From: owner-goths-digest@smoe.org (goths-digest) To: goths-digest@smoe.org Subject: goths-digest V5 #48 Reply-To: goths@smoe.org Sender: owner-goths-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-goths-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk goths-digest Friday, November 16 2001 Volume 05 : Number 048 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: cellists? ["nox lucida" ] Re: cellists? [naeelah ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2001 16:58:24 +0000 From: "nox lucida" Subject: Re: cellists? >Anyway I was just hoping for some advice from someone who may know >where >i'm coming from or otherwise. I absolutely know what you mean- even after 10 years off and on with the cello, my sound is still worse than some beginners I've heard... It's a frighteningly addictive instrument- there's something about it that just won't let you pull away, even if you're not a particularly good player. There is a certain 'weeping' sound that the cello can produce beautifully, which I have never heard on any other instrument- it's absolutely heartwrenching. Sorry if this is off topic or irrelevant... - -Jade (HalcionAngel@hotmail.com) _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2001 15:09:05 -0500 From: naeelah Subject: Re: cellists? Starlaahhh@aol.com wrote: > > i was wondering if any of the cellists on this list could give me some words > of encouragement i've been playing cello for a few years now and i love the > cello but i just can't seem to really grasp it. did that make sense? anyway i > was just hoping for some advice from someone who may know where i'm coming > from or otherwise. I know what you mean, because I've been playing piano for ages, but never had lessons in the proper technique, so a lot of things never really cemented... cello.org has a growing number of resources. There are some tips for technique, etc. There are also archives of master classes. If you don't have a private teacher, I recommend finding one. As much as you might be able to do teaching yourself, you still need someone there who can give you effective exercises for technique, and who can also listen and watch. College students often offer lessons fairly inexpensively (10-15 dollars a lesson?), if you can find one with the time. If for whatever reason private lessons aren't an option-- try practicing in front of a mirror, and keep a tape recorder running. (Apparently you can get large mirror pieces at Lowes, or someplace similar, pretty inexpensively.) Recording yourself can reveal a lot of things you were missing. Practicing in front of a mirror will help you make sure you're keeping proper posture, you'll be able to see if your shoulders are raising, etc. (A tip for fighting tense shoulders- look up while you play-- just with your chin slightly raised, eyes towards the ceiling.) Either way, try going to master classes, etc, in your area. Even for other instruments. Just watching other people play in a cello master class ought to give you some ideas for technique. Most importantly, be patient, and don't be discouraged if you feel you're making slow progress. Prodigies aside (maybe), no one perfects their technique overnight, or even within a few years of starting. I've been playing since I was eleven (I'm 18 now), I started lessons about 2 years later, and I still have a long way to go. At any age, practice practice practice is the key, but only if you're practicing right. Otherwise you're just reinforcing the same bad habits-- which is why having a teacher is crucial, since when you're doing something wrong, they'll point it out right away and show you how to correct it. If you're really serious about learning, and want to make good progress, I'd say try to practice 30 minutes, bare minimum, every day. The days I can't practice as long as I really want (ideally about 3 hours, usually in two sessions), I just try to find about half an hour to play scales, open strings, etc--basic techinque exercises--and maybe review some of the tricky spots in my pieces (stuff I already know, but need to reinforce). If you get frustrated while you practice, just stop playing, stand up, breathe, relax, and try again when you're no longer frustrated. Getting pissed will just make you tense, and you can't do anything when you're tense. If you (or anyone else) ever have any questions, want some advice, whatever, feel free to e-mail me. I'd be happy to try to help. :) katie, music major extraordinaire! ;) - -- [ICQ # 1791425] "There's nothing that the proper attitude won't render funkable." -George Clinton ------------------------------ End of goths-digest V5 #48 **************************