Fri 10 more min
Bonus 10 min after a couple hours break, just because I felt like it (yay!). Revisited the Squire Tarantella. I started last year with this - would be fun to run at at my first lesson next week. Still need work on the fast scales, but my bow control feels so much better.
Friday, September 10
Fri 45 min
10 min - Bach Prelude #4 m 70-75. V e r y slowly with a variety of drones, as intonation was most tricky, as was deciphering all of the accidentals.
10 min - Mooney TP Bk 1, Pattern 3 daily warmups, The Battle Hymn of the Republic (repeated from yesterday just because I like it - intonation was much better today), Fisher's Hornpipe (fun broken chord barriolage bowing, should work this up to speed), and The Piper of Dundee. This is the last piece in this pattern, and I didn't get to the D.S. before the beeper. I'll probably spend another day on this pattern, just to work a little more on the 2-3 stretch.
10 min - Started reading Suzuki Bk 3 today. Extension and harmonic tonalizations, Schubert Berceuse, Moon Over the Ruined Castle tonalization in 3d pos'n - g minor (didn't realize this piece shows up in so many variations), d minor 2 octave scales, natural, harmonic, and melodic, Lully Gavotte, backward and forward extension exercises, Boccherini Minuet. Reading these a little under tempo and trying out all of the suggested fingerings.
10 min - Switched excerpts today. I found 3 pages of Tchaikovsky Symphony No 6 ('Pathetique') in Rose vol 3. Spent the 10 minutes just slopping through it, noticing the keys - the base is B minor. There are some tricky fast finger patterns, chromatic bits, not too high (for the most part), and the section in B major, which come to think of it, shouldn't be that much more difficult than the rest in B minor - must not get freaked out by the number of sharps in the key signature. A couple of pretty cello melodies to look forward to. Next: I need a recording.
Break: 20 min
5 min - scales. This week I got a new scale book, by Wells Cunningham of YouTube "Impossible Duet" fame. He uses the Galamian scale pattern with accelerations as the basis for his core scale exercise, plus arpeggios andthirds octaves. One scale / 2 pages, and purportedly 30-45 min to thoroughly work 1 scale. It's kind of a dumbed down Yampolsky with more instructions, so I am looking forward to using it to organize my scale practice. Today I started with C MAJ, qu = 40, and did the acceleration exercises through sextuplets. Not ready to do 32nd notes yet. I planned on playing 5 more minutes, but got interrupted. Just as well - don't want to add too much too fast while I'm still building back up.
In case you haven't seen it, Wells Cunningham playing the Handel-Halvorson Passacaglia for cello and violin:
10 min - Bach Prelude #4 m 70-75. V e r y slowly with a variety of drones, as intonation was most tricky, as was deciphering all of the accidentals.
10 min - Mooney TP Bk 1, Pattern 3 daily warmups, The Battle Hymn of the Republic (repeated from yesterday just because I like it - intonation was much better today), Fisher's Hornpipe (fun broken chord barriolage bowing, should work this up to speed), and The Piper of Dundee. This is the last piece in this pattern, and I didn't get to the D.S. before the beeper. I'll probably spend another day on this pattern, just to work a little more on the 2-3 stretch.
10 min - Started reading Suzuki Bk 3 today. Extension and harmonic tonalizations, Schubert Berceuse, Moon Over the Ruined Castle tonalization in 3d pos'n - g minor (didn't realize this piece shows up in so many variations), d minor 2 octave scales, natural, harmonic, and melodic, Lully Gavotte, backward and forward extension exercises, Boccherini Minuet. Reading these a little under tempo and trying out all of the suggested fingerings.
10 min - Switched excerpts today. I found 3 pages of Tchaikovsky Symphony No 6 ('Pathetique') in Rose vol 3. Spent the 10 minutes just slopping through it, noticing the keys - the base is B minor. There are some tricky fast finger patterns, chromatic bits, not too high (for the most part), and the section in B major, which come to think of it, shouldn't be that much more difficult than the rest in B minor - must not get freaked out by the number of sharps in the key signature. A couple of pretty cello melodies to look forward to. Next: I need a recording.
Break: 20 min
5 min - scales. This week I got a new scale book, by Wells Cunningham of YouTube "Impossible Duet" fame. He uses the Galamian scale pattern with accelerations as the basis for his core scale exercise, plus arpeggios and
In case you haven't seen it, Wells Cunningham playing the Handel-Halvorson Passacaglia for cello and violin:
Thursday, September 9
Thu 40 min
10 min - Bach Prelude #4m 76-79 using Howard ed, checking against Rosanoff. Wasn't able to link with yesterday's work, as I'm not sure about the notes in m80. Is that supposed to be a Bbb, or not? Also, what does chantez mean?
