Getting it -- Now just doing it?

Ok, so I am two for two on practice this week. I made the decision that I had to practice every day (as if I didn't already know that), but with working and some family tension issues, practice just went out the door. Ugh! I got back on the horse, did my due-diligence, and thankfully, I am not that off. Praying for a miracle -- our chamber recital is Nov. 28th!

Good Progress

I have spent the past couple days working on my technique, and I think I see good progress. One thing I am doing is reminding myself that I can play the cello. I know -- that seems silly, but really it is just a mindset thing. Whenever I get into this funk that says "you cannot do it," then really I cannot do anything cello-wise. If I give myself some kudos, then I feel more empowered and I find that I actually sound pretty good.

Yesterday, I played through Suzuki Book 2 again. I am amazed at how much better I can play these pieces. In fact, my work in chamber has made it possible for me to play these pieces really well. Sure, I am familiar with them -- but really, they are challenging nonetheless. And, as I struggle through Book 3, it helps me to remember that I can indeed play the cello well enough to be in this book.

I think I have finally passed Gavotte in C Minor, and I can almost play Allegro Moderato from start to finish (on my own -- not even with any teacher help yet). The Minuet is easy for me, because it is also in Book 2 (but with a second part -- new and more challenging). The two pieces I cannot play yet are Humoresque and La Cinquantaine. I love the latter, and think I actually will be able to play it. Humoresque is another thing all together -- and I don't know if that is something I will play now or have to come back around to later on. My concern is this -- if I can finish these two pieces, then I am ready for Book 4. I have heard that Book 4 is really challenging -- and I don't know if I have the technique to play it yet.

On another front -- I finally can play Allegro by Joseph Henry Fiocco and Concerto Grosso by Vivaldi. My teacher changed my part on the latter piece, and it is a bit more difficult for me now. However, I can play it (hooray) and can say that it is absolutely beautiful in chamber (with piano and five violins and cello).

I am really pleased with my performance ability -- now I just need to relax when I play in group. Oh...that and make sure to bow a bit more pressure (on my new bow), and I am set.

Cello Update

Struggling with doubt and fear of failure - UGH! I have decided that it is two things: new strings and a new bow. I think my confidence went out the door with these changes to my cello. I didn't think it would that big a deal, just a better sound and ease of playing -- but I was wrong. I am struggling to play well, and I don't like it. Also, I am not practicing as much as I should -- thanks to working PT at Macy's. Sigh!

On a higher note (hee hee) -- my teacher and I practiced with the piano and violin yesterday so that I could get a better feel for my chamber pieces. These are difficult ones she made for me, and I can play them, but the timing is more advanced, and I am either too fast or too slow. More work, more practice and I can play them, I know it.

Making Progress

I think I am finally making good progress on Gavotte in C Minor. With a bit more practice, I really think I will be able to finally play this piece decently. It has been a thorn in my side for about 3 months. Technically, I can play this piece -- I just am struggling to shift into 4th position, and I think that is just a matter of training and time. I will get it, I know I will.

Practicing Again

I am back to my practice schedule, but I am still not to where I was before I started working PT at Macy's. I am getting better, and with new strings and bow, my sound has improved. Today, I worked on chamber music as well as Gavotte in C Minor (from Suzuki 3). I am bound and determined to play this piece better.

Practice, Practice, Practice

I have been off cello for about a week, mostly due to taking on PT work at Macy's. I finally got myself organized last evening, and got my cello out to practice. I was so surprised! I thought for sure I would be rusty, but I played through my pieces pretty well. God is so good to me!

Practice Catchup

I have been practicing for about an hour the past couple days. I am getting in good time, and can really see and hear the progress. We have shifted my sticky tab down from where it should be for first position, and it is good. It was in a good spot before, right where your thumb should be for first position, but that made it a huge jump for me to reach with my pinky -- even more than extended 4th position. I think it is a physical issue, the size of my hands perhaps. So we moved it down a bit and it put my thumb between 1st and 2nd position, but I can now reach from X1 to X4 in 1st position with ease. I am also not missing G anymore.



As a second help, we put a sticker on C# to help remind me where I need to be when I reach X4 in 1st position. I get there, but tend to sit to low on the register, so I am flat rather than sharp. This has helped as well, and I think with a bit more time, will be able to find these positions without the little references. My cello looks like a kiddie instrument with colored finger tapes and stickers -- but, hey it works.



As to practice, I spent all of last week refining my bowing. My teacher says my bowing is lovely now. I am working hard on finger placement as well, trying not to flatten my fingers out but keep them up on the tips a bit. I am sure I am not playing the cello precisely as I could, but my hands are old, and they have been through the typing wars (typing up to 100 wpm for over 30 years). I just don't think they want to stretch or sit a certain way. I think there is some arthritis (beginnings of crookedness) setting in as well. Oh well.

