Update on my Cello Practice Issues

I have bee working diligently that minuet I have mentioned in other posts. I watched a video by one of my favorites to learn from, Cellopedia. He plays these songs at a slow tempo.

With the slow tempo I can pick out timing and rhythm patterns, and little bowing nuances. This re-viewing of this video this morning helped a lot.

I noticed how there are breaks in the bowing after slurs and before the next non-slurred note. Not a pause, just a ever so slight break as the bow changes direction.

I also noted how some of the notes on the C string, and a few on G string, are so of slightly accented, and maybe held just a tad, ever so slight, longer. My instructor told me about an A on the G string is held longer before the D on the A string at one point. He said that that happens a periodically with Bach, probably other composers too, but this is a Bach piece. I noticed the Cellopedia does this in other spots, but not as long as is done in that one spot with that A on the G string.

I tried doing this in my practice session just now. I followed along with my sheet music with the Cellopedia video and made little pencil marks where he had the ever so slight breaks at bow changes, and where he kind of “separated” those low notes, kind of accented them without making them loud.

It made it a lot better, it is still needing work, it still does not make a whole lot of sense medically, no matter who plays it, but it is easier to play this way. It actually helped me memorize it a little better. Memorizing helps me prepare for the next note, I still look at the sheet music.

I also figured out the fingering for the triad in three octaves from a Klengel book I was having issues with. It was a lightbulb moment. LOL

Thanks for all the comments and encouragement. Talking it through helps