Start 1743
10 min - Breval
The usual, warm up run through, then focus on 2 string chords and trills. Also a little intonation. The chords were not a speed bump today - I think it's working.
10 min - orchestra
Finished reading King Stephan, then 1.5 pages of Schumann 1. Stumbled a bit, then the rhythms kicked in. Ah, yes, this is Schumann!
10 min - Offenbach
Soft fingers in the melody, intonation of the first mini cadenza, still working on the timing of the cadenza. Intonation of the double stops ending the screechy section.
10 min - Handel
Esp. the thumb position parts.
End: 1840
Total time: 57 min
Total practice: 40 min
Thursday, February 25
Wednesday, February 24
Start 1240
10 min Breval
Run through to warm up (that takes just under 4 minutes) then several minutes of focused repetitions plucking the 2-string chord pattern over and over. When that seemed comfortable close to tempo, added the bow, then a couple more reps of "Phrase 5" which includes those measures plus the variable G quarter vs eighth note to ascending scales.
10 min Haydn prep
Using Feuillard chords. Spent first 5 minutes with 2 note chords up lower/down upper string focusing on bow circles and elbow circles. These are some of the elementary motions I will need for the development A patterns. Then moved to 3 note chords with bow patterns I will need for B patterns, slur down three, sep up down up and slur down 3, slur up 3, then finally the measure pattern combining those 4 patterns. Fun to work this way.
10 min Schumann Symphony No 1 mvmt 1
Fingerings first 2 pages.
End 1230
Total time: 50 min
Practice time: 30 min
10 min Breval
Run through to warm up (that takes just under 4 minutes) then several minutes of focused repetitions plucking the 2-string chord pattern over and over. When that seemed comfortable close to tempo, added the bow, then a couple more reps of "Phrase 5" which includes those measures plus the variable G quarter vs eighth note to ascending scales.
10 min Haydn prep
Using Feuillard chords. Spent first 5 minutes with 2 note chords up lower/down upper string focusing on bow circles and elbow circles. These are some of the elementary motions I will need for the development A patterns. Then moved to 3 note chords with bow patterns I will need for B patterns, slur down three, sep up down up and slur down 3, slur up 3, then finally the measure pattern combining those 4 patterns. Fun to work this way.
10 min Schumann Symphony No 1 mvmt 1
Fingerings first 2 pages.
End 1230
Total time: 50 min
Practice time: 30 min
Monday, February 22
Start 1317
30 min Breval
Switching gears, Russian orchestra music is all filed away. Started with an easy run through to warm up, then pulled out the Suzuki CD. I think this is the order I did things:
* Play through from memory with the recorded accompaniment
* Play through from memory as the CD played on, so "nonsense" surrounding noise
Then without accompaniment
* With the music, practicing contralateral body/bow motion. Had to slow down the tempo. That is backward to my natural instinct
* Repetitions focusing on the last note in the phrase, which I am tending to chop off.
There is so much that could still be improved - wish I could figure out how to do it.
30 min Haydn C
Three 10 minute blocks, working from my excerpt sheets. First the exposition and its very similar 3d statement (not the higher 2nd), then through Theme 2A, B and half of C, primarily working out the rhythmic variations as none of these are very high. I am still in familiarization mode with this concerto. Probably my biggest technical focus is releasing tension and allowing the bow to be in the string at the start of each stroke. Need to get advice about how to start learning the chord bowing variations in the development section.
Stop 1434
Total time: 1:17
Practice time: 60 min
I had planned to go another 45 min but there were too many interruptions. Not sure if I will get back to things for another round, or consider that sufficient for today, as I do have a lesson tonight.
30 min Breval
Switching gears, Russian orchestra music is all filed away. Started with an easy run through to warm up, then pulled out the Suzuki CD. I think this is the order I did things:
* Play through from memory with the recorded accompaniment
* Play through from memory as the CD played on, so "nonsense" surrounding noise
Then without accompaniment
* With the music, practicing contralateral body/bow motion. Had to slow down the tempo. That is backward to my natural instinct
* Repetitions focusing on the last note in the phrase, which I am tending to chop off.
There is so much that could still be improved - wish I could figure out how to do it.
30 min Haydn C
Three 10 minute blocks, working from my excerpt sheets. First the exposition and its very similar 3d statement (not the higher 2nd), then through Theme 2A, B and half of C, primarily working out the rhythmic variations as none of these are very high. I am still in familiarization mode with this concerto. Probably my biggest technical focus is releasing tension and allowing the bow to be in the string at the start of each stroke. Need to get advice about how to start learning the chord bowing variations in the development section.
Stop 1434
Total time: 1:17
Practice time: 60 min
I had planned to go another 45 min but there were too many interruptions. Not sure if I will get back to things for another round, or consider that sufficient for today, as I do have a lesson tonight.
Friday, February 19
Start 1426
I had hoped to start earlier, but morning appointments and errands happened, and now it's mid afternoon.
60 min - Tchaikovsky
Always good to start with knowing what you are doing, so before I launched into cello work I reconciled the fingerings marked into my practice part with the performance part. That took 21 minutes.