My pieces this week include:

• Lully's Gavotte (book 3) - I already passed this a couple months ago, but am revisiting all of Book 3 to work on better bowing and phrasing technique. Major improvement -- major!
• Basic Fiddlers - playing in group now, and I am finding that I enjoy the cello/bass part more than the melody. Let the violins play the melody -- they like to take first anyway. I really like my part as it gives OOMPH to the entire piece. I feel very important, even though I am mostly playing the same two notes.
• Strictly Strings - we are playing through this entire book, and I have mostly the cello part. Again, very nice to play this part because it adds so much interest to the entire piece of music.
• Schroeder's Foundational Studies - working on etude 10 and 14. Bowing mostly, striving for long smooth bows, and short quick bows.

Overall, I see great progress and I am well-pleased. My cello has behaved, even with bad strings, and a worn out bow. Perhaps a new cello is on the horizon? I sure do hope so!

Signs of Improvement

Today, I have my lesson. I have been feeling so down about my skill lately -- lots of mistakes, brain freezing right in the middle of piece of music, etc. But, yesterday was incredibly good. Chamber practice went so well, and I actually was able to keep up (when I got behind), and I enjoyed playing my part (with the violin in the lead). We sounded so GOOD!

I just finished practicing for my lesson, and have a boost of confidence to send me on my way. I have been working on keeping my thumb in the correct first position hold (thanks to a velcro tab placed there by my teacher). She asked me to play through as much of Suzuki Book 2 as I could with my thumb firmly planted in it's correct spot. I tend to float (as do most new students -- on violin and viola too). It is a common problem and it causes misplaced fingers especially on the critical notes of F# and G on the D string (on cello). I am either flat or sharp, but not when I need to be (make sense?)

Oh my, what a difficult exercise, but with practice I am getting better at keeping my thumb put. Also, when I shift into 2nd or 3rd position, I am more careful to plant my thumb where it belongs. It has helped me be more accurate in placement, and therefore, I am hitting less missed notes (Hooray!)

So, I am off to my lesson in about 10 minutes, and am excited about the prospect of it. I am doing so much better, and I am finding such enjoyment now in playing with other people. Truly, there is nothing better than playing as a group. It is fine to play solo work, but group ensemble play beats it by a long shot. I am glad for this experience and I know what I have learned already will benefit me greatly when I play at church or for another event. Yea!

Practice was GOOD!

I missed two days of practice due to sore fingers (one had a hang nail; and the other, got a back cat claw right through the knuckle - ouch!) Last night was the first night both fingers were well enough to practice.

I was surprized at how well I am playing through my pieces. My teacher told me to pick some pieces from Book 2 and concentrate on performing them well (for this summer). I am still working on Gavotte (Book 3), and the chamber pieces from Strictly Stings Book 2 (about 2-4 selections where I play the bass/cello part for violin and piano). For my "performance" pieces, I am concentrating on Schuman's "The Two Grenadiers" and Schubert's "Berceuse" (pictured left). Both are slow pieces, which will allow me the time to play them with more concentration. I do better with the slow ballads, though I do love the runs through many of the selections in Book 3.

My goal is to be able to play Book 1-3 really well, as well as possible. My teacher is wanting me to slow down, and while I understand that, there is part of me that loves the challenge of new pieces. I just am not the kind of student who can play the same piece over and over and over again. I like to play it for a while, then move on. Oh well!

Yesterday was another really good practice day, and my next lesson (Thurs) and chamber day (Wed) will be this week. I would really like to "impress" my teacher, and show her how hard I have been working these past two weeks (she was on vacation last week -- so I got extra time off).

Practice 6/24/2010

Another really good practice session today. I am gearing up to begin playing along with the Suzuki CD. I have tried this before, but the CD cellist is too fast for me. My teacher thinks they record all the CD music at too fast a pace for students (she says the same thing is true for Violin and Viola). My teacher has me play at the correct tempo whenever possible, so she never can understand why the Suzuki player doesn't do the same thing. Oh well!

I have picked out two songs that I think I can play along with the CD:

The Two Grenadiers by R. Schumman (Book 2)
Berceuse by F. Schubert (Book 3)

My goal for the rest of this week (until my lesson on next Thursday) is to learn to play these along with the CD, paying close attention to phrasing and the subtle nuances of the performer. I think I can do it, and have been listening to the CD, then going and practicing to duplicate his intonation and style. I am getting better, just not perfect yet. I hope to start working more closely, playing along with the CD on Friday (today).

Practice 6/21/2010

Practice went really well today. My cello seems to have appreciated the work up my teacher gave him, and today he was just singing away! I am now thinking that I might be able to change the strings without investing hundreds of dollars into them. I found a set of Super-Sensitive strings for $45. I am used to playing on steel strings, and have tried D'Addario Helicore and didn't really find them easy to play on (my teacher uses them on her cello). I like steel strings, so I think I will just stay with them for the time being. I am also going to invest in a new beginner bow. My bow is bent (warped), and I have been using my teachers bow. It needs rehairing, so I think I will just buy a student bow (about $35). With new strings and a bow, I should be able to continue to play my Kay cello for a while longer. Hooray!!

