Not much use keeping a blog if your not going to update it. I have to remind myself that this blog is primarily to remind myself where I am growing in this new hobby of cello playing.
I've been taking lessons for almost 9 months now. I'm almost finished the first year Grant book my instructor lent me. I am on exercise 138 out of 150. In addition he gives me beginner's pieces to work on. The last two: Budapesto and Song of Thanksgiving, are my first pieces to go beyond first position. I am not sure I understand yet the proper way to shift positions but I am still enjoying learning something new in my adult life.
A few lessons ago my instructor had me work with something called drone music. He said I had a pretty good ear and after a few tries was able to play the C maj. scale mostly in tune. So I have really been focusing on playing every note in tune.
In addition to C maj he had me also learn D maj and the first octave of the A maj. scale. The exercises he has me do: the scale in 2 octaves (except A), in rhythms like quarter-2 eighth-quarter-2 eighth up both octaves, arpeggios, arpeggios slurred 3, then slurred 4.
I've been doing pretty well keeping up with practicing lately. Real life is just out of control for me right now so the cello is like an oasis for me where I can just focus on one thing. Making progress on a new skill as an adult is highly rewarding emotionally for me right now. When there doesn't seem to be many wins in other areas of my life it is good to be able to do this with music. Some day I am really looking forward to playing with other people. A couple weeks ago in church a young gal played the violin during worship. Our church is pretty contemporary/rock-ish in worship. She was really getting it, improving and playing over the melodies. I stopped to thank her after the service and had a chance to talk to her. Turns out she is early 20's, have been playing since 6. Since high school decided she didn't like classical stuff anymore and decided to do more pop-improve type music. Her being there really added to the experience for me. She also is battling cancer. Her name is Kelly if your the praying type.
Thanks for letting me share.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
More than a hobby
My instructor has been out of the country for most of the summer playing for some orchestra in Austria. For most of the summer I've sucked at keeping a regular practice schedule. He didn't leave me with an inordinate amount of work so I feel really guilty about not doing better with it. But this is real life, and I am a working adult trying to maintain the household, a life, and a marriage. I know starting to play at age 34 I'll never be a pro cellist or anything but I want this to be more than a hobby. Some day I would like to play with a small group, maybe some kind of alt. rock, or in an acoustic guitar setting.
This week though has been different. My last 2 practices have been really productive. One of the songs my instructor left me with is at 154 bpm, and I can play it at about 10. So I slowed it down until I got the notes right at the various parts and was able to speed it up to something reasonable. I've also been working on my tone. I think mostly when I practice I tolerate sloppiness and have developed a lot of bad habits as a result.
What is frustrating me right now is when I go to play a note sometimes the note doesn't start right away, and takes a fraction of a second for the intonation to get right. I think what is happening is I'm doing something wrong, my ear hears something is wrong, tells my brain, and I am adjusting for it. I think it is the bow speed, either I am starting the note too slow or too fast. I'm making this adjustment without even realizing what I am doing to fix it.
I've recently discovered this cellist by the name of Nick Takenobu: http://www.takenobumusic.com/ . I think he's from Atlanta. He's been playing since he was 6 and producing his own music since 19. He has 2 albums out and working on 2 more. I really dig his work and have been listening to those 2 albums non-stop for the last week. Some songs I am beginning to notice the patterns and thinking about how he is playing them. He plays with at least 1 other violinist and sometimes a percussionist. He also uses a looping device often recording the base line at the begining of the song, looping it and then playing the melody over the recording throughout the song. My instructor told me about some of the similar patterns cello music is written for and I am starting to see that in Nick's music and in other's. I'm looking for other artists like him so if you know of any please let me know.
I'm hoping to maintain this blog, journaling my own progress through this musical experience. So far I am still glad I am doing this and want to continue.
This week though has been different. My last 2 practices have been really productive. One of the songs my instructor left me with is at 154 bpm, and I can play it at about 10. So I slowed it down until I got the notes right at the various parts and was able to speed it up to something reasonable. I've also been working on my tone. I think mostly when I practice I tolerate sloppiness and have developed a lot of bad habits as a result.