Then instead of an official warm up I launched into the part, from the back forward. Since I was mostly making sure I had the shifts marked where I want them, with a few repetitions, I just kept resetting the timer in 10 minute blocks. I stopped after finishing the Andante beginning at m 255. I have reached my nemesis from Tuesday, the little scale fragments at 241. That's next, but since I went for a whole hour I'm taking a more substantial block break - maybe a whole 10 minutes!
40 min -Tchaikovsky
Launched right in where I left off, using mm qu = 60 to work out the notes, shifts, and bow changes. It was the little rocker bows that kept getting me off balance. After working up to qu = 80, added in the preceding pizzs. Little fingering glitch in 237 turned out to be a simple extension (were they all so easily solved). Needed to focus on the transition from pizz to scales as tempo increased, up to qu=96. Also marked some beat lines to keep things organized. This passage is not going to throw me tomorrow.
Reviewed the little triplet scale at the bottom of p3 at tempo, then spent the last 10 minutes on the melody at reh D. Corrected a couple of marked fingerings, then played a few reps at qu=80, just to make sure there were no mental transition glitches. Could stand to do a few more reps up tempo, but I'm out of time.
Stop 1630
Total time: 2:04
Total practice time: 100 min
Obviously, fewer breaks means more practice time. I am most happy that I have increased my daily practice time significantly this week with nary a tendon twinge. Also, by using the 10 minute timer to keep my focus I find I can work a longer block now with good concentration. I would count this as a highly successful practice week. I only hope the concert reflects that.
I had hoped to start earlier, but morning appointments and errands happened, and now it's mid afternoon.
60 min - Tchaikovsky
Always good to start with knowing what you are doing, so before I launched into cello work I reconciled the fingerings marked into my practice part with the performance part. That took 21 minutes.
Then instead of an official warm up I launched into the part, from the back forward. Since I was mostly making sure I had the shifts marked where I want them, with a few repetitions, I just kept resetting the timer in 10 minute blocks. I stopped after finishing the Andante beginning at m 255. I have reached my nemesis from Tuesday, the little scale fragments at 241. That's next, but since I went for a whole hour I'm taking a more substantial block break - maybe a whole 10 minutes!
40 min -Tchaikovsky
Launched right in where I left off, using mm qu = 60 to work out the notes, shifts, and bow changes. It was the little rocker bows that kept getting me off balance. After working up to qu = 80, added in the preceding pizzs. Little fingering glitch in 237 turned out to be a simple extension (were they all so easily solved). Needed to focus on the transition from pizz to scales as tempo increased, up to qu=96. Also marked some beat lines to keep things organized. This passage is not going to throw me tomorrow.
Reviewed the little triplet scale at the bottom of p3 at tempo, then spent the last 10 minutes on the melody at reh D. Corrected a couple of marked fingerings, then played a few reps at qu=80, just to make sure there were no mental transition glitches. Could stand to do a few more reps up tempo, but I'm out of time.
Stop 1630
Total time: 2:04
Total practice time: 100 min
Obviously, fewer breaks means more practice time. I am most happy that I have increased my daily practice time significantly this week with nary a tendon twinge. Also, by using the 10 minute timer to keep my focus I find I can work a longer block now with good concentration. I would count this as a highly successful practice week. I only hope the concert reflects that.
Thursday, February 18
10 min
Went to cello quartet rehearsal a little early to finish some course registration paperwork and scored an extra practice block when I found our room opened and empty. So I got 10 minutes of Tchaikovsky today, afterall. Spent it on the Db melody. Still need to address the fast scales that got me in trouble on Tuesday night tomorrow. I think that is entirely enough cello for today.
Went to cello quartet rehearsal a little early to finish some course registration paperwork and scored an extra practice block when I found our room opened and empty. So I got 10 minutes of Tchaikovsky today, afterall. Spent it on the Db melody. Still need to address the fast scales that got me in trouble on Tuesday night tomorrow. I think that is entirely enough cello for today.
Start 1805
I am not a fan of more than one contiguous practice time in a day. However, I feel like I need to do at least a mental brush up before quartet tonight. But before I start, I need to run upstairs and turn off the curling coverage (and check who is calling, but decide not to answer the phone).
10 min - Handel 2nd mvmt
At a variety of speeds, attention to shifts, intonation in the passage work. Producing volume with bow speed.
10 min - Handel 1st mvmt
Twice as many repetitions of the opening section in thumb position as the following section, with only once through of the end. Intonation, left arm balance, releasing tension.
10 min - Offenbach
A couple of passes through the melody and reviewing the squeaky high section, then spent most of the time on the cadenza. I think my choice for the timing today is a little better. We'll see.
End 1846
Total time: 41 min
Practice time: 30 min
I am not a fan of more than one contiguous practice time in a day. However, I feel like I need to do at least a mental brush up before quartet tonight. But before I start, I need to run upstairs and turn off the curling coverage (and check who is calling, but decide not to answer the phone).
