Thu 0:42 (1441-1523)
Warmed up with open strings G C G D A DG then slurps across D and G. Really sitting right down there on the bridge, experimenting with bow speed on the different strings. Explored the sequence bow level change then bow change motion when going to a higher string on up bow. 10 min
Then it was logical to start with the little string crossing section in the Vivaldi (Spring) 1st mvmt. Worked from double stops in correct pulse. Seemed to work "OK" with just a little elbow drop after the pulse. Would be worth discussing this bowing at a lesson.
Next, fingering for soli section in the 3d mvmt. Loving how my bow weight from open strings is still carrying over.
Ran through the Handel, which we will be performing at a little recital tonight. Just took it under tempo, polishing a few shifts, and staying loose.
15 min or so on Apres un Reve, playing it with exaggerated passion and phrasing, big vibrato while, yes, focusing on keeping the right arm relaxed and weighted. Fun.
Back for just a few more minutes of Handel, and that's all for today. Warmup for recital at 6, recital at 7.
Showing posts with label handel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label handel. Show all posts
Thursday, April 8
Tuesday, April 6
Tue 0:30 (1238-?)
First half hour
10 min Open G. At the end, was playing with bow speed - fast into change, slow out of it seemed to make the smoothest changes.
10 min Apres Un Reve. Shifts and bow weight.
10 min Handel, slightly under tempo, going for smooth sound.
Then I spent most of the rest of the afternoon with my orchestra music, listening to recordings while following the cello part, getting scared and depressed. Overtures are fun to listen to, but a bear to play, and a "light" program filled with overtures is a nightmare. There, I said it. Now that I've cleared the air, I can get down to work, but first I need to survive rehearsal tonight.
First half hour
10 min Open G. At the end, was playing with bow speed - fast into change, slow out of it seemed to make the smoothest changes.
10 min Apres Un Reve. Shifts and bow weight.
10 min Handel, slightly under tempo, going for smooth sound.
Then I spent most of the rest of the afternoon with my orchestra music, listening to recordings while following the cello part, getting scared and depressed. Overtures are fun to listen to, but a bear to play, and a "light" program filled with overtures is a nightmare. There, I said it. Now that I've cleared the air, I can get down to work, but first I need to survive rehearsal tonight.
Sunday, April 4
Sun 0:35 (1330-1405)
Weird, I think I practiced yesterday, but I can't remember it.
Today I was up at 0545 to play 2 services in church. Practiced ~35 minutes afterward. Warmed up with a few open strings, then E MAJ in a variety of patterns. Worked on Apres Un Reve for about 15 min, and spent the remainder of the time on Handel. OK, not so productive, but I was tired. Still am, evidenced by my loss of yesterday's practice memories.
Interesting morning in church. Turns out T4-'s in-laws attend my church, so T4- was there visiting. While they had hired an extra violin and 2 violas, I was the only cello, and evidently one of the cameramen liked my bright green shirt. It seemed like every time I looked up I had a view of my bow hand. (DH said I had more than bow hand cameos, but I spent most of my time looking at the music, not the screen.) Or, maybe my bow hand just looks especially graceful now, attracting even the attention of the non-musician cameraman? Hah!
Weird, I think I practiced yesterday, but I can't remember it.
Today I was up at 0545 to play 2 services in church. Practiced ~35 minutes afterward. Warmed up with a few open strings, then E MAJ in a variety of patterns. Worked on Apres Un Reve for about 15 min, and spent the remainder of the time on Handel. OK, not so productive, but I was tired. Still am, evidenced by my loss of yesterday's practice memories.
Interesting morning in church. Turns out T4-'s in-laws attend my church, so T4- was there visiting. While they had hired an extra violin and 2 violas, I was the only cello, and evidently one of the cameramen liked my bright green shirt. It seemed like every time I looked up I had a view of my bow hand. (DH said I had more than bow hand cameos, but I spent most of my time looking at the music, not the screen.) Or, maybe my bow hand just looks especially graceful now, attracting even the attention of the non-musician cameraman? Hah!
Friday, April 2
Fri 0:40 (~1600)
10 min Open G, single note C or D on III, a few 2 string slurps
20 min Apres Un Reve, about evenly divided between 1st and 2nd thirds. I'm really not sure which string to finger the last 3d on.
10 min Handel, mostly focusing on the shifts.
I may be deluding myself about sounding better, but the ringing tone I am getting out of the cello is definite incentive to keep playing.
10 min Open G, single note C or D on III, a few 2 string slurps
20 min Apres Un Reve, about evenly divided between 1st and 2nd thirds. I'm really not sure which string to finger the last 3d on.
10 min Handel, mostly focusing on the shifts.
I may be deluding myself about sounding better, but the ringing tone I am getting out of the cello is definite incentive to keep playing.
Friday, March 26
Fri 0:40 (1710-1750)
A short practice today, partly because I am feeling very dispirited, and partly because I got myself into a time crunch and that's all I have had available so far today, and I'm not likely to have any more time later.
Started out with the Faure Apres un Reve, gooey shifts and memorizing the opening. The treble clef section is more problematic, both because of the position and because I am less confident that I am interpreting the fingerings correctly.
Did a short period of actual work on the Handel that we (cello quartet) plan to perform in a couple of weeks. Buffed up two small fingerings, but was otherwise discouraged that I am never going to have the volume and tone the coach wants.
Ah, well. Moving on, warmed down by pfutzing around with a Gabrielli ricercar one of our other quartet members is going to perform at the recital, than a bad run through of the top part of the Canon a Duo.