Cello and Practice

I picked up my old Kay cello from my teacher's house. She removed the pegs, cleaned them, applied some special stuff to help them move better, and then cleaned everything up for me. The good news -- I am in tune; the bad news -- I need new strings. This cello was given to my son as a gift from a dear elderly man. It had been sitting in his home for over 14 years. He had tried to play it, but suffered from tonal issues (hard of hearing). He never could learn to play it correctly. I was blessed to have received it, and it has served me very well. The strings, however, are in bad shape and then do need to be replaced. The cost of strings, wholesale, will be nearly $100. I am having a hard time factoring that in because this cello is plywood and is really old. Is it worth the investment? Probably not.

So, I have been playing my teacher's cello for the past week. It has nice sound, but is setup awkwardly, and I have a lot of string crossing issues. I have to really apply myself and I am not sure it is worth playing her cello for much longer.

With that, here is my dilemma -- I need a new cello, a fairly decent one that will last me a while. I don't have the cash for one, and am not in a position where I can make payments. I am stuck, at the least, until the Lord brings me a new cello.

Practice Thursday

More practice notes -- my teacher's cello and I are becoming friends. I will admit that I am partial to my old Kay cello, but her's has a nice sound and I like it. It is different than mind, the bridge is set higher, the strings a bit farther apart. I have to be more deliberate with my bowing -- but heck -- when is that not a good thing? I also am finding that my finger placement is better on her cello than mine. I tend to go sharp or flat and with hers I hit the right note more often than not. A very good thing, says this cellist!

I am off to my lesson in about 10 minutes. I have to take both cellos -- she is going to try and fix my D string and work on getting my pegs not to slip so much. I am just glad to be having lessons today. I was at the vet most of the am, then got back home and knocked out some practice before I head to her home.

Cello woes -- gotta just love the cello and stringed instruments! I do!

Practice 6/14/2010

I practiced for about an hour last evening. I spent the entire time playing through my Suzuki Cello Book 2. My focus is on playing these songs well, and I am seeing very good progress. The more I play through them, the easier they are to play well.

Today, I need to work on my pieces for chamber (tomorrow) and then my lesson on Thursday.

Practice 6/13/2010

Practice today was OK. I am feeling down about my progress. I know I am doing well, but I don't sound like the CD at all. Not that I should at this stage of the game, but I thought I might at the least sound "a little" like the person playing on the CD (slower than actually performed). What I am noticing is that Book 3 is incredibly difficult for me. I can read the notes, and even play them, but I am having trouble playing them correctly. I know this is because I have only been playing the cello for six months, and this is a 3rd year course. What do I do? I don't know. I have dropped back to Book 2, but I pretty much can play these songs properly. I am replaying them, focusing on musicianship/performance, but still, I am getting bored and depressed. I guess I need to just keep working on Book 3 and push through this period, knowing that in time, it will all work out for me.

Practice 6/8/2010

Practice was much better today. I figured out my issue -- it is my bow. I am using a cheaper bow, and with all my fiddling, I think it is just worn out. I used my old bent bow, and was able to get clearer sounds -- so a new bow is in order. I will wait until I can get a new set -- cello, case and bow. For now though, I am glad the issue was not me! LOL!

Practice - 6/7/2010

Well, I have been off practice now for a few days. My MIL was ill and in the hospital, so I really ran out of time each day (what with hospital visits and taking care of my FIL). She is on the mend, and I am trying to get back into my normal routine.

Today was pretty good. I think I need a new cello. I have wanted a new cello for a while, even looked at some online; but now I really THINK I need one. My cello is just not performing well enough for me, and the more I play it, the worse it tends to sound. At first, I thought it was just me. Now, I am pretty sure it is the cello.

Oh well...until I can afford a new one, I am stuck with this one.

Stiff Fingers

I took Saturday and Sunday off, just to rest my fingers. My third and fourth finger of my left hand is getting stiff. At first, I noticed it just when I would get up in the morning, but by afternoon it was fine. Lately, my fingers are stiff even in the evening. I decided they needed some rest -- so have been off cello for two days.

Practice -- Stressing Good Form

Practice today was focused on good form. I have been stressing my bowing and also making sure I hold my half notes longer. My teacher tells me that I rush through and play half notes as quickly as quarter notes. Today, I worked on this, paying more attention to holding my notes and trying for consistency. A noticeable difference, simply with a little more attention to detail. Good practice!

Sunday Practice

Practice today was good (again!) I worked through all my selections slowly, paying close attention to the details. Good progress. I think I will do well next week. Not much to report, other than just a good practice, good outcome, and positive experience. I am pleased.