10 min - Handel 2nd mvmt
At a variety of speeds, attention to shifts, intonation in the passage work. Producing volume with bow speed.
10 min - Handel 1st mvmt
Twice as many repetitions of the opening section in thumb position as the following section, with only once through of the end. Intonation, left arm balance, releasing tension.
10 min - Offenbach
A couple of passes through the melody and reviewing the squeaky high section, then spent most of the time on the cadenza. I think my choice for the timing today is a little better. We'll see.
End 1846
Total time: 41 min
Practice time: 30 min
Start 1023
10 min - warmup
Breval run through, cold. Read the basso part, then had time for one more 1/2 run through before time was up. I want to make a recording on the 2nd part to practice against - maybe after the concert.
10 min - Khatchaturian mvmt 1
Reviewed the fingerings for the accident prone scale fragments at the beginning, then focused on the cello soli at reh 7. Principal suggested playing it in thumb position, but I think that's crazy. It's just an octave D# shift, and the little portamento is what makes the phrase. My biggest worry is that the bowing is going to change again and through me off balance. I don't like the way it ends up bow on a whole+ note.
10 min - Khatchaturian mvmt 1, 2nd half
reh 8 better fingerings
reh 10 reviewed, but didn't mark fingerings. Not critical.
reh 12 unison melody. Better fingerings. Still need to decide how to do triplet measure at the end of that phrase - ran out of time.
10 min - Khatchaturian mvmt 2
Agh! Still not quite enough time in a 10 min block to finish all the housekeeping in one mvmt. Chose more optimal fingerings for the broken scale fragments before reh 2 and 6 based on yesterdays discoveries. Jettisoned the upper positions and used extensions and fast 4-4 shifts. Works a charm, but I have to be careful to take quick forearm stretch breaks in the middle of the block. Need to solidify fingering at reh 15 - first 2 measures are the complicated ones. Ran out of time. Also worked bowing at reh 2 - do-own up down u-up down up is more complicated at this very fast tempo.
(End of 1st hour)
10 min - Khatchaturian mvmt 3
I wish I could do this kind of work early in the piece, but it seems I need to have enough rehearsal experiences before I recognize the individual problems - until it differentiates from being one big fuzzy problem. Quickly decided on optimal fingering for opening phrases. Worked the rhythm at Allegro vivace with a metronome. Deciphered the fingering puzzle for the chords at reh 4 - much easier than I thought it was. Fingering for unison before reh 6, but I don't know what bowing we'll finally settle on. No indication, and as it comes ends up backwards. Need to look again at chromatic fingerings reh 6.5 -12, then the cello soli at reh 12.
10 min - Khatchaturian mvmt 3, 2nd half
Decided to spend another block on the 3d mvmt, since I need a couple of cracks at the soli section before Sat am, and the 4th mvmt is short and less complicated. Alas, I didn't make it to the soli because p 12 was more complicated than I thought! Worked the section from reh 6-8 with a metronome, ei=100 to work out fingerings, up to qu=140, about tempo. Good fingerings for speed, though, and I practiced the off beats with the metronome.
10 min - Khatchaturian mvmt 3, last quarter
After a little typing and a good stretch. It might have been 12 minutes, as I forgot to set the timer. Oops. It was enough time to finish the chromatic "3 in 2" passage at reh 10 and before 12, easy after the last block. Practiced off beat transitions with mm qu=100, transition to soli, then soli at tempo. In rehearsal, it was the transition that screwed us up, then the tendency to play it at half time, probably because we were all practicing it more slowly. Used alternating Bb and E drones. A couple of reps at qu=140 and it feels pretty good.
15 min - Khatchaturian mvmt 4
Forgot the timer again, but turned it on after about 5 min. I think that's a sign of fatigue. Just enough time to work out the kinks in the 4th mvmt. The patterns weren't so hard with optimal (in this case fewest) shifts. I don't know who fingered this part before - probably just as well. mm qu=100 to 132.
End 1230
Total time: 2:07
Practice time: 85 min
I dallied less between blocks than yesterday, so squeezed one more in, plus ran slightly over the 2 hours. Didn't get to Tchaikovsky yet, but need a longer break. I'd like to get to that plus a quick look see at the quartet music before rehearsal tonight. I should probably go a little easier on the weights this afternoon than I had planned. It's a CrossFit "Linda" workout.
10 min - warmup
Breval run through, cold. Read the basso part, then had time for one more 1/2 run through before time was up. I want to make a recording on the 2nd part to practice against - maybe after the concert.
10 min - Khatchaturian mvmt 1
Reviewed the fingerings for the accident prone scale fragments at the beginning, then focused on the cello soli at reh 7. Principal suggested playing it in thumb position, but I think that's crazy. It's just an octave D# shift, and the little portamento is what makes the phrase. My biggest worry is that the bowing is going to change again and through me off balance. I don't like the way it ends up bow on a whole+ note.