Some days, the bear eats you.
A short practice today, partly because I am feeling very dispirited, and partly because I got myself into a time crunch and that's all I have had available so far today, and I'm not likely to have any more time later.
Started out with the Faure Apres un Reve, gooey shifts and memorizing the opening. The treble clef section is more problematic, both because of the position and because I am less confident that I am interpreting the fingerings correctly.
Did a short period of actual work on the Handel that we (cello quartet) plan to perform in a couple of weeks. Buffed up two small fingerings, but was otherwise discouraged that I am never going to have the volume and tone the coach wants.
Ah, well. Moving on, warmed down by pfutzing around with a Gabrielli ricercar one of our other quartet members is going to perform at the recital, than a bad run through of the top part of the Canon a Duo.
Some days, the bear eats you.
Wednesday, January 27
12 min
Spent most of the morning out and most of the afternoon asleep. I think it was a combination of antihistamine, 2 allergy shots, and H1N1 shot.
Had a few minutes to practice while preparing dinner before everyone arrived to eat it. A really good 12 minutes it was, working on the Handel, 2nd mvmt. I got into a rhythm on the runs, double minting shifts as needed. It was really quite pleasant. Nice what happens when I don't feel under pressure.
I read about a local cello teacher whose on-going resolution is to touch the cello every day. He's missed only 4 days in 12 years. Maybe I can't do 30 min of "practice" every day, but I could probably touch the cello, which I would interpret as meaning take it off the stand, tune, and at least play a lick of something. Maybe I'll start that instead of trying for 21 days of practice after vacation.
Spent most of the morning out and most of the afternoon asleep. I think it was a combination of antihistamine, 2 allergy shots, and H1N1 shot.
Had a few minutes to practice while preparing dinner before everyone arrived to eat it. A really good 12 minutes it was, working on the Handel, 2nd mvmt. I got into a rhythm on the runs, double minting shifts as needed. It was really quite pleasant. Nice what happens when I don't feel under pressure.
I read about a local cello teacher whose on-going resolution is to touch the cello every day. He's missed only 4 days in 12 years. Maybe I can't do 30 min of "practice" every day, but I could probably touch the cello, which I would interpret as meaning take it off the stand, tune, and at least play a lick of something. Maybe I'll start that instead of trying for 21 days of practice after vacation.
Saturday, January 16
30 min
Day 9. I came sooooo close to going to bed without practicing tonight. Busy cat morning, giving shots and meds. Ate lunch late (Baker's Square) after skipping breakfast, then crashed until almost 5. Groggy all evening.
But en route to bed I decided to sit down at the cello anyway. Good on me. Spent the first few minutes with a quick Cossmann finger warm-up. Spent a little over 10 minutes on each movement of the Handel, revising fingerings in the Allegro (much better) and the last 5 min on the opening statement of the Offenbach. Seeing those videos has provided both motivation and inspiration for how to handle the awkward fingering.
And I don't have to start my 21 day count over again. Yay.
Good night!
Day 9. I came sooooo close to going to bed without practicing tonight. Busy cat morning, giving shots and meds. Ate lunch late (Baker's Square) after skipping breakfast, then crashed until almost 5. Groggy all evening.
But en route to bed I decided to sit down at the cello anyway. Good on me. Spent the first few minutes with a quick Cossmann finger warm-up. Spent a little over 10 minutes on each movement of the Handel, revising fingerings in the Allegro (much better) and the last 5 min on the opening statement of the Offenbach. Seeing those videos has provided both motivation and inspiration for how to handle the awkward fingering.
And I don't have to start my 21 day count over again. Yay.
Good night!
Friday, January 15
30 min
Day 8. Started the session by warming up with something irrelevant: Duport #1. Another quartet member showed us a bit of what he was working on last night - quite nice. Double stops are the primary technical problem, and it's quite melodic. Today I spent 20 minutes on learning the first phrase. Actually, before I started I took a look on YouTube and couldn't find a recording. It always seems to lake longer when I don't have an auditory idea to start with. It was a good warm up, though, so I'm thinking of continuing a phrase at a time, rather than continuously reviewing what I have worked on each session. I figure I'm using it as a warm up, and if at the end of a couple of months I can actually play it, that will be a bonus!
Spent the last 10 minutes on Handel D suite Adagio. I should have been prepared to play this at rehearsal last night, but it had just slipped my mind. Fortunately, I had fingered it last month, so the reading wasn't awful. Well enough, in fact, that it's been added to our repertoire list. Today I reviewed my fingering choices, which were basically good, marked in a few more shifts, and just played it for familiarity.
Day 8. Started the session by warming up with something irrelevant: Duport #1. Another quartet member showed us a bit of what he was working on last night - quite nice. Double stops are the primary technical problem, and it's quite melodic. Today I spent 20 minutes on learning the first phrase. Actually, before I started I took a look on YouTube and couldn't find a recording. It always seems to lake longer when I don't have an auditory idea to start with. It was a good warm up, though, so I'm thinking of continuing a phrase at a time, rather than continuously reviewing what I have worked on each session. I figure I'm using it as a warm up, and if at the end of a couple of months I can actually play it, that will be a bonus!
Spent the last 10 minutes on Handel D suite Adagio. I should have been prepared to play this at rehearsal last night, but it had just slipped my mind. Fortunately, I had fingered it last month, so the reading wasn't awful. Well enough, in fact, that it's been added to our repertoire list. Today I reviewed my fingering choices, which were basically good, marked in a few more shifts, and just played it for familiarity.
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