tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22496108795119720982024-03-13T21:31:10.787-05:00Practice Blog, Round 4So far I have tried a blogger blog (got all confused-cellos, or cats?), a wordpress blog (good for charts, but I missed my blogger features), a ning network (too hard, with separate email addresses needed for each category). Then I tried microblogging on twitter. This just might work.gottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.comBlogger216125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249610879511972098.post-29947014114854340962010-09-10T19:00:00.002-05:002010-09-10T19:02:23.928-05:00Fri 10 more min<br /><br />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.gottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249610879511972098.post-11717593729138694482010-09-10T15:27:00.007-05:002010-09-10T17:21:33.318-05:00Fri 45 min<br /><br />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. <br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Break: 20 min<br /><br />5 min - scales. This week I got a new <a href="http://www.artofcello.com/book.pdf">scale book</a>, 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 <s>thirds</s> 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.<br /><br />In case you haven't seen it, Wells Cunningham playing the Handel-Halvorson Passacaglia for cello and violin:<br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NseBdxfHk5k?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NseBdxfHk5k?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>gottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249610879511972098.post-3018872659637868802010-09-09T16:13:00.005-05:002010-09-09T16:29:18.065-05:00Thu 40 min<br /><br />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?<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.gottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249610879511972098.post-13592616927422135102010-09-08T13:59:00.005-05:002010-09-08T15:53:00.413-05:00Wed 40 min<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.gottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249610879511972098.post-88630529505512215652010-09-07T18:08:00.006-05:002010-09-08T15:53:33.809-05:00<s>Mon</s> Tue 40 min<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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. <br /><br />10 min - Beethoven 5, 1st half of the 1st theme in <s>sixteenth</s> 32nd notes. After deciding I was not going to make fast progress, I set the metronome to 1/<s>16</s>32 = 80 and played 4 note groups forward and backward, then measures. Still looking at the fingering in 3d measure - up to Db on II, or not? The 4-4 shift Db to Ab is a bear. Timer saved me from intensive intonation practice.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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!gottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249610879511972098.post-73935101604797700082010-09-03T19:15:00.003-05:002010-09-03T19:29:42.263-05:00Fri 35 min<br /><br />15 min - Bach Prelude #4. Started off by watching a Rostropovich YouTube video. <br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ufVV1H5pkA8?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ufVV1H5pkA8?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />(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. <br /><br />A bit confused about how to play the 3d chord, so also looked at a couple of other videos: <br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IbyGJ3zxPVo?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IbyGJ3zxPVo?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/usPCkXTAlgw?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/usPCkXTAlgw?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />...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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />10 min - Beethoven Symphony No 5, Andante con moto, 2nd theme in 1/16 notes.<br /><br />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.gottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249610879511972098.post-75789824781922528622010-09-02T18:05:00.004-05:002010-09-02T18:14:44.196-05:00Thu 30 min<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />5 min - Beethoven Symphony No 5, Andante con moto, 1st theme statement. Thanks to <a href="http://starkravingcello.blogspot.com">Emily</a> for the alterations to Rose's fingerings. (What was he thinking?)gottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249610879511972098.post-23206697272762647922010-09-01T18:54:00.004-05:002010-09-01T19:03:37.649-05:00Wed 25 min<br /><br />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 :-).<br /><br />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.<br /><br />5 min - Suzuki Bk 1 thru Perpetual Motion, including "petting the dog" version.