10 min - Khatchaturian mvmt 1, 2nd half
reh 8 better fingerings
reh 10 reviewed, but didn't mark fingerings. Not critical.
reh 12 unison melody. Better fingerings. Still need to decide how to do triplet measure at the end of that phrase - ran out of time.
10 min - Khatchaturian mvmt 2
Agh! Still not quite enough time in a 10 min block to finish all the housekeeping in one mvmt. Chose more optimal fingerings for the broken scale fragments before reh 2 and 6 based on yesterdays discoveries. Jettisoned the upper positions and used extensions and fast 4-4 shifts. Works a charm, but I have to be careful to take quick forearm stretch breaks in the middle of the block. Need to solidify fingering at reh 15 - first 2 measures are the complicated ones. Ran out of time. Also worked bowing at reh 2 - do-own up down u-up down up is more complicated at this very fast tempo.
(End of 1st hour)
10 min - Khatchaturian mvmt 3
I wish I could do this kind of work early in the piece, but it seems I need to have enough rehearsal experiences before I recognize the individual problems - until it differentiates from being one big fuzzy problem. Quickly decided on optimal fingering for opening phrases. Worked the rhythm at Allegro vivace with a metronome. Deciphered the fingering puzzle for the chords at reh 4 - much easier than I thought it was. Fingering for unison before reh 6, but I don't know what bowing we'll finally settle on. No indication, and as it comes ends up backwards. Need to look again at chromatic fingerings reh 6.5 -12, then the cello soli at reh 12.
10 min - Khatchaturian mvmt 3, 2nd half
Decided to spend another block on the 3d mvmt, since I need a couple of cracks at the soli section before Sat am, and the 4th mvmt is short and less complicated. Alas, I didn't make it to the soli because p 12 was more complicated than I thought! Worked the section from reh 6-8 with a metronome, ei=100 to work out fingerings, up to qu=140, about tempo. Good fingerings for speed, though, and I practiced the off beats with the metronome.
10 min - Khatchaturian mvmt 3, last quarter
After a little typing and a good stretch. It might have been 12 minutes, as I forgot to set the timer. Oops. It was enough time to finish the chromatic "3 in 2" passage at reh 10 and before 12, easy after the last block. Practiced off beat transitions with mm qu=100, transition to soli, then soli at tempo. In rehearsal, it was the transition that screwed us up, then the tendency to play it at half time, probably because we were all practicing it more slowly. Used alternating Bb and E drones. A couple of reps at qu=140 and it feels pretty good.
15 min - Khatchaturian mvmt 4
Forgot the timer again, but turned it on after about 5 min. I think that's a sign of fatigue. Just enough time to work out the kinks in the 4th mvmt. The patterns weren't so hard with optimal (in this case fewest) shifts. I don't know who fingered this part before - probably just as well. mm qu=100 to 132.
End 1230
Total time: 2:07
Practice time: 85 min
I dallied less between blocks than yesterday, so squeezed one more in, plus ran slightly over the 2 hours. Didn't get to Tchaikovsky yet, but need a longer break. I'd like to get to that plus a quick look see at the quartet music before rehearsal tonight. I should probably go a little easier on the weights this afternoon than I had planned. It's a CrossFit "Linda" workout.
Wednesday, February 17
70 min
Time to balance the need for immersing myself in this orchestra music prior to the concert this weekend, and avoiding overuse. Taking a page from my workout schedules, I decided to practice in 10 minute blocks, dedicating "rest" time in between blocks to summarizing my notes on the block, finding materials for the next block, and brief walks around and stretches.
Start 1245
10 min - Warmup
C MAJ, 4 octaves, slurred 2 and 4 to bow. Forward at the hips, feet in good contact. Parallel and contralateral body motion. Breval run through, focusing on maintaining forward position and resulting arm weight. Chanson Triste, first phrase or two, from memory so the fingerings were random, but same focus.
10 min - Tchaikovsky Capriccio Italienne
32nd note scales at reh 156. Last night at rehearsal I realized just how fast that goes - it's like a tremolo with notes. Today I started by getting the bow moving at the right groupings (4x4 + 1) and speed. Then I added the scale, starting with a simple A maj fingering in 1st position. That worked surprisingly well. The breakthrough came when I realized that my nice fingerings into higher positions worked fine at a slower tempo, but not this one. Instead, I looked for where I could do a half-step shift up and down on the same finger, and sort of "shook" it into place while tremolo bowing. Eureka! Next point was that it's G# on the G string in A maj (duh!), but fortunately that little half-step shake on the 1st finger works fine there, too. Next block on this piece, I need to figure out how to apply this to the last 2 runs, starting on F# and B, but with added A#s.
10 min - Shosty 5 1st mvmt
Worked on 4 m phrase leading into reh 22. This section also surprised me as faster than I expects. Started at mm qu = 80 and just did repetitions, focusing alternating between shifts, finger groupings, and body ease. After lots of reps (prob 20-30) it felt pretty easy and I increased mm to 90 for several reps, then 104 just at the end of my time. 90 is easy, 104 felt rushed but mostly clean. There are several other sections in this mvmt that need the same treatment.
