...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.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
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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