Wow, it's been almost a month since my last entry. I think my practices just got so repetitive I stopped being interested in writing about them. This mas my routine:

Warm up with Suzuki Book 1, 10-20 minutes
Divide the rest of the time between Webster (Sz Bk 3) and cello quartet music, with a few sessions that included 3-4 measures of Haydn C at a time.
After the quartet recital on 6/4, I spent the rest of the time just reading stuff.

I practiced 4x/week, for 30-60 minutes (usually an hour).

At my lessons we have been focused on the short detache bowing of Webster and Perpetual Motion variations, and last week made another major change in my bow hold. Fascinating how each small change this year has facilitated the next a few weeks later. I finally have a relaxed, curved thumb and a wrist that is more straight than dropped. So far I haven't aggravated my right elbow tendinosis. I'm persisting in spite of the fact that I am not so fond of the big, edgy sound I am getting now. T4- assures me it will grow on me.

Yesterday I decided it was time to jump into my summer Yampolsky project, so I spent an hour on C MAJ scale, ds, and arpeggio variations. I set the timer for 4 min and moved to the next variation at each beep. Most of these I can't actually play, so I am working very slowly, back and forth, paying attention to intonation and shifting. Had enough pain in my left elbow last night that I iced for the first time in awhile. An hour on Day 1 was probably not so smart.

Today I practiced for 1.25 hrs, but I started by warming up with Suzuki for about 15 minutes. Then I did 24 min of 4 min blocks on C MAJ, and used my new 20-sided die to select which variation to play in each block. Started off with 10ths - brutal! For 10ths and octaves I am mostly getting my hand shaped. Each time I landed on an octave variation I played scales in thumb position to establish the shape of the hand and start to build strength.

After a 5 min break I spent the rest of the time reading Popper easy etudes and Suzuki Bk 4. Tomorrow I am playing cello duets with one of my quartet partners at a local winery. Just sight reading. I think if we stick to easy Offenbach, Boismortier, and such we'll be fine, and my arms seem to be in pretty good order.