10 min - Shosty 5 mvmt 2
That block flew by, probably because I tried to do two things. First, the martele opening. Simple repetitions, focusing on clean string crossings and shifts, and quarter note lengths in 7th and 8th measures. Seems simple, but I really need to know which string I am playing on to keep it clean. Then moved on to the major motif in this mvmt, the little Boccherini descending thirds or so. I had fingerings that required shifts under the slurs, because that was the fewest number needed and I thought it would be easier. But it's hard to play the line - the shifts need to be between the slurs. Working out a better fingering. I'll resume there next block on this mvmt.
20 min - Shosty 5 mvmt 3
Notes in this mvmt are pretty well under control, so for this block I played with a recording of the NY Phil under Leonard Bernstein. The copious amount of rubato made it particularly challenging, but I used my time in the long rests to mark extra cues. Had a short pause in the middle to change batteries in the CD player. The recording was 16 or so minutes, so I continued into a second block. The last 3 or 4 minutes were spent on repetitions of the little cello soli near the end against a D drone. I tried a fingering crossing to the A string, which it seems like most others are doing, but really like it better sul D until it goes too low and crosses to the G string. Therefore, I figure I had better darn well be able to play it in tune!
10 min - Shosty 5 mvmt 4
Most of the time on working motifs at reh 102 up to speed, primarily using gestures, adding one finger pattern + shift at a time. A couple reps at reh 104 for intonation, then finished on 106-108. Next time on this block, start with intonation in 2nd measure of 107. That shift isn't quite working.
Finish 1440
Total time: ~2 hrs
Total practice: 70 min
I had hoped to do block of Khatchaturian as well, but after two hours my fingers are feeling it, and I'm mentally tired. I have a CrossFit tabata workout scheduled for today, so I think I'll do that now, and see if I can eke out any more practice time a little later, before church rehearsal.
Time to balance the need for immersing myself in this orchestra music prior to the concert this weekend, and avoiding overuse. Taking a page from my workout schedules, I decided to practice in 10 minute blocks, dedicating "rest" time in between blocks to summarizing my notes on the block, finding materials for the next block, and brief walks around and stretches.
Start 1245
10 min - Warmup
C MAJ, 4 octaves, slurred 2 and 4 to bow. Forward at the hips, feet in good contact. Parallel and contralateral body motion. Breval run through, focusing on maintaining forward position and resulting arm weight. Chanson Triste, first phrase or two, from memory so the fingerings were random, but same focus.
10 min - Tchaikovsky Capriccio Italienne
32nd note scales at reh 156. Last night at rehearsal I realized just how fast that goes - it's like a tremolo with notes. Today I started by getting the bow moving at the right groupings (4x4 + 1) and speed. Then I added the scale, starting with a simple A maj fingering in 1st position. That worked surprisingly well. The breakthrough came when I realized that my nice fingerings into higher positions worked fine at a slower tempo, but not this one. Instead, I looked for where I could do a half-step shift up and down on the same finger, and sort of "shook" it into place while tremolo bowing. Eureka! Next point was that it's G# on the G string in A maj (duh!), but fortunately that little half-step shake on the 1st finger works fine there, too. Next block on this piece, I need to figure out how to apply this to the last 2 runs, starting on F# and B, but with added A#s.
10 min - Shosty 5 1st mvmt
Worked on 4 m phrase leading into reh 22. This section also surprised me as faster than I expects. Started at mm qu = 80 and just did repetitions, focusing alternating between shifts, finger groupings, and body ease. After lots of reps (prob 20-30) it felt pretty easy and I increased mm to 90 for several reps, then 104 just at the end of my time. 90 is easy, 104 felt rushed but mostly clean. There are several other sections in this mvmt that need the same treatment.
10 min - Shosty 5 mvmt 2
That block flew by, probably because I tried to do two things. First, the martele opening. Simple repetitions, focusing on clean string crossings and shifts, and quarter note lengths in 7th and 8th measures. Seems simple, but I really need to know which string I am playing on to keep it clean. Then moved on to the major motif in this mvmt, the little Boccherini descending thirds or so. I had fingerings that required shifts under the slurs, because that was the fewest number needed and I thought it would be easier. But it's hard to play the line - the shifts need to be between the slurs. Working out a better fingering. I'll resume there next block on this mvmt.
20 min - Shosty 5 mvmt 3
Notes in this mvmt are pretty well under control, so for this block I played with a recording of the NY Phil under Leonard Bernstein. The copious amount of rubato made it particularly challenging, but I used my time in the long rests to mark extra cues. Had a short pause in the middle to change batteries in the CD player. The recording was 16 or so minutes, so I continued into a second block. The last 3 or 4 minutes were spent on repetitions of the little cello soli near the end against a D drone. I tried a fingering crossing to the A string, which it seems like most others are doing, but really like it better sul D until it goes too low and crosses to the G string. Therefore, I figure I had better darn well be able to play it in tune!
