Hi guys, it's been real fun teaching you this past semester. Thanks for sticking it out, and looking forward to exploring music with you next year!!! Mazin Great work on 'Wild Flowers' and 'Dill Pickles!! Keep at it, and apply the same good practice method to learning 'St. Catherine's Infirmary'. If you have time during the break, try to get [...]
Fantastic fun teaching you guys/subbing for David, again!! Practice this week, and try to remember the musical and technical principles we explored today! Avril You are a great listener!! Remember to LISTEN to how the fingers come off the keys, just as much as you are aware of how they come down on the keys. We 'paint with sound' telling [...]
Another round of excellent lessons today, guys! See homework for this week below. Brigitte Getting much better with your bow work, Brigitte!! Remember to start each practice session (after resining your bow) by creating varied and beautiful tones as you tune. Tune first with open strings, then with harmonics, then back to open strings. Continue with the exercises assigned in [...]
Excellent lessons today and practice this past week, all of you!! Brigitte A little practice does go a whole of a lotta way!!! You showed marked improvement today in your L.H. articulation. Remember to keep your bow thumb at least a little curved AT ALL TIMES!!! Minutes to practice: 45 per day. What to practice: The exercises marked with Dec. 1. How [...]
Brigitte Focus on your left hand articulation over the next two weeks. Remember to 'attack the string' with your fingers when they come down, and to retract them (so that you can hear them pluck the string) when they come off. And, focus on playing 100% in tune! You can do it!!! Practice all of the exercises pizzicato first before [...]
Elspeth Great job today, dear!!! You are really making progress with all of the idiosyncrasies of articulating the bow. Remember to make sure your body is also moving to the strong beats as you play. And, ask Long & McQuade to exchange your cello for one that's better in tune, and to buy a music stand! And, please cut ALL [...]
Another round of excellent lessons today, y'all!! See this week's homework below ~ Brigitte Please, be patient with yourself!!! Cello is not an easy instrument to learn. I am ensuring you have a good foundation so that you will be making a good sound ASAP, if you diligently practice!! Remember to constantly be in MOTION with an ENGAGED CORE as [...]
Great job today, guys! See homework for this week below. Brigitte Always ever-progressing, Brigitte!! Onto navigating the left hand and bow at the same time now, across all of the strings! Remember to retract your left hand fingers all the way when coming off strings, and to 'draw the sound out' of the string with the bow as you MOVE [...]
Elspeth Fantastic job today, and excellent attitude, dear!!! Work for next couple weeks ~ Buy the cello method book Practice the finger bow exercises, making sure each finger contact point is exact. Practice single strings and double stops (2 strings at the same time), moving to the rhythm as you change bows seamlessly while keeping the bow straight for each string. Practice [...]
Another fantastic round of lessons, guys! See homework for this week below. Mazin A substantial improvement on keeping true to the correct rhythm as written on the page for Chanson this week, Maz! Now, make sure you capitalize on this gain and vow never to disobey the rhythm that's written on the page for any music you 'recreate' again!! Minutes to [...]