Lesson 145 - Fun with details

Have fun but be detailed.

That's the takeaway from Deryn's teachings lately and something I totally agree with. I mean, note learning is tedious but it has to be done if you want to play a piece. Then there's fingering and bowing which one should experiment with but it's important to settle on which ones. By being consistent, there's a feeling of being in total control during cello playing which should lessen panic attacks and hopefully, increase the fun level!

The next stage after establishing an unwavering solid technique is interpretation; ie. forget everything and focus on the sound you want to create.

This is where listening to different recordings become a part of the learning. Find a particular recording you like and see if you can mimic it. However, this is not about trying to sound like Yo Yo Ma or Jacqueline Du Pre but more about trying to find out how they achieve the sound, the smooth transitions between string crosses, stark dynamics, beautiful vibratos.

During lesson, Deryn told me to play from the diaphragm and immediately, I sat up and focused on a point from my, well, stomach. Everything else was relaxed and sound production became better.



We played the second movement of Beethoven's Cello Sonata together at the recommended tempo with piano accompaniment. It was exciting but I was panicking all over the fingerboard. Things got more relaxed only after gradual increase of speed playing.

And now, playing his Valse Mignonne on the piano. Take it away, Saint Saens!