10 min - Shosty 5 mvmt 4
Most of the time on working motifs at reh 102 up to speed, primarily using gestures, adding one finger pattern + shift at a time. A couple reps at reh 104 for intonation, then finished on 106-108. Next time on this block, start with intonation in 2nd measure of 107. That shift isn't quite working.
Finish 1440
Total time: ~2 hrs
Total practice: 70 min
I had hoped to do block of Khatchaturian as well, but after two hours my fingers are feeling it, and I'm mentally tired. I have a CrossFit tabata workout scheduled for today, so I think I'll do that now, and see if I can eke out any more practice time a little later, before church rehearsal.
Tuesday, February 16
Monday, February 15
30 min
Back on the practicing bandwagon. I have a lesson this evening, and our orchestra concert is this coming weekend.
This block I began with 10 minutes of Breval, a play through followed by some work on the trills. A 2 octave D trill exercise went far to improve the timing. Then a little focused work in making sure my bow was in the string at the beginning of strokes, and feeling left hand balance.
That was in preparation for the last 20 minutes, spent looking at Haydn C, the exposition and other Theme 1 sections. The 1st and 3d are very similar, just varying in what they lead into. The 2nd goes back and forth into 5th position. I think I will be ready to discuss bow distribution, shifting, and practice approaches tonight, along with reviewing my organization work from last week.
I have one more thing to do with my cut-out pages - write the road map on top of each page and circle where the excerpts lie. That is to help with learning sequence while working from the excerpt pages.
Back on the practicing bandwagon. I have a lesson this evening, and our orchestra concert is this coming weekend.
This block I began with 10 minutes of Breval, a play through followed by some work on the trills. A 2 octave D trill exercise went far to improve the timing. Then a little focused work in making sure my bow was in the string at the beginning of strokes, and feeling left hand balance.
That was in preparation for the last 20 minutes, spent looking at Haydn C, the exposition and other Theme 1 sections. The 1st and 3d are very similar, just varying in what they lead into. The 2nd goes back and forth into 5th position. I think I will be ready to discuss bow distribution, shifting, and practice approaches tonight, along with reviewing my organization work from last week.
I have one more thing to do with my cut-out pages - write the road map on top of each page and circle where the excerpts lie. That is to help with learning sequence while working from the excerpt pages.
No I did not practice this weekend, but I "touched my cello" both days.
On Saturday we had the (only) rehearsal with choir for a memorial service to be played on Sunday. It's a rather nice idea, a choral concert in memory of the chorus members who have died in the past number of years. My orchestra rehearses at the church, and in return for free use of the space during the year we contribute to the church music needs a couple of times a year.
The two pieces: Lux Aeterna, by Morten Lauridsen, a modern requiem in the traditional format, and O Light of Life! by Mac Wilberg. I believe it's the second mvmt of the Lauridsen that has a beautiful cello solo in treble clef, up to violin position, as I call it. I was glad I didn't have to play it, but our fill-in principal did a beautiful job.
Sunday morning I played one service in church, just congregational accompaniment, and then the memorial service in the afternoon.
On Saturday we had the (only) rehearsal with choir for a memorial service to be played on Sunday. It's a rather nice idea, a choral concert in memory of the chorus members who have died in the past number of years. My orchestra rehearses at the church, and in return for free use of the space during the year we contribute to the church music needs a couple of times a year.
The two pieces: Lux Aeterna, by Morten Lauridsen, a modern requiem in the traditional format, and O Light of Life! by Mac Wilberg. I believe it's the second mvmt of the Lauridsen that has a beautiful cello solo in treble clef, up to violin position, as I call it. I was glad I didn't have to play it, but our fill-in principal did a beautiful job.
Sunday morning I played one service in church, just congregational accompaniment, and then the memorial service in the afternoon.
Friday, February 12
Thursday, February 11
30 min
Handel 2nd mvmt. mm = 60, 80, 100, 120, 132. I meant to use this as a warmup only, but quickly got into a productive work zone and just stayed with it.
20 min
Divided between Handel mvmt 1 and Offenbach.
Feedback after quartet rehearsal: still can't hit that octave Bb shift under stress. Sigh. More forte in Handel 2nd mvmt, but achieve it with bow speed rather than pressure. Even more phrase shaping in Offenbach.
Handel 2nd mvmt. mm = 60, 80, 100, 120, 132. I meant to use this as a warmup only, but quickly got into a productive work zone and just stayed with it.
20 min
Divided between Handel mvmt 1 and Offenbach.
Feedback after quartet rehearsal: still can't hit that octave Bb shift under stress. Sigh. More forte in Handel 2nd mvmt, but achieve it with bow speed rather than pressure. Even more phrase shaping in Offenbach.
Wednesday, February 10
Today I spent 2 hours analyzing the first mvmt of Haydn C. I resorted to brute force, making an extra copy then dissecting it with a pair of scissors. That forced me to identify the motifs in order to categorize each appropriately. As I tweeted earlier, here are my results:
By section
Theme 1 x3; Theme 2A x2, 2B x2, 2C x5, 2D x3, 2E x4; double stop Interlude x3; passage work A, B, A+B x1@
In order
1,2A,2B,2C,2D,ds,2C,2E,2C,1,2A,pwA,pwB,2D,ds,2E,1,2B,2C,pwA+B,2E,2C,2D,ds,2E,cad
It was a good day's work, but with the extra driving to take Magoo to and from the vet for his cryptorchidectomy I ran out of time to actually practice. I had church orchestra rehearsal in the evening though, so an hour of "touched my cello" time.