What is frustrating me right now is when I go to play a note sometimes the note doesn't start right away, and takes a fraction of a second for the intonation to get right. I think what is happening is I'm doing something wrong, my ear hears something is wrong, tells my brain, and I am adjusting for it. I think it is the bow speed, either I am starting the note too slow or too fast. I'm making this adjustment without even realizing what I am doing to fix it.
I've recently discovered this cellist by the name of Nick Takenobu: http://www.takenobumusic.com/ . I think he's from Atlanta. He's been playing since he was 6 and producing his own music since 19. He has 2 albums out and working on 2 more. I really dig his work and have been listening to those 2 albums non-stop for the last week. Some songs I am beginning to notice the patterns and thinking about how he is playing them. He plays with at least 1 other violinist and sometimes a percussionist. He also uses a looping device often recording the base line at the begining of the song, looping it and then playing the melody over the recording throughout the song. My instructor told me about some of the similar patterns cello music is written for and I am starting to see that in Nick's music and in other's. I'm looking for other artists like him so if you know of any please let me know.
I'm hoping to maintain this blog, journaling my own progress through this musical experience. So far I am still glad I am doing this and want to continue.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
It don't mean a thing...
...if it ain't got that swing. This is how I'm feeling about my cello right now. I'm able to play the notes (sometimes) but just not feeling the music.
Practice sucked last night. This one part I played over twenty times and still could not get the whole phrase right. I could play the individual parts but together I kept goobering it up. Also, Warming up and playing scales tone was sounding good-it sounded like a real cello! But I cant seem to remember to do those things when it gets busy.
I know my lack of time to practice is contributing to my frustrations as well. But life as a working adult is demanding sometimes. It's tough sometimes to find the right balance. I think I can squeeze in 30 mins tonight. I know I need to but just not looking forward to the frustration. With vacations and schedules my next lesson is over two weeks away. I guess that's par for the summer.
Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to post something more positive.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Less Cello, More Life
As an adult beginner life has stolen some of my passion for cello. Going home from work tired or mentally drained doesn't leave me much enthusiasm to work on a new hobby that I am struggling with.
My last lesson went well, really well. I wasn't expecting it to go that well. Luckily my instructor doesn't read my blog nor follow me on twitter but in the 2 weeks between that lesson and the one before I only practiced 3 times. So I was expecting the lesson to completely suck, but it didn't. Everything came together for me. Maybe it was because I was trying hard to make up for the lack of practice. It was a redeeming lesson for me.
I've got another week before my next lesson and not much scheduled so hopefully I'll be more motivated to practice more. I tried last night and was hitting the notes but the tone was awful. My instructor tells me I'm not letting the bow rest on the string, that I'm actually lifting it off a bit so it's not making good contact. I've already learned some bad habits like this. His practice comments in my notebook start looking the same every week: "relax, bow arm, rawr!"
I'm sad that I can't find anyone to go to see Zoe Keating with on June 7th. I've asked my instructor and 2 other friends with no takers even though I've offered to buy the tickets. She is playing in Annapolis starting at 8pm, which is rough for me on a week night but I was willing to do it. Kinda feel weird going by myself so if your reading this and want to go then send me a message. I'll even buy your ticket!
My last lesson went well, really well. I wasn't expecting it to go that well. Luckily my instructor doesn't read my blog nor follow me on twitter but in the 2 weeks between that lesson and the one before I only practiced 3 times. So I was expecting the lesson to completely suck, but it didn't. Everything came together for me. Maybe it was because I was trying hard to make up for the lack of practice. It was a redeeming lesson for me.
I've got another week before my next lesson and not much scheduled so hopefully I'll be more motivated to practice more. I tried last night and was hitting the notes but the tone was awful. My instructor tells me I'm not letting the bow rest on the string, that I'm actually lifting it off a bit so it's not making good contact. I've already learned some bad habits like this. His practice comments in my notebook start looking the same every week: "relax, bow arm, rawr!"
