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.