By section
Theme 1 x3; Theme 2A x2, 2B x2, 2C x5, 2D x3, 2E x4; double stop Interlude x3; passage work A, B, A+B x1@
In order
1,2A,2B,2C,2D,ds,2C,2E,2C,1,2A,pwA,pwB,2D,ds,2E,1,2B,2C,pwA+B,2E,2C,2D,ds,2E,cad
It was a good day's work, but with the extra driving to take Magoo to and from the vet for his cryptorchidectomy I ran out of time to actually practice. I had church orchestra rehearsal in the evening though, so an hour of "touched my cello" time.
Tuesday, February 9
48 min
I think I'm over my jet lag; finally felt like practicing.
Started with the Breval run through and a couple of spot checks, then decided it was time for some Haydn. Began with the chord bowing pattern at 71 (down 3, 3 sep) on Feuillard 35 (3 note chords), then looked at the chords in the music. The pattern isn't as vanilla, as there are also slurred up chords in lieu of the 3 seps. A couple of fingering issues I need to check on. Spent the last couple of minutes on the exposition.
When the 18 min beeper went off (leftover from last night) I switched to Shosty 5. Worked the trouble spots in the 1st mvmt according to Principal's notes, plus one extra of mine. It's coming along, but of course the test will be at tempo at rehearsal later.
I think I'm over my jet lag; finally felt like practicing.
Started with the Breval run through and a couple of spot checks, then decided it was time for some Haydn. Began with the chord bowing pattern at 71 (down 3, 3 sep) on Feuillard 35 (3 note chords), then looked at the chords in the music. The pattern isn't as vanilla, as there are also slurred up chords in lieu of the 3 seps. A couple of fingering issues I need to check on. Spent the last couple of minutes on the exposition.
When the 18 min beeper went off (leftover from last night) I switched to Shosty 5. Worked the trouble spots in the 1st mvmt according to Principal's notes, plus one extra of mine. It's coming along, but of course the test will be at tempo at rehearsal later.
Monday, February 8
30 min
I was going to practice for 45 min, but ran out of gas. Left it for too late.
Warmed up with a Breval run through. Sounds amazingly good on a real cello, having played for a week on the Prakticello with no sound to speak of.
Got a note from our Principal Cellist upon my return, listing trouble spots to pay extra attention to. That was very helpful! A little worried that she says cellos are doing well - hope that still holds true when I get back to rehearsal tomorrow! Spent about 20 minutes on Tchaikovsky Capricio Italienne (I hope that is spelled somewhere near correctly). I guess we are going to play this at the concert - first mention since Day 1. As she says, not hard, but fast. Just familiarizing myself with the scale passages.
Last 5 minutes on the soli section of Spartacus, 3d movement, reh 13. Only 6 or 8 measures. Intonation is the tricky part.
Tomorrow I'll focus on the highlighted sections of Shosty 5. I would also like to spend a little time looking at Haydn C, which I forgot to take to Hawai'i, to start preparing for next week's lesson. (I canceled tonight due to continuing snow and very bad roads. Discretion, valor, and all that.)
I was going to practice for 45 min, but ran out of gas. Left it for too late.
Warmed up with a Breval run through. Sounds amazingly good on a real cello, having played for a week on the Prakticello with no sound to speak of.
Got a note from our Principal Cellist upon my return, listing trouble spots to pay extra attention to. That was very helpful! A little worried that she says cellos are doing well - hope that still holds true when I get back to rehearsal tomorrow! Spent about 20 minutes on Tchaikovsky Capricio Italienne (I hope that is spelled somewhere near correctly). I guess we are going to play this at the concert - first mention since Day 1. As she says, not hard, but fast. Just familiarizing myself with the scale passages.
Last 5 minutes on the soli section of Spartacus, 3d movement, reh 13. Only 6 or 8 measures. Intonation is the tricky part.
Tomorrow I'll focus on the highlighted sections of Shosty 5. I would also like to spend a little time looking at Haydn C, which I forgot to take to Hawai'i, to start preparing for next week's lesson. (I canceled tonight due to continuing snow and very bad roads. Discretion, valor, and all that.)
Friday, February 5
Friday
12 min
Last morning on Hawai'i. On our walk this morning we saw a lady feeding cats at the edge of a woods - a local volunteer manager of feral cat colonies. Had a nice conversation, got to pet a white cat named Snow. Definite high point.
Last morning on Hawai'i. On our walk this morning we saw a lady feeding cats at the edge of a woods - a local volunteer manager of feral cat colonies. Had a nice conversation, got to pet a white cat named Snow. Definite high point.