<br /><br />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.gottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249610879511972098.post-69015357324656390972010-08-31T14:02:00.005-05:002010-08-31T20:50:24.928-05:00Tue 20 min<br />15 min - Prelude #4, 2nd page of Rosanoff version at a glacial pace. Started again from the beginning using the Casals ed. May be worth a YouTube excursion to look at fingering and bowing choices.<br /><br />5 min - Mooney Thumb Position Bk 1, position 1 warmups<br /><br />My fingers are insisting they have never played the cello before, but I have faith. And also 2 more weeks before lessons and orchestra resume.gottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249610879511972098.post-85315413050692623992010-08-30T14:01:00.001-05:002010-08-31T20:50:04.980-05:00Mon 15 min<br />1st practice this month. Prelude #4, 1st page at a glacial tempo. Rosanoff suggested fingerings are bizarre. Fingers buzzing. Wo0t!gottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249610879511972098.post-35502323103056930412010-07-05T21:12:00.004-05:002010-07-05T21:20:11.075-05:00Mon 65 min<br /><br />Looks like I took a loooong holiday weekend.<br /><br />Slurps, Prelude #1<br />C MAJ scale, broken 3ds, arps, 3ds and 6ths.<br />Record slurps video for MT<br />More Prelude #1<br /><br />It looks like I'll have more stuff to work on after orchestra rehearsal tomorrow night. This is what is on our summer concert in 2 weeks:<br /><br />Suppe-Light Calvary Overture<br />Borodin-Polovitsian Dances<br />Gliere-Russian Sailor's Dance<br />Strauss-Wine, Women and Song<br />Rossini-Overture to the Barber of Seville<br />Porter-Begin the Beguine<br />Strauss-Thunder and Lightning Polka<br />Porter-Night and Day<br />Gould-American Salute<br /><br />YIKES!<br /><br />Here's my Introduction to Slurps, assisted by my foster kitten, Brigid.<br /><br /><object style="background-image:url(http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/daNcYfXC5tc/hqdefault.jpg)" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/daNcYfXC5tc&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/daNcYfXC5tc&hl=en_US&fs=1" width="425" height="344" allowScriptAccess="never" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>gottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249610879511972098.post-50948216519092912312010-06-30T18:29:00.002-05:002010-06-30T18:33:47.212-05:00Wed 35 min<br /><br />C MAJ scale, broken 3ds, I and IV arps, inverted arps, thumb scales.<br /><br />Slurps on D and G.<br /><br />Prelude #1 1st 6 measures. Alternating chords with slurps. Checking intonation.<br /><br />The "not a 1-legged stool" thumb position is starting to feel more comfortable. Still working on forearm initiating downward shifts, "dragging" the shifting finger along.gottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249610879511972098.post-6740100940712310632010-06-29T17:06:00.002-05:002010-06-29T17:09:41.200-05:00Tue 40 min<br /><br />C MAJ and Eb MAJ<br />Scales, arps, inverted triads, thirds.<br /><br />Slurps on D and G, and a little on A and D.<br />The first couple of measures of Bach Prelude #1.<br />Watching the bow trajectory with the mirror at 10 o'clock.<br /><br />First three chords of Popper HS #9.gottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249610879511972098.post-28808442052334880182010-06-24T22:01:00.003-05:002010-06-24T22:04:59.648-05:00Thu 30 min<br /><br />15 min Suzuki Bk 1 and Webster Scherzo<br /><br />15 min C MAJ scale, broken thirds, ds thirds, and triad inversions. The triads are really coming along well. also seems to help to turn my thumb backward a little more so I am more on the nail really high up.<br /><br />I wasn't going to practice tonight, but managed to talk myself into "just 15 min" which I managed to turn into "just a half hour." Just like I have been able to keep a daily running schedule of "just 15 min" for the past month. I'm taking the a little bit often is better than a lot occasionally message to heart.gottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249610879511972098.post-9396651294610322682010-06-23T22:16:00.003-05:002010-06-24T22:05:26.073-05:00Wed 40 min<br /><br />10 min Suzuki Bk 1 and Webster Scherzo<br /><br />30 min scales, thirds, arps (C MAJ ex 1-7), then TP 1 octave scales and a bit of 10ths.<br /><br />While not good, every exercise is showing progress, especially the 4 note arpeggio patterns. The key was learning the finger pattern for arps in root position and 1st and 2nd inversions. In addition to strengthening my fingers and improving my coordination, this summer is going to be a nice exercise in theory applied to a strnged instrument tuned in fifths.gottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249610879511972098.post-54445963620595149902010-06-17T15:03:00.003-05:002010-06-17T15:18:15.463-05:00Wow, 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:<br /><br />Warm up with Suzuki Book 1, 10-20 minutes<br />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.