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Ok, I've finally gone and done it! I bought a cheap chinese electric cello, have had it for a week, and here's a link to my first video.
I must say I find the cello much easier to learn after a bit of experience with violin. But even with my big cumbersome hands and fat fingers, it's still a stretch.
I actually spent the first 2 days setting up and tuning, so practice has been limited.
The funny part is that I've watched the video and seem to have the bowing straight. I still can't do that with violin ... ROFL ... go figure!
If you think you can, or you think you can't, you're probably right.
hi, Robyn,
Way to go!! I tried cello, once, too, on a 1/4 size, though:)
Any way, back to your video. your bowing does look very straight, and your intonation is great! however, I can't see your left elbow. My daughter's orchestra director, whose mom and son are cellists, said, your left elbow should be up, not tuck into your body. The other thing I notice is your bow hold is a violin bow hold. My observation about cellist bow hold is cellists don't rest their pinky on the bow, all four fingers are on the side, with pinky on the frog eye, and the thumb against the third (ring) finger.
Keep up your great work!
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Thanks pky, I didn't know that bow hold. I'm not sure my elbow is tucked in exactly, it's too cumbersome to play like that, but maybe it needs to stick out more.
I still can't play for long, my right arm begins to ache very quickly, so I'm working on that.
Any critique is warmly welcomed.
If you think you can, or you think you can't, you're probably right.
A few weeks ago in the string section of our music store I took a cello into the practice room and just played... love the sound!
But one thing at a time. Perhaps once I get quite a bit better on my violin.... 
Good done, Robyn. You sound nice!
I love cello too! I tried it once in the shop, but it was 1/2 size. I'd like to play cello, but they're too expensive in Russia =/ Though violin wiil be in a priority anyway, LOL!
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Wow after only a week of practice, I'm impressed.
Opportunity is often missed because it wears suspenders and looks like hard work.
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Just from hearing you playing, I believe you might want to make sure you are holding the bow right.
Enjoy your cello. I would like to take a stab at it sometime.
Duane
"Violin is one of the joys of my life."
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Thanks guys ... I've tried the bow hold pky suggested, and I don't feel enough control without my pinkie pressing on the tip of the frog. Is it just me? The bow seems to slide away from the 'highway' too easily.
Naska, there are lots of cheap Chinese ones, not top quality, but for a beginner the price is right.
I absolutely love the sound, even bowing open strings. It takes a lot more pressure to stop the strings, but as I said, I'm only a week into it, and I'm shifting and starting vibrato as well. I can't do either on violin after 2 years.
Reading bass clef is a bit of a challenge, I thought I had it with piano scores in both clefs, but by itself I keep reading the notes wrong.
Practice ... practice ... practice ...
If you think you can, or you think you can't, you're probably right.
Robyn, you will probably have to use the whole pinky to press down or balance the bow, but using the middle part of you pinky, watch yo yo ma in this video clip.
Robyn, here the best clip I could get from the video clip I posted in my last post about bow hold. Notice that, his pinky does not stay on the frog all the time, sometimes his pinky rest on top of the stick at the middle section (second knuckle?) of his pinky.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?f.....M9DPfp7-Ck
Also, I observed that yo yo ma did not lift his elbow up all the time, when he is playing on first position up to the neck (don't know, may be fifth position?) on A string, his elbow are lower, otherwise, most of the time his elbow are parallel to the floor.
I sure envy you are doing it and doing it so well. Are you going to switch instrument now? You inspired me to try it again, maybe my fellow violinist's husband will let me play on his full size cello (I think it is too big for me, I really like the 1/4 size).
Like Wed-Med said, cello is expensive! My guess is of the similar quality, a cello is three to five times more expensive than a violin. In my daughter's orchestra group, there are three other girls playing cello, one mom told me she bought her daughter a used one, a quarter size and it's $600; then when she told me the other girl's cost $1500 and they bought it at half price, you should have seen my jaw dropped and my eyes popped! Guess what?! My daughter told me if she quit violin, she was going to pick up cello! I better start studying about cello before she quits and learn how to make one. ha ha ha
Robyn.fnq said
....
Naska, there are lots of cheap Chinese ones, not top quality, but for a beginner the price is right.
.....
That's exactly what i would like to buy someday. No cheap chinesse cellos in our town =(. I'm trying now to find some around in Russia - not wide range of choise though (and according to the reviews - not good ones. and by "good" i mean ones that at least have everything on places) =) But in the last 6 months it's getting better. So i hope someday i'll get one XD
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Thanks again pky, I absolutely love to watch him play, so elegant!
You're right, I've also watched tutorials on youtube which show bow hold, it just doesn't seem well balanced yet. I will work on this bow hold. I've already tried to remind myself to keep my left elbow up. Like learning violin, so many things to remember all at once .... keep practising!
No, I have no intention of giving up efforts to play violin well. I can't practise both of them in the same session, because bow hold and fingering is so different. My brain freezes and I make awful sounds! I just need to make time in my day for regular sessions dedicated to each instrument (and also piano).
Naska, I bought mine on ebay, some very cheap ones there, but I think there are limitations to imports in Russia, lots of sellers don't deliver there, I don't know why. But they are very cheap. Mine cost AU360, but it's electric and very very heavy.
If you think you can, or you think you can't, you're probably right.
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