I'm sad that I can't find anyone to go to see Zoe Keating with on June 7th. I've asked my instructor and 2 other friends with no takers even though I've offered to buy the tickets. She is playing in Annapolis starting at 8pm, which is rough for me on a week night but I was willing to do it. Kinda feel weird going by myself so if your reading this and want to go then send me a message. I'll even buy your ticket!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Redeeming Practice
Last night I had a redeeming practice. The kind of practice where at the end I said to myself "maybe I won't chop this cello into small pieces after all".
I shared my struggles with my dad. His advice was to focus more on the notes and rhythm. He is also a bass player in a blues/rock band out of Denver CO. Prior to that he studied classical guitar for 15+ years. So of course his advice is going to be to focus on the rhythm.
I told my instructor during my last practice that I was getting frustrated with the tone and inability to produce solid notes on the attack (is that what we call it in the cello world? When I played trumpet the attack was the beginning of the note--try to hit it right and stay with it. Don't hunt for the right tone, hit it right away). What I heard my instructor tell me was that as I get more comfortable with the other things, like bow hold, bow speed, arm movement, those problems will diminish.
During last night's practice I didn't worry about the tone and just focused on getting the notes and rhythm. Remembering back to the last lesson, and last weeks practice, I remember being so anxious about getting the right notes to play at the right time that the rest of me tensed up (like my right hand). Then my right arm started looking like how a robot would play the cello, not smooth, round and leading into the next note as it should. But last night after an hour of getting more comfortable with the notes (and ignoring the awful tone I was making) I could then start to think about the rest of my playing. It was kind of a light-bulb moment for me. I don't know if any of this is the right way to learn or practice but it made sense to me and seems to work. I know I'm still not practicing as much as I want to but I'm doing the best as I can being a working adult. After fighting through each exercise last night I forced myself to go through them all again once and it was much easier to then think about things like bow grip, arm movement, etc, now that I had committed the notes to muscle memory.
I met another programmer at church this past Sunday who is also an adult beginner cello player. He taught himself over the last 1 1/2. When I asked him why he picked the cello he said because it's highly technical, difficult and he needs a challenge in his life (like marriage and a kid aren't challenging enough?). Which is funny because those are basically the same reasons why I started on the cello. I wanted something to focus my extra time and energy on. Something productive and sometime in the very distant future play with other musicians.
Hopefully I'll get a chance to practice tonight but my wife is already starting a list of things for me to do tonight so not sure how much time I'll have. Next lesson is on Thursday. Looking forward to practicing still!
I shared my struggles with my dad. His advice was to focus more on the notes and rhythm. He is also a bass player in a blues/rock band out of Denver CO. Prior to that he studied classical guitar for 15+ years. So of course his advice is going to be to focus on the rhythm.
I told my instructor during my last practice that I was getting frustrated with the tone and inability to produce solid notes on the attack (is that what we call it in the cello world? When I played trumpet the attack was the beginning of the note--try to hit it right and stay with it. Don't hunt for the right tone, hit it right away). What I heard my instructor tell me was that as I get more comfortable with the other things, like bow hold, bow speed, arm movement, those problems will diminish.
During last night's practice I didn't worry about the tone and just focused on getting the notes and rhythm. Remembering back to the last lesson, and last weeks practice, I remember being so anxious about getting the right notes to play at the right time that the rest of me tensed up (like my right hand). Then my right arm started looking like how a robot would play the cello, not smooth, round and leading into the next note as it should. But last night after an hour of getting more comfortable with the notes (and ignoring the awful tone I was making) I could then start to think about the rest of my playing. It was kind of a light-bulb moment for me. I don't know if any of this is the right way to learn or practice but it made sense to me and seems to work. I know I'm still not practicing as much as I want to but I'm doing the best as I can being a working adult. After fighting through each exercise last night I forced myself to go through them all again once and it was much easier to then think about things like bow grip, arm movement, etc, now that I had committed the notes to muscle memory.
I met another programmer at church this past Sunday who is also an adult beginner cello player. He taught himself over the last 1 1/2. When I asked him why he picked the cello he said because it's highly technical, difficult and he needs a challenge in his life (like marriage and a kid aren't challenging enough?). Which is funny because those are basically the same reasons why I started on the cello. I wanted something to focus my extra time and energy on. Something productive and sometime in the very distant future play with other musicians.
