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.

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.

Mon Tue 40 min

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 sixteenth 32nd notes. After deciding I was not going to make fast progress, I set the metronome to 1/1632 = 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.

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!