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#1 2011-09-14 19:09:31

samurai768
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Registered: 2009-07-21
Posts: 1000+

Help With My Cello?

I have to play a two octave D-Major scale and the first line of 2 etudes for a seating test tomorrow. It's really difficult, but I have the D-Major and first etude down. The second etude... yeesh http://i56.tinypic.com/29qmbld.png

Does anyone have any helpful practice strategies? It's quite fast, and the notes seem to have almost no pattern at all http://i53.tinypic.com/2w6f6s6.png I'm pretty sure I'll get first chair, but only because no else is planning on practicing, and I want to get an actual good grade http://i56.tinypic.com/2emojo3.png

Thank you!

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#2 2011-09-14 19:12:40

GravityCatisalie
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Registered: 2010-04-30
Posts: 1000+

Re: Help With My Cello?

I remember seat placements.
I messed up on everything D:
I blame it on my teacher for saying I just need to play the first two measures instead of the whole piece on the sight reading part -.-

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#3 2011-09-14 19:37:00

samurai768
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Registered: 2009-07-21
Posts: 1000+

Re: Help With My Cello?

GravityCatisalie wrote:

I remember seat placements.
I messed up on everything D:
I blame it on my teacher for saying I just need to play the first two measures instead of the whole piece on the sight reading part -.-

That sounds awful  sad  My teacher "forgot" to tell us that we have to play the first line of the second etude until yesterday, and now I have to learn that, write a five paragraph essay for English, finish 60 problems for algebra, and my dad probably wants to watch a movie later xD Oh well. I bet it will all work out  smile

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#4 2011-09-14 20:40:57

scmb1
Scratch Team
Registered: 2009-03-19
Posts: 1000+

Re: Help With My Cello?

Well, I play trombone so it might not translate exactly, but my instructor told me a pretty good technique for speeding up straight 8th or 16th note runs. I'll just tell you the 8th note version for simplicity but the 16th note version is the pretty much the same.

First, play the run substituting all of the eighth notes by dotted eight notes and then sixteen notes. Then do it again the opposite way (16th first). It sounds weird but it helps. Then try the original rhythms and you should be able to play it faster.


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#5 2011-09-14 20:42:56

Aidan
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Registered: 2007-06-15
Posts: 1000+

Re: Help With My Cello?

I used to play cello back in Grade school, 5 years ago, but that sounds Greek to me.

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#6 2011-09-14 20:44:44

PlutoIsHades
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Registered: 2010-10-18
Posts: 1000+

Re: Help With My Cello?

Start playing very slowly.  I'm a cellist too, I know how annoying pieces can be.  Play a few measures at a time, and work through it.  Play them over and over until you've got it smooth.  Then move on.  Then play the whole bit several times until you've got it down pat.


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#7 2011-09-14 21:25:55

technoguyx
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Registered: 2008-10-18
Posts: 1000+

Re: Help With My Cello?

If it's a scale it must obviously have a pattern, play it slowly (to a metronome, perhaps?) and everytime you play it perfectly, increase the speed a little. You'll eventually get used to it.

I'm a self-taught guitarist so I'm not sure if that applies to a classically trained (I assume) cellist, but it should :B


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#8 2011-09-17 14:00:28

samurai768
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Registered: 2009-07-21
Posts: 1000+

Re: Help With My Cello?

technoguyx wrote:

If it's a scale it must obviously have a pattern, play it slowly (to a metronome, perhaps?)

The part that I'm having trouble with is actually an etude  tongue  I'm starting to get it now, though  smile

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#9 2011-09-28 19:34:43

samurai768
Scratcher
Registered: 2009-07-21
Posts: 1000+

Re: Help With My Cello?

Bump. I aced the test but now I have a larger problem.


I have to play the whole thing for an audition on Saturday http://i56.tinypic.com/jg2xkh.png

If any of you are advanced players please help http://i52.tinypic.com/igahx2.png

So, the part I'm having trouble on is a slurred harmonic D, 4th finger C, 1st finger a, then I shift to F-sharp. Any useful advice?

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#10 2011-09-28 20:13:44

PlutoIsHades
Scratcher
Registered: 2010-10-18
Posts: 1000+

Re: Help With My Cello?

Take it slowly.  One note at a time.   Practice maybe two notes over and over until you've got it right.  Then add the next note.  Etc. 

Anyway, good luck with your audition!


Minecraft, Redwall, and Cyberchase fan, and PROUD.

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