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Any Cellists Out There?
Looking for fellow cellists to share information: tuners, strings, lesson issues, etc
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Mouse
March 3, 2019 - 2:36 pm
Member Since: December 26, 2018
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Are there any cellists here? I am looking for a forum that has active cello conversations. This is great for violin, and I love it. Now that I have switched back to cello, will have violin back later, I find the cello thread very empty. I just tried Googling for an active cello forum, but did not find any that are actually active. No new posts since 3 or more years ago, on all the ones I found.

So, if you play cello, or have cello knowledge, please join in here. It would be so helpful. 

I will be posting a couple questions soon, and hopefully, will get some input.

Thank you. 

 

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
March 4, 2019 - 4:44 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429

Let's just make this one great for cello. 😜

I was going to suggest that you go to the cello section but looks like you've been doing that as well. I am of the thought that, "If you build it, they will come"....
Some of you undoubtedly know where that line comes from. :)

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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Mouse
March 4, 2019 - 5:16 pm
Member Since: December 26, 2018
Forum Posts: 5305
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@Fiddlerman 

I am hoping to get the cello section going here. beg There has to be cellists or violinist cellist combos that visit here. It would be great to have some posters come. I will just keep plugging along and post cello questions and comments. Maybe a newbie cellist will pop in and see an active cello section. 

When I get better, maybe I can find an extremely short song to do and post it here. Oh, that might drive them away! bikerIt was difficult to break my Lullaby into three clips for the Critique section. I couldn’t break  a song into clips that  I did on my violin for my granddaughter to also post in the Share a Performance section. Whatever the non-critique section is called. It wasn’t long, but I got it down to four short clips and it still said the videos were too long, so I stopped trying. Maybe, I will be able to do a cello one here, if I can find an extemely short one. I think I had those sections of the second video down to 25 seconds each and it still said they were over the 2 meg or whatever limit it is. I recorded in low resolution, too. It was weird. 

Anyway, maybe more cellists will come. I appreciate you having this section. I could not find one active cello forum. Now, cellos are beautiful sounding instruments. Well, mine has that ability, someday.

Thinking of selling one locally, actually. Not interested in doing any packaging and shipping. Just thinking. I have three.

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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AndrewH
Sacramento, California
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March 4, 2019 - 9:04 pm
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There's a community of adult beginner cellists on YouTube and Instagram, but I don't know of any forums.

(I'm not a cellist, though, so I haven't looked very hard. That said, as a violist, I've noticed that violists mostly seem to glom on to violin forums, including on Facebook.)

I actually find it surprising there aren't more cellists here -- the cello is probably the easiest string instrument to learn as an adult as it doesn't require the contortions needed for violin and viola and isn't as unwieldy as a double bass. It's common in community orchestras for the majority of the cellists to have started as adults while virtually all the violinists and violists started as young children.

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Mouse
March 4, 2019 - 9:41 pm
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@AndrewH  Most of the posts in this section are quite old. Cellists probably did not see much activity and/or get responses and stopped coming. I find the forums helpful, not only for encouragement, but there are a lot of good tips and info to be had, and conversations.

I still do my violin and viola. I love all three. But right now I am taking cello lessons. It would be great to get feedback and experiences from other cello students, especially 64 yr olds students. It is hard to get these old finger joints to make the reach, especially since I am trying to do it the right way now. facepalm The viola seems to be the perfect finger spread for me! LOL But, I love my cellos.

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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intrepidgirl
Bragg Creek, Alberta
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March 4, 2019 - 10:40 pm
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Hello, @Mouse . I purchased a cello through Fiddlerman to followup a really nice violin that I got from his shop. I am currently taking lessons but am a newbie on it. I have found some good videos on you-tube but not so much on live forums, as you noted. I hope we can find an expert or 2 to participate here!

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Mouse
March 5, 2019 - 8:02 am
Member Since: December 26, 2018
Forum Posts: 5305
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@intrepidgirl Thanks for joining into the cello section. You are going to love the cello. I am the reverse. I started cello first and then bought a violin and viola. I stopped cello after three months, it was a three month lease. I loved that cello and hated to give it back but, I was not happy with the available instructor, and to purchase that cello after paying three months of lease, I did not think the student cello was worth that month.

Still loved it and after some terrific adventures not related to cello, my husband got me one for our anniversary. Worked with it on my own for a while and then took lessons from the person we bought the cello from. Got the violin bug, or the violin desire surfaced is better because I have always loved cello/violin/viola. He bought me a violin. Stopped cello lessons and took violin lessons. Continued cello on my own. Due to instructor issues that I won’t get into, but it was the same insructor who was my first cello instructor, I am now back to cello lessons with a brand new college student instructor whi just signed in a little while ago at the music shop. I am doing violin on my own.

That is it in a very big nutshell. I have three cellos: Monte is my first cello, Belle is my pawnshop cello, Ada is my band instrument type music shop purchase. No, I did not spend oodles of money in cellos. Just got really good deals on Belle and Ada and they are the best two of the three. 

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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Heinrich
New Hampshire

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March 6, 2019 - 12:50 pm
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Fellow Cellist here.

A convert from the violin, I purchased the FM Artist Cello and love it. I'm new to it and have been playing since last Fall. A good friend of mine is a Violin teacher and we both decided to enter the world of bass clef.