<br />After the quartet recital on 6/4, I spent the rest of the time just reading stuff.<br /><br />I practiced 4x/week, for 30-60 minutes (usually an hour).<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.gottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249610879511972098.post-4747538188557053292010-05-19T17:11:00.003-05:002010-05-19T17:19:39.324-05:00Wed 1:45 (1400-1600)<br /><br />So I delayed my day off by a day. Had a great lesson on Monday night, discovering what I was missing in my "petting the dog" (freedom at the shoulder) and exploring possible bowings for the Haydn C Adagio. I am happier and happier with my new right arm skills - my cello sounds really great. Next step: keep doing it as the music gets more complicated.<br /><br />I probably shouldn't count it as "practice," but I spent almost 2 hours this afternoon working out our parts with another of my cello quartet members. By the luck of the draw we have alternating 1st and 2nd cello parts on two of the pieces. I shared my philosophy of how to mark shifts into a part to minimize the amount of rethinking you need to do each time you play it, and helped her decide how to finger her part. Once decisions were made we were able to focus on how just the two parts sound together without the extra racket from the lower parts. A very rewarding practice.<br /><br />However, since I have a church orchestra rehearsal later tonight, I'm going to take a break instead of practicing Haydn or Suzuki today. The deck is calling, and I think I have time for a small glass of wine with dinner.gottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249610879511972098.post-11713921233159242952010-05-17T17:43:00.003-05:002010-05-17T17:55:31.729-05:00Mon 0:30 (~1700)<br /><br />If I had my druthers, I'd take the day off after a concert. However, I have a cello lesson tonight, so needed to at least get my head back into lesson music, after a day of post-concert Svendsen ear worms.<br /><br />10 min Suzuki Bk 1 from Perpetual Motion to the end. I think I'll ask to talk about the alternative bowings in PM and Etude (double 1/16th notes) at my lesson. It's the same bowing as in the A section of the Webster Scherzo we were talking about last week. I'll have T4- weigh in on the "petting the dog" analogy.<br /><br />10 min Haydn C 1st mvmt 2nd theme to beginning of ds. I'm getting to the point that I can visualize the next chunk as I am setting on each held note. It's really conveniently written for that.<br /><br />10 min Haydn C 2nd mvmt 1st statement. Not sure what bowing to use, so tried several. Checked in with the Wispelwey video to sort out the fingerings. What on earth did we do before YouTube?<br /><br />You know it's going to be a good practice day when you hear the cello "lock in" with tuning. Does that mean my ear is hearing especially well today, or is the quality of the cello ringing? In any case, it's really ringing, and I love it.gottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249610879511972098.post-75431845053795997812010-05-16T10:42:00.002-05:002010-05-16T10:45:36.597-05:00Sun 0:40 (1000)<br /><br />Played one short service at church this morning, so pretty well warmed up. Ran the Sibelius and Svendsen Symphony with the recording. I just want to make sure I have the cues in my ears before the concert this afternoon. Now I'm going to go put my final markings in my practice parts and file them,and clean up my folder to turn in. After the concert this afternoon we are off until the summer concert in July. Yippee! I have an open night each week for 1.5 months!gottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249610879511972098.post-79593482412504331292010-05-15T18:42:00.002-05:002010-05-15T18:45:07.266-05:00Sat 0:45 (1900)<br /><br />Dress rehearsal went pretty well this morning, so I just "touched up" the tricky bits in all 4 mvmts of Svendsen and reviewed fingerings for the last page or 2, then played the 4th mvmt with the recording. Much better. Also interspersed a few minutes of that up-down-down ricochet Sibelius bowing. I'll want to run that one last time with the recording before performance tomorrow afternoon.gottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249610879511972098.post-64018723373894151122010-05-14T18:50:00.003-05:002010-05-14T18:55:27.374-05:00Fri 0:20 (1825-1848)<br /><br />Wanted to jump right in to work on Svendsen, but everything felt too icky so did my 10 min Suzuki Bk 1 warmup, FFS to Rigadoon.<br /><br />10 min Svendsen 4th mvmt, the funky pattern part then the last page. <br /><br />After spending all day in a semi-dark room in front of a computer (beginning Flash class) I just don't feel like working. 