As a teacher I always emphasize the importance of knowing your scales. Too often there is so much concern over learning the repertoire that a lot students only gloss over knowing anything about scales. Even beginner cello players can learn to play scales. Remember learning scales may be not as exciting as a song, but it will really show you where notes are on your cello and help you become more familiar with the fingerboard geography. In this video I…
It has been a bit of time but I have been working on getting more Youtube videos out to you on tips and tools to help you learn how to play your favorite songs on the cello. This week I just released a video with tips on how to play the song A Million Dreams from the movie The Greatest Showman. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTW6vdl8K6c I just love movie music, it really adds to the mood and feeling of what you are watching.…
Having a good technical foundation will definitely help you when you are learning the cello! If there is one important foundational skill to remember about playing the cello it is to keep the thumb of your left hand under your middle finger AT ALL times. (Think “C” for cello, making a c shape with your hand where the thumb is in the proper location.) This would also include if you are stretching, shifting, staying in closed position, and even if…
Do you ever get to a gig and think, "Oh man if only I had thought to bring one of those!" It is getting to that season where gigs are abundant! I think it is essential that every musician have a few things on hand so that no matter where you happen to be gigging you are ready to go. This goes beyond the obvious of rosin, music, and all the basic gear you would normally need at a gig.…
Halloween is coming up fast this year! What is your favorite part about this holiday? For me, it is the candy (twix!)~ I'm too much of a scaredy-cat to enjoy most of the scary things of Halloween :) . In this video, I talk about how to make some spooky sounds on the cello. Perhaps you can even create your own scary soundtrack for yourself! I talk about: tremolo, ponticello, glissandos, Bartok pizz, using the body of the cello, col legno,…
Are you learning the Franchomme Caprice No 3? (I refer to it as an etude, but I suppose the official term is caprice :) ) My latest Youtube video covers all the tips you need to help you master this etude. This would be really helpful to those who are opting to take the All-Region or All-State audition since this is one of the etudes on the list. (The other one is Popper 16, which I also have a video on). If…
Vibrato is an important skill to learn and to start using in your music making process. But it is important to also know when NOT to use vibrato. Remember that vibrato is used to enhance the music and not as a crutch for things such as finding your intonation or as a default addition to everything. You eventually want to expand your musical "toolbox" to be able to use vibrato at different speeds, intensities, and basically increase your control. In…
In this new video I give you practice tips on how to play Popper Etude #16 successfully. Popper etudes can be a challenge but with the right mindset and paying attention to details you can master this Popper etude. Remember it is often the little things that will set you apart from other cello players playing the same thing. There is a reason Popper is such a standard in the cello repertoire, but just keep practicing and you will get…
It is crazy to believe how fast the summer has flown by. Now that it is back to school season I am talking about a few tips and tools that will help make your school year with music run smoothly. If there are any other things that I have missed be sure to let me know! Now if only the TX heat would go away so it feels like a proper fall! Remember the best preparation often yields the best…
This post contains an affiliate link. Click here for the full disclosure Here is my newest video on how to play Delicate by Taylor Swift on the cello. You can grab the sheet music here:http://bit.ly/2v7Y0vW There are a few skills that are good to know to play this song. However, if you don't you can easily learn them and then get going on this song! Last week I shot the cover video for the song to show "how does it go"…