So far so good. Made it though Suzuki book 1 and just now diving into book two. Second position is coming up. I've been including some simple folk tunes but mostly following the suzuki book repertoire. My son plays violin so we've been looking for some fun simple duets too.

I am currently looking for an instructor as well. Someone to check in once a month to give advice on technique, break bad habits and advise on practice. Otherwise youtube is a pretty amazing tool. I have found two good people to watch.

Drawn to Baroque and Folk (hope to sit in with our local Contra Dance band one day)

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Mouse
March 6, 2019 - 2:09 pm
Member Since: December 26, 2018
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@Heinrich Welcome to the cello section! We really need to get this section hopping to attract cello enthusiasts. I am still playing the violin and viola on my own, but taking cello lessons. I have bad habits, or habits that were not just pointed out as wrong with my first go round of lessons to be exact. Hard to redo. It is like starting over. It’ll happen. Will have my second lesson with this new teacher late this afternoon.

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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intrepidgirl
Bragg Creek, Alberta
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March 16, 2019 - 3:21 pm
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Nice to see so many who are cross-overs! I love both violin and cello. @Mouse, best of luck with your cello learning. I found I definitely need adjustments and to break bad habits on the cello, perhaps being so large there is more room for error. I have finished the first Suzuki book with my teacher, and we have also been using a Piatti book which I find really good. I too am just learning 2nd position. 

Aha, I am thinking we may have more cello contributors to the group projects now. That would be excellent!

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Mouse
March 16, 2019 - 3:43 pm
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So far, so good with my new cello instructor, @intrepidgirl. Keeping my fingers crossed that it continues that way.

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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Leaviathan

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June 23, 2019 - 6:58 pm
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I play cello and violin but I'm a newbie

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Mouse
June 23, 2019 - 11:25 pm
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We are all newbies here! Post away! I wish I was beyond newbie stage, but it is a slow go for this old newbie!

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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Heinrich
New Hampshire

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June 24, 2019 - 12:49 pm
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Hi @Leaviathan welcome!

I'm new to the cello too but feel free to ask anything and share your struggles and triumphs. Very friendly and supportive group here.

Also, noticed your intro post with mention to Cape Cod, I'm up in NH not far away and just left Wellfleet last week from vacation. Lovely area.

One way to find a group or an instructor is to ask around schools with music programs or music stores with a good strings selection. Often times if they don't have someone there that offers lesson, they know who to point you too.

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MrYikes
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June 25, 2019 - 7:52 am
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I had to drop off cello for a bit.  My right thumb was giving me fits.  I tried holding the bow like a bass but that was just wrong.  So I put the cello away for a while.  You are right Cid, there really are no friendly cello sites out there.  Fiddlerman stepped up to the plate when he started these pages.  I hope you will continue causing them to expand.  It's fun seeing all the cello talk.

One of the very easy pieces to learn to play is an old country 3/4 time tune called "Four Walls", very celloey, sad tune using very few different notes.

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Mouse
June 25, 2019 - 8:31 am
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@MrYikes I am very grateful to @Fiddlerman  for this area for cello talk. When I get the bowing on cello down to feeling natural and can get back to my viola, that section will be valuable to me again, too.

Proper bow holds are surely important with these string instruments. I had to stop playing my viola and violin I was trying to figure out because I kept transferring that bow hold to my cello bow hold. They are not the same as cello, either. I did cello before and had the hold down right. I have to relearn it and make it automatic when I pick up the cello bow again. After that, I can add my viola and violin back. I do exercise them, but cannot get serious with them at the moment.

I have issues with my left thumb positioning, too. One of these days I am going to put up a post about it because it is so important. I want it to be accurate and correct. Maybe next week. I am spending a lot of time correcting my left thumb “activity” this week. Yep, I will work on it next week. 

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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intrepidgirl
Bragg Creek, Alberta
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June 27, 2019 - 11:48 pm
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@Mouse I would love to hear about your progress with left thumb activity. I am just in the process of learning vibrato and my left thumb has to be much lighter/not touching even. I start to think about this too much and then my left thumb is winging way out west and nowhere near the neck, which is bad also. Any hints are appreciated.

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Mouse
June 28, 2019 - 11:09 am
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@intrepidgirl 

I am still working on that thumb. It is so hard to correct improper use of it! Ugh! It is just so important.

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

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mgbode

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July 1, 2019 - 2:53 am
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There are some really good Cello resources out there, FM's site is very helpful.  Also, one of my favorites is Jonathan Humphries areas in youtube, web, sound cloud and musescore to name some of his areas he has a presence.  Sarah Joy is another good one, and Gnu Cello has a huge collection of well shot Cello vids as well.  There are many others, these are just a few that came to mind.

Hope this message in a bottle helps someone, 

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bocaholly
Boca Raton, Florida
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July 1, 2019 - 6:26 am
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Hi Mgbode and welcome!

I also enjoy checking out Jonathan Humphries and Sarah Joy. 
Most impressive IMHO is David Finckel whose done a one time series of 100 very short (2-5 minute) YouTubes. 

Mgbode, what's your relationship to cello? Beginner - pro? Somewhere in-between?
My Fiddlerman cello is about two months old so you can figure where I stand :-)

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