Didn't plan to have time to practice, but stole a few minutes while DH was in the shower. Just enough time to run Breval and Squire, and claim that I had touched the cello today.
Then I disassembled and packed Prakticello after breakfast, and now we are on our way back to snow - the cold stuff.
Aloha!
Thursday, February 4
Thursday
45 min
This may be my last practice in paradise. Travel day tomorrow.
This may be my last practice in paradise. Travel day tomorrow.
Started with Breval. Each day it feels more comfortable, like I have more room for thought in between the notes. Then Tarantella, with a minute or two of focused work on the scale runs after playing it through. It seems like the big issue is timing of the shifts, still, moving on the old bow so that I am on the note in time for the new stroke.
Shosty 5, mvmt 4. This is feeling manageable, with just a couple of fast runs and high spits, plus intonation on the broken chords at reh 119, where I spent most of my time.
Last 10-15 min for Spartacus. Picked up in the 1st mvmt where I left off at reh 10. Still need a bit of work at the Tempo I at reh 12. Continued into the 2nd mvmt 'Discord in Spartacus' Camp. Dance of Greek Woman.' Not too challenging until I hit a nasty patch of treble clef broken chords with molto accidentals at reh 15. I'll resume there next time.
A final lazy afternoon after a stop at the gym. Maybe a walk, a dip, a nice dinner. Tough life.
Wednesday, February 3
45 min
Had a nice, long warmup, playing through Breval, Squire, and Chanson Triste. Tchaikovsky turned out to be a good segue into Shosty 5 mvmt 3. Spent 20 min or so reviewing, then turned to Khachaturian 1st mvmt, the Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia. Worked on fingering through reh 10. Lots of chromatic scale patterns.
Had a nice, long warmup, playing through Breval, Squire, and Chanson Triste. Tchaikovsky turned out to be a good segue into Shosty 5 mvmt 3. Spent 20 min or so reviewing, then turned to Khachaturian 1st mvmt, the Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia. Worked on fingering through reh 10. Lots of chromatic scale patterns.
That's all for today. I'm off to take a ukulele lesson. An evening excursion to the observatory will fill the rest of the day.
Tuesday, February 2
45 min
Had some unscheduled time before dinner, so had an extra practice session today. That's the advantage of being in a place with fewer competing options. Started again with a Breval run through, and threw in a Squire run through, to boot.
Had some unscheduled time before dinner, so had an extra practice session today. That's the advantage of being in a place with fewer competing options. Started again with a Breval run through, and threw in a Squire run through, to boot.
Then moved on to Shosty 5, and reviewed fingering in the 1 or 2 tricky spots of the 2nd mvmt. Returned to the 1st mvmt after @ couldn't stand one more repetition. Another good session.
I think at this point I have good fingerings for the entire symphony. Tomorrow I'll review the 3d mvmt, and the 4th on Thursday. If I have extra time I'll take a look at Spartacus - I think there were a couple of tricky spots there that needed attention as well.
30 min
I practiced earlier this morning, but had to run right off for a shopping date so didn't have a chance to log it. I brought a 10 yo swimsuit with me that fit quite well but disintegrated on first exposure to water in the pool yesterday. I hate swimsuit shopping (hence the 10 yo suit), but unless I decided to spend the last half of vacation out of the water it was necessary.
I practiced earlier this morning, but had to run right off for a shopping date so didn't have a chance to log it. I brought a 10 yo swimsuit with me that fit quite well but disintegrated on first exposure to water in the pool yesterday. I hate swimsuit shopping (hence the 10 yo suit), but unless I decided to spend the last half of vacation out of the water it was necessary.
It was a good practice, though I only had the 30 min available. I started with a Breval play through, my warm up of choice this week. It would behoove me to do some trill exercises if I have more time later.
Then Shosty 5 mvmt 1. I just started at the beginning and played through, stopping as needed to refresh my memory of fingerings, moving on when I had it right more times than wrong. Finished once, then started back again, and got half way through before time was up.
Tomorrow I think I will do te fingering work I need to do in the 2nd mvmt, then play through the 1st mvmt once again. I'm really having a very productive vacation week.
Monday, February 1
45 min
Another practice in the room, doors flung wide open to the surf. Pretty nice routine. I've increased my time to 45 min, too.
Another practice in the room, doors flung wide open to the surf. Pretty nice routine. I've increased my time to 45 min, too.
Again started with a Breval run through. It's starting to sound better with the cold start - I feel like I know it much better. Spent just a few seconds repeating the broken chord/string x-ing measures before moving on...
..to today's work, the Largament at reh 36 in Shosty 5 1st mvmt. So I spent the bulk of my practice time on 3 lines of music, doing and re-doing fingerings. The breakthrough finally came when I understood the use of the thumb marking on the F 2 measures before 38. Re-marked everything before that to go up and down the A string, instead of high on the D as I had before. That will be much better with the fffffff dynamic marking penciled in at 37.
I think tomorrow I will consolidate all of the work I have done this week on the 1st mvmt, before moving on to the 2nd on Wednesday.
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