2 glasses of wine with dinner probably did not help, though were quite nice. I think I'll go watch a movie, then early to bed. I do feel better for having played 20 minutes, though.<br /><br />Dress rehearsal tomorrow morning. Better to be well-rested than well-prepared.gottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249610879511972098.post-42499808349335626552010-05-13T14:05:00.001-05:002010-05-13T14:07:55.503-05:00Thu 1:30 (1100-1403)<br /><br />10 min Warm up<br />Inspired by looking at the <a href="http://gottagopractice.blogspot.com/2010/05/petting-dog.html">bowing</a> for the Webster Scherzo in Suzuki Bk 3 yesterday, and the fact that the book is on my stand, I used it for my warmup today. I started with the Scherzo, then went back to the beginning and played through the tonalizations. Moving forward, I was just beginning the Lully Gavotte when the timer went off. I'm pretty sure I haven't played any of the Bk 3 pieces before. They're quite fun.<br /><br />10 min Haydn C 1 m27-35<br />Still focusing on the shifts. Tone is very nice today - bodes well for later practice. I also listened to the Wispelway 2nd mvmt video again this am, but I was multitasking so am not counting it as practice today.<br /><br />A rather longish break to shower, remove nail polish and shorten fingernails "down to the nub" for optimal cello playing.<br /><br />30 min Cockles and Mussles and Ash Grove arr. Bissinger<br />This is my Vc1 part for cello quartet. We're working on a shortened schedule, with a recital planned in June but only two coached sessions remaining, and the other two practices are going to be short personnel. Today was deciding on optimal fingering to support my melodic intentions (sounds grand, doesn't it?). This always takes longer than I expect - I thought 10 minutes would be plenty of time, as it's not that complicated and it's not that high (mid-string harmonic A). But the lovely thing about the fretless 4-stringed cello is that we have so many options about how to finger each note. Lovely! I'm happy with the end result, though, and it should need minimal practice time down the road.<br /><br />10 min Hanssen Valdresmarsj<br />Refreshed my memory about fingering for beginning pizz broken chords and thumb position at end of Trio. Wonder whatever happened to my previously marked part?<br /><br />10 min Haugen An Uncommon Hero<br />Part is still a bit difficult to read, with 2 cello parts notated on one staff. Watching for downward stems and bow markings underneath. Went through reviewing the tricky bowing parts. This piece was composed in 2006, and I like it more each time we rehearse it - now that I have figured out the rhythms and rapidly changing meters.<br /><br />20 min Svendsen 1st and 4th Mvmts<br />Play through with recording. A fun way to end the practice day. The tricky bits I've been practicing are going well, but there are a couple of stretches in the 4th mvmt that still need some closer attention - working out fingerings and reviewing rhythms.gottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249610879511972098.post-33635202701054827152010-05-12T13:51:00.000-05:002010-05-12T13:54:29.740-05:00Wed 1:40 (1115-1350)<br /><br />15 min Suzuki Bk 1 (all)<br /><br />Break for breakfast<br /><br />10 min Haydn C 1 m27-34. F drone. Shift accuracy. Soft 1st mcp in shifts.<br /><br />20 min Located and watched a video of Pieter Wispelway playing the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gg5D4rszlg">Haydn C Adagio</a>.<br /><br />35 min Svendsen<br />1- broken 3ds and accidentals<br />2- opening, marked best fingering<br />3- fast section mm qu=75-115<br />4- syncopated patterns mm ha=80, 90, 95<br /><br />Short break to hug kitties.<br /><br />20 min Sibelius<br />7 min play through with recording<br />13 min 16th notes. Revised fingering of 3d measure - less elegant but seems to work better fast. 1-1-1 shift at beginning of 4th measure seems to propel into 1st finger shifts on "ands" in that measure. Brief look at wiggly section as double stops - could stand to do that a couple more times. Also need to learn the cues at reh 8 as I don't trust my counting there.gottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249610879511972098.post-83537761036656973652010-05-11T16:52:00.003-05:002010-05-11T18:22:00.985-05:00Tue 0:57<br /><br />10 min Suzuki Bk 1<br />10 min Haydn C 1 m27-G before DS, read 1st page of 2nd mvmt<br />5 min Svendsen Mvmt 1<br />5 min Svendsen Mvmt 3<br />10 min Svendsen Mvmt 4<br /><br />Break for dinner<br /><br />10 min Sibelius<br />7 min play through Sibelius violin concerto mvmt 3 with recording.gottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249610879511972098.post-28902700726730939382010-05-10T16:55:00.000-05:002010-05-11T16:57:08.867-05:00Mon 0:45<br /><br />10 min Suzuki bk 1<br />10 min Haydn C 1-m27-31<br />25 min play through Svendsen Mvmt 1,3,4 with recordinggottagopracticehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.com0