10 min - Mooney TP Bk 1, Pattern III warmups, then tunes in Bb: French Folk Song, May Song, Oh Susanna, Cockles and Mussels, Larry O'Gaff, Battle Hymn of the Republic. This W-W-W hand position with 1/2 step between T and 1 is most difficult. I painted my callous with New Skin again today. Placebo? It does seem to be a little less painful. Will be interesting to see what kind of callous forms under it.
10 min - Suzuki 2, the Two Grenadiers, Gossec Gavotte, Handel Bourree, and... only 11 pieces in this book. After I finished the Bourree I worked backward and played the other two again. Cute pieces. I'm really noticing how much more relaxed my bow hand is, and how actual arm weight is contributing to the legato notes. Guess last year wasn't a waste of time, after all. Book 3 tomorrow.
10 min - Beethoven 5, Andante con moto, the last few measures of sixteenth notes in the excerpt book and the arpeggios at Piu moto. I used the metronome at 1/8 = 80 and a drone on Ab, when it became apparent that I had no idea about the tonality of the scale. I think I was disoriented because it started on A natural. Went back and did a quick blow by of the entire excerpt, pleased that I remembered most of the fingerings. Next, I can start working it up to tempo.
Tone is improving. Probably didn't hurt that I put some rosin on my bow yesterday. Funny, I used to be so compulsive about that, but now I just assume that if my cello sounds bad it must be me, and will go for weeks without adding rosin.
10 min - Bach Prelude #4m 76-79 using Howard ed, checking against Rosanoff. Wasn't able to link with yesterday's work, as I'm not sure about the notes in m80. Is that supposed to be a Bbb, or not? Also, what does chantez mean?
10 min - Mooney TP Bk 1, Pattern III warmups, then tunes in Bb: French Folk Song, May Song, Oh Susanna, Cockles and Mussels, Larry O'Gaff, Battle Hymn of the Republic. This W-W-W hand position with 1/2 step between T and 1 is most difficult. I painted my callous with New Skin again today. Placebo? It does seem to be a little less painful. Will be interesting to see what kind of callous forms under it.
10 min - Suzuki 2, the Two Grenadiers, Gossec Gavotte, Handel Bourree, and... only 11 pieces in this book. After I finished the Bourree I worked backward and played the other two again. Cute pieces. I'm really noticing how much more relaxed my bow hand is, and how actual arm weight is contributing to the legato notes. Guess last year wasn't a waste of time, after all. Book 3 tomorrow.
10 min - Beethoven 5, Andante con moto, the last few measures of sixteenth notes in the excerpt book and the arpeggios at Piu moto. I used the metronome at 1/8 = 80 and a drone on Ab, when it became apparent that I had no idea about the tonality of the scale. I think I was disoriented because it started on A natural. Went back and did a quick blow by of the entire excerpt, pleased that I remembered most of the fingerings. Next, I can start working it up to tempo.
Tone is improving. Probably didn't hurt that I put some rosin on my bow yesterday. Funny, I used to be so compulsive about that, but now I just assume that if my cello sounds bad it must be me, and will go for weeks without adding rosin.
Wednesday, September 8
Wed 40 min
10 min - Bach Prelude #4, first half on last 4 measures with varying tempos and slurs, then added the preceding 6 measures of open chord patterns.
10 min - Mooney TP Bk 1, Pattern II daily warmups, Crawdad, The Devil's Dream, The California Traveller. These had some fun arpeggio/broken chord patterns. Today before practicing I painted my thumb callous with New Skin, since I had the bottle out to cover a healing puncture wound (cat claw) at the lateral base of my left index finger (nice bruise on the palm below the mcp crease, BTW). Not sure how effective that was, but this seems to be a good way to work up my thumb position tolerance. More time spent because I'm less bored, with many new pieces to read through.
10 min - Suzuki 2, Chorus from "Judas Maccabaeus", Hunter's Chorus, Musette from English Suite No. 3, March in G, Theme from "Witches' Dance", The Moon Over the Ruined Castle tonalization. 1st - 2nd position shifts and (mostly) backward extensions.
10 min - Beethoven 5. Realized I wrote about sixteenth notes yesterday when I meant 32nds, and edited yesterday's post. Then I noted another brain cramp, having labeled it Mon, so changed that, too. Today I worked on the 2nd half of the 32nd note theme stmt, again with metronome at 80, but went from 32nd notes to 16th notes. I didn't go back to look at the first half to figure out whether today's section seemed easier because it is, or because I was just prepped by yesterday's work.
