Lesson 28 - Stretches

Today's much overdue and mightily anticipated lesson started with forward stretches - a technique I have not at all spent time on sadly. This however did drive home the fact that my left hand position needed a considerable amount of work and discipline. I do need to spend more time practising in front of the mirror and addressing the 'wrist' issues that keep cropping up, pardon the pun. I jokingly suggested that perhaps I should start playing the cello as a robot with limited joint movement to which Deryn remarked that the experiment might prompt the left wrist to not be so obvious. It is taking some time for the muscle memory to unlearn and reprogramme to move as an entire unit. Although I will say that the right arm is getting better and I hardly feel tension when I pay attention during playing.

From here, we moved on to Feuillard's 60 Etudes. I'm still struggling with getting a relaxed fingering position, especially with the second and third finger to its abnormal length but Deryn says I just need to keep a squared shape, remember to relax and in time, once the muscle memory clicks, it should all make sense. Also that once I learn the entire scope of the fingerboard and other positions, I will have the option of using whichever fingering feels most comfortable. My practise routine for the following week will include learning this exercise well and truly relaxed enough infront of the mirror that any mistakes be addressed immediately when it happens.

Finally we touched on all the movements of Concert by Couperin.