hard to jusdge, but it looked something almost approaching 45 degrees.

I was taught to sit with the cello much more upright, so I'm finding this new angle quite hard to get used to. At the same time I can see the benefits - easier to bow, less chance of covering my knee in rosin etc!

I've found a few photos of cellists playing - later ones (Rostropovich, du Pre, Pleeth) seem to favour the "laid back" angle, earlier ones (Casals, Alexanian) seem to be more upright. Of course, in the pre-spike days the upright position was mandatory.

How do you hold your cello? How long is your spike?

3 years ago it was 32 cm, but now I've used up the whole spike, because my cello is a 3/4 it's too small for me

I always have my cello at about 45 degrees and the spike really short, but my music teacher says it's a bad habbit, but if your music teacher prefers I would listen to her. It's easier that way

QUOTE (pogo @ Feb 21 2005, 12:10 PM)

I was taught to sit with the cello much more upright, so I'm finding this new angle quite hard to get used to. At the same time I can see the benefits - easier to bow, less chance of covering my knee in rosin etc!

Tortelier designed a special bent spike, so as to achieve the laid back angle without occupying too much floor. I haven't seen one close up, but I think it would have to be removed from the 'cello for travelling.

I never measure the degree of my spike, but I suppose that 45 degrees isn't too big. I guess I play at that angle, because I seem to always need a long spike.

Another thing I'm finding weird about this more laid-back position is that it's tending to force my left arm down. I was originally taught that the left arm is supposed to be almost perpendicular to your body so that you can move your wrist freely when changing positions. The way I'm sitting these days my left elbow's pointing at the floor. Doesn't seem to affect my shifting left-hand positions (I'm pretty much rubbish at it whatever way I sit ), but it does feel a bit weird.

I guess there's no definitive answer, really. Teaching styles seem to change with the seasons