Hopefully I'll get a chance to practice tonight but my wife is already starting a list of things for me to do tonight so not sure how much time I'll have. Next lesson is on Thursday. Looking forward to practicing still!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Week 4
Into my fourth week as an adult beginner cello student. My instructor, Tim Anderson, is very encouraging. He says Im one of the better students that he's had. Tomorrow is my fourth lesson.
So far I can play D, G, and C major, scales. This week my exercises have focused on crossing the strings. I think it means to play multiple notes in the same bow movement. He also assigned me a simple song called "In the Garden". It says in my lesson book this is a Japanese folk song. So the notes used intentionally sound dissonant, which makes it harder for me. In addition to dynamics, the song includes slurred eight notes across strings. I was pretty discouraged when I started practicing for this week last Thursday. But I did get 30 mins of practice in yesterday and feel better about it.
Other things I am supposed to be working on is posture, raising my left arm for the lower strings, and keeping my right hand relaxed. Something Ive noticed is that on the occasion I am doing these things the tone sounds like a cello, instead of a loose fan belt that it usually does.
Something else, learning the cello for me right now is more than learning a new skill. Im going through some pretty difficult things in my personal life. Learning and making music is therapeutic. Having a productive hobby and something that enriches my life helps me in the other areas of my life which are unmanageable right now.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Second Lesson
It's been a busy week and I haven't had time to write an update. Monday night was my second lesson. My instructor is very encouraging saying I was progressing great and saying "I wish all my students learned as fast as you do". Which is funny because I don't think I'm progressing fast enough.
We covered more of the basics like bow movement. He said imagine a fairly small tube that you have to keep your bow in as you play. I think what he was saying was that I was moving it around too much and not keeping it under control. He also had me work on using less of my upper right arm and more of my lower by opening at the elbow instead of moving the whole arm. I found when I concentrated on these things it was much easier not to hit the wrong strings and to keep the bow contact with the strings closer to where it should be.
He also stuck a thumb pad to the back of the arm where my left thumb goes. I guess that's cheating but makes it much easier to find the right place where my fingers go on the finger board. That helped tremendously.
He's also a great instructor in that he knows just when, and how much, to push me. He wanted me to learn the song Frère Jacques. I went over the first few bars with him there and he said this song contained an "advanced" technique called the slur. On a trumpet it was easy, just don't tongue the notes but on the cello you have to play multiple notes in the same bow stroke. He demonstrated then I tried it. He said I wasn't supposed to learn that for a few more weeks.
I've only had two 10 minute sessions to practice since Monday. Not that I'm neglecting it but my schedule has just been so crazy this week so far. I have nothing planned for tonight so hopefully I can get a solid hour in and this weekend also practicing more. It's weird how now I look forward to practicing my cello but hated practicing my trumpet when I was younger. I guess that's the difference in being an adult student, you do what you want.
We covered more of the basics like bow movement. He said imagine a fairly small tube that you have to keep your bow in as you play. I think what he was saying was that I was moving it around too much and not keeping it under control. He also had me work on using less of my upper right arm and more of my lower by opening at the elbow instead of moving the whole arm. I found when I concentrated on these things it was much easier not to hit the wrong strings and to keep the bow contact with the strings closer to where it should be.
He also stuck a thumb pad to the back of the arm where my left thumb goes. I guess that's cheating but makes it much easier to find the right place where my fingers go on the finger board. That helped tremendously.
He's also a great instructor in that he knows just when, and how much, to push me. He wanted me to learn the song Frère Jacques. I went over the first few bars with him there and he said this song contained an "advanced" technique called the slur. On a trumpet it was easy, just don't tongue the notes but on the cello you have to play multiple notes in the same bow stroke. He demonstrated then I tried it. He said I wasn't supposed to learn that for a few more weeks.
I've only had two 10 minute sessions to practice since Monday. Not that I'm neglecting it but my schedule has just been so crazy this week so far. I have nothing planned for tonight so hopefully I can get a solid hour in and this weekend also practicing more. It's weird how now I look forward to practicing my cello but hated practicing my trumpet when I was younger. I guess that's the difference in being an adult student, you do what you want.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Blessed are the Children...
