Lesson 12 - Do not over-practise

Today will be the end of the 3rd month since I began cello lessons, making it a total of 12 lessons so far.

It seems rather long ago, mostly due to the slow progres that I feel I have achieved. I am trying to squeeze in an hour practise everyday but it's challenging when you have other obligations like a job or two. Still, my tutor, Deryn, says I should not over-practise as it can lead to related injuries which she has been at the butt end of. There should be a mini break for every 10 to 15 minutes of playing. This includes stretching (tai chi techniques) or just walking away and around the room. I should be able to follow this through rather easily unless, of course, I forget :}


Deryn demonstrated the importance of having constant contact of the bow on the string via sautille bowing from the 2nd Movement of the *Elgar Concerto.

It blew me away hearing that so up close in person, having only listened/watched the concerto on youtube less than a few hundred times. What a powerful piece and what a difference it makes if you were not in full control of that constant contact. The resulting effect being this really choppy sound that has no "musical merit" whatsoever.

I am to practise the **Rigaudon by Purcell as an ongoing thing as it incorporates everything I've learnt thus far - staccato, slurs, retakes and uneven bowing (!).

In addition to that, I am to learn another Rigaudon by Rameau by next week. This focuses more on the left hand technique and quavers which I am looking forward to. It should also strengthen my right hand in terms of fluid motion.

Deryn has closed the chapter on the ***Tchaikovsky Chanson Russe as I have learned all I can from the piece. I am still unsatisfied with the piece as I have yet to play it in the full gusto that it demands. Something about still feeling unsure of my bowing technique and an unestablished relationship with my cello comes to mind. Deryn says this will come together much later, the more I practise and "get to know" my cello.

Overall, another good session and I have learnt a great deal about my approach and how best to approach a certain problem/situation.


* Listen to a couple of my preferred interpretations of the Elgar Cello Concerto:
Jacqueline Du Pre
Paul Tortelier

** From Violoncello Music for Beginners.
*** From Time Pieces for Cello - Volume 1.