I was going to add another block or two after a 30 min lunch break, but was feeling some achiness in my right forearm and got distracted by chores. I'll see what I feel like a little later.
10 min - Bach Prelude #4, first half on last 4 measures with varying tempos and slurs, then added the preceding 6 measures of open chord patterns.
10 min - Mooney TP Bk 1, Pattern II daily warmups, Crawdad, The Devil's Dream, The California Traveller. These had some fun arpeggio/broken chord patterns. Today before practicing I painted my thumb callous with New Skin, since I had the bottle out to cover a healing puncture wound (cat claw) at the lateral base of my left index finger (nice bruise on the palm below the mcp crease, BTW). Not sure how effective that was, but this seems to be a good way to work up my thumb position tolerance. More time spent because I'm less bored, with many new pieces to read through.
10 min - Suzuki 2, Chorus from "Judas Maccabaeus", Hunter's Chorus, Musette from English Suite No. 3, March in G, Theme from "Witches' Dance", The Moon Over the Ruined Castle tonalization. 1st - 2nd position shifts and (mostly) backward extensions.
10 min - Beethoven 5. Realized I wrote about sixteenth notes yesterday when I meant 32nds, and edited yesterday's post. Then I noted another brain cramp, having labeled it Mon, so changed that, too. Today I worked on the 2nd half of the 32nd note theme stmt, again with metronome at 80, but went from 32nd notes to 16th notes. I didn't go back to look at the first half to figure out whether today's section seemed easier because it is, or because I was just prepped by yesterday's work.
I was going to add another block or two after a 30 min lunch break, but was feeling some achiness in my right forearm and got distracted by chores. I'll see what I feel like a little later.
Tuesday, September 7
10 min - Bach Prelude #4 using Howard ed'n. Desultory practice of 1st 10 or so measures, and the last run of sixteenth notes. Plan to work measure by measure at lesson, still goofing off at this stage.
10 min - Suzuki Bk 1 last two minuets, Suzuki Bk 2 opening tonalizations, Long, Long Ago in C with variation, May Time, 2nd position etude and tonalization, two Bach minuets. I figured that while I am just reading I will keep playing through the books.
10 min - Mooney TP Bk 1, Pattern 2 warm-ups, French Folk Song, May Sing, Oh Susanna, Old Folks at Home, Blue Bells of Scotland (all in C), accompaniment to Old Folks at home, which included arpeggios and some fun double stops. My thumb position still sounds like crap.
10 min - Beethoven 5, 1st half of the 1st theme in
OK, I admit it. I took all 3 days of the holiday weekend off. For some reason DH hanging around the house always puts my practice schedule off kilter. I sure hope he doesn't decide to retire anytime soon.
Today I checked the orchestra web site to see if by some odd chance the schedule for the next concert had been posted. Surprise! It was! Our November program will consist of Tchaikovsky Symphony No 6 and Piston Symphony No 4. I don't know the latter at all, but think that must be a very odd program. I'm not ready to drop Beethoven from my excerpt practice, but you will also see Tchaik 6 excerpts beginning tomorrow!
Friday, September 3
Fri 35 min
15 min - Bach Prelude #4. Started off by watching a Rostropovich YouTube video.
(I looove YouTube. Do you realize how much learning a piece has changed in the past decade thanks to YouTube?). Went back and forth with my Casals edition and the video in the first few measures. Funny, what feels like a big extension to me looks like nothing for those long fingers.
A bit confused about how to play the 3d chord, so also looked at a couple of other videos:
...and finally pulled out my Behringer/Peter Howard edition. Filled the rest of the time with trying some of those fingerings. I think the most important thing about playing these chords is to decide on fingerings and commit to them.
5 min - Mooney TP 1, from the last song in Pattern I, The Hundred Pipers, thru the first 2 prep exercises in Pattern II. Trying to keep up on my fingertips while keeping my arm on the cello. Better today than yesterday.
5 min - Suzuki Bk 1, C MAJ arp tonalization on p19, 4 octave C MAJ scale in linked quarters, Etude at a variety of tempi and with double note bowing, The Happy Farmer and Minuet in C.
10 min - Beethoven Symphony No 5, Andante con moto, 2nd theme in 1/16 notes.
My intonation is so much better today, and the extensions don't feel nearly as far. Glad I have another week to "goof off" before starting back in earnest.
15 min - Bach Prelude #4. Started off by watching a Rostropovich YouTube video.