...because they don't have anything else to do but practice. Another hinderance to adult students is we have real life to live. This work week I literally only had 2 hours total to practice. 2 of those sessions were only 15 minutes each. Tonight I only had 30 minutes. What do kids have to do? get passing grades, pick up their room and then PRACTICE. Adult students have to go to work, commute, grocery shop, work on important relationships, pay bills, clean house, laundry, make dinner, clean up after pets, do whatever else adults do, and then practice. So frustrating not being able to make progress like I want due to the other constraints of life and being an adult.
I havnt scheduled my second lesson yet. I forgot to mention the whole cello thing to the wife. So thats about $150 a month in expenses that I committed to. A wise man told me "your not single anymore you gotta discuss this stuff before spending that kind of money." So we need to work out a budget before committing to more lessons. Maybe due to the amount of time I have to practice 2 lessons a month would be better anyway.
Practice went well tonight. Im still struggling with a death grip on the bow causing my thumb to fall off. Maybe a quarter of the time the sounds the bow makes doesnt sound like a loose fanbelt. Really looking forward to my next lesson to find out what Im doing wrong.
I havnt scheduled my second lesson yet. I forgot to mention the whole cello thing to the wife. So thats about $150 a month in expenses that I committed to. A wise man told me "your not single anymore you gotta discuss this stuff before spending that kind of money." So we need to work out a budget before committing to more lessons. Maybe due to the amount of time I have to practice 2 lessons a month would be better anyway.
Practice went well tonight. Im still struggling with a death grip on the bow causing my thumb to fall off. Maybe a quarter of the time the sounds the bow makes doesnt sound like a loose fanbelt. Really looking forward to my next lesson to find out what Im doing wrong.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
First!
So here's my blog regarding my latest hobby/obsession which is the cello. Before last Saturday, February 19 2011, I couldn't spell cello and now I can play 7 notes on one. I plan to share my success and struggles here, mostly for my own benefit. It is encouraging to remember how far we've come. Also, I eventually want to connect with other musicians in the area.
Last Saturday was my first lesson with Tim Anderson, a professional cellist in the Baltimore area. He is very encouraging. We covered everything from how to transport the thing, how to take it out of the case, hold it, tune it, maintain it and eventually play it. We did get some playing in. In addition to the 4 open strings the first 3 notes with the left hand. I've had 2 practice sessions on my own so far. I must not be holding the bow right because the muscle that connects to my thumb is aching today. I get frustrated when I want to hurry up and get to playing "real" music. Like yesterday I was practicing the same freakin' exercise for 20 minutes and still couldn't get it right. I was successful in playing "Mary had a Little Lamb". I was reading another blog by a guy who had played blues guitar for more than 20 years and decided to learn the cello. He said it was humbling to struggle through "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" on the cello after playing with professional musicians on the guitar.
Hopefully I'll get to practice some tonight. Read a good blog post from some instructors talking about how to hold the bow. I know I need help with that as after playing for 10 minutes my hand aches so I must be doing it wrong.
Last Saturday was my first lesson with Tim Anderson, a professional cellist in the Baltimore area. He is very encouraging. We covered everything from how to transport the thing, how to take it out of the case, hold it, tune it, maintain it and eventually play it. We did get some playing in. In addition to the 4 open strings the first 3 notes with the left hand. I've had 2 practice sessions on my own so far. I must not be holding the bow right because the muscle that connects to my thumb is aching today. I get frustrated when I want to hurry up and get to playing "real" music. Like yesterday I was practicing the same freakin' exercise for 20 minutes and still couldn't get it right. I was successful in playing "Mary had a Little Lamb". I was reading another blog by a guy who had played blues guitar for more than 20 years and decided to learn the cello. He said it was humbling to struggle through "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" on the cello after playing with professional musicians on the guitar.
Hopefully I'll get to practice some tonight. Read a good blog post from some instructors talking about how to hold the bow. I know I need help with that as after playing for 10 minutes my hand aches so I must be doing it wrong.
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