(I looove YouTube. Do you realize how much learning a piece has changed in the past decade thanks to YouTube?). Went back and forth with my Casals edition and the video in the first few measures. Funny, what feels like a big extension to me looks like nothing for those long fingers.
A bit confused about how to play the 3d chord, so also looked at a couple of other videos:
...and finally pulled out my Behringer/Peter Howard edition. Filled the rest of the time with trying some of those fingerings. I think the most important thing about playing these chords is to decide on fingerings and commit to them.
5 min - Mooney TP 1, from the last song in Pattern I, The Hundred Pipers, thru the first 2 prep exercises in Pattern II. Trying to keep up on my fingertips while keeping my arm on the cello. Better today than yesterday.
5 min - Suzuki Bk 1, C MAJ arp tonalization on p19, 4 octave C MAJ scale in linked quarters, Etude at a variety of tempi and with double note bowing, The Happy Farmer and Minuet in C.
10 min - Beethoven Symphony No 5, Andante con moto, 2nd theme in 1/16 notes.
My intonation is so much better today, and the extensions don't feel nearly as far. Glad I have another week to "goof off" before starting back in earnest.
Thursday, September 2
Thu 30 min
15 min - Bach Prelude #4. I shall soon have to actually start working on this, as I have reached the point where just playing around feels fruitless. Discovered that I don't appear to be able to reach a major third when extended in half position. Hmmm. Hope this is an intonation issue, but fear my hand may have tightened with the time off. Oh well, it will stretch again. Therefore concentrated on intonation, old finger shifts, and finger substitutions where appropriate.
5 min - Mooney TP 1, 1st pattern, Soldier's Joy, Arkansas Traveller, and first 2/3 of The Hundred Pipers. Put a sticky note in the book to keep my place as I keep reading through. My thumb position sounds really awful, I must say. Remembering to keep my arm on the cello instead of hovering above it, though.
5 min - Suzuki Bk 1, from G Maj tonalization and Perpetual Motion to Rigadoon. Ditto on the sticky note. Having fun playing these as musically as possible. Could stand to work on vibrato.
5 min - Beethoven Symphony No 5, Andante con moto, 1st theme statement. Thanks to Emily for the alterations to Rose's fingerings. (What was he thinking?)
15 min - Bach Prelude #4. I shall soon have to actually start working on this, as I have reached the point where just playing around feels fruitless. Discovered that I don't appear to be able to reach a major third when extended in half position. Hmmm. Hope this is an intonation issue, but fear my hand may have tightened with the time off. Oh well, it will stretch again. Therefore concentrated on intonation, old finger shifts, and finger substitutions where appropriate.
5 min - Mooney TP 1, 1st pattern, Soldier's Joy, Arkansas Traveller, and first 2/3 of The Hundred Pipers. Put a sticky note in the book to keep my place as I keep reading through. My thumb position sounds really awful, I must say. Remembering to keep my arm on the cello instead of hovering above it, though.
5 min - Suzuki Bk 1, from G Maj tonalization and Perpetual Motion to Rigadoon. Ditto on the sticky note. Having fun playing these as musically as possible. Could stand to work on vibrato.
5 min - Beethoven Symphony No 5, Andante con moto, 1st theme statement. Thanks to Emily for the alterations to Rose's fingerings. (What was he thinking?)
Wednesday, September 1
Wed 25 min
15 min - Prelude #4, especially the first 10 measures, with some dabbling in the 16th note runs. Practiced the Casals finferings using old finger shifts. It's starting to sound like something, though I note I'm playing it at half the suggested tempo marking :-).
5 min - Mooney TP 1, 1st 5 songs in Pattern 1: French Folk Song, May Song, Oh Susanna, Are You Sleeping?, and I'll Always Remember You.
5 min - Suzuki Bk 1 thru Perpetual Motion, including "petting the dog" version.
My fingers are starting to feel like they belong to my hand again, and you probably see the trend: 5 minutes more each day. I'm not working very much, but the pace feels just right for getting back into things.
15 min - Prelude #4, especially the first 10 measures, with some dabbling in the 16th note runs. Practiced the Casals finferings using old finger shifts. It's starting to sound like something, though I note I'm playing it at half the suggested tempo marking :-).
5 min - Mooney TP 1, 1st 5 songs in Pattern 1: French Folk Song, May Song, Oh Susanna, Are You Sleeping?, and I'll Always Remember You.
5 min - Suzuki Bk 1 thru Perpetual Motion, including "petting the dog" version.
My fingers are starting to feel like they belong to my hand again, and you probably see the trend: 5 minutes more each day. I'm not working very much, but the pace feels just right for getting back into things.
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