bolstering your shift practice, part 2
So last post we talked about getting a feel for the distance the arm travels to put the hand in the right place for an accurate shift. Today is all about the mechanics involved and a bit of the mental…
Emily Wright
bolstering your shift practice, part 1
There are only a handful of reasons we miss shifts: no clear idea of the note’s physical location on the fingerboard technique is inconsistent or maladaptive cannot hear the interval between the first and second note Any one of these…
WHEEL! OF! PRACTICE!
Just a fun randomizer for those times when you know you need to practice but then fall into a well of ponderous ennui. [advanced_iframe securitykey=”a603d5b9c02c6917edfc85ab48202ee80258aaea” src=”<iframe src=”http://wheeldecide.com/e.php?c1=long+tones&c2=sight+reading+&c3=half+speed+repertoire+run+through+with+metronome&c4=orchestral+excerpts&c5=listening+along+with+the+score&c6=record+yourself+and+listen+back&c7=one+measure+of+a+Bach+Prelude+50+times&c8=anything+but+Popper&c9=cat%2Fbaby+goat+videos&c10=left+hand+tuner+work&c11=go+back+to+an+old+piece+and+apply+new+technical+adjustments+&c12=all+12+major+scales%2C+slurring+2&c13=time+to+map+out+shifts+in+that+tricky+passage+you%27ve+been+avoiding&c14=audiation%2Fvisualizing+for+phrasing+and+musicality&c15=get+out+the+Grout%3A+research+the+historical+context+of+the+piece+you%27re+working+on&c16=mirror+practice%3A+where+should+the+bow+be+to+get+the+sound+you%27re+after%3F+&c17=Schroeder+mix-up-+add+dotted+rhythms%2C+add+or+remove+slurs%2C+or+play+notes+in+groups&col=light&t=cello+practice+randomizer&time=5″ width=”500″ height=”500″ scrolling=”no” frameborder=”0″></iframe>” width=”100%” height=”600″]
everything old is new again
Well hello! Yes, it’s been a while- I’m supposed to be up to my ears in grapes, and organic chemistry, but fate has had other things in mind these past few months. I had an unexpected reaction…
botox diary, part 2
It’s been just over two weeks since the injections, and as expected, I’m in a whole lotta pain. It’s like plate tectonics: one thing has moved, and the other parts are absolutely freaking out. It’s unpleasant nostalgia, as this is…
botox diary, part 1
United Healthcare waited until I had to resign (or was fired from) every cello position before approving the Botox injections. I now know it’s a common tactic- an insurance company will try to wait and obfuscate until someone who needs…
plowing the fields
One of my students is really in the thick of things. She’s working on the Swan AND the Sarabande from the 3rd Suite. Like many who came before her, the Swan is this wonderful elixir: it challenges and comforts, it’s…
wee update
There hasn’t been much cello-y news until now. Since my last post, I’ve been seen by an amazing physical therapist who works with a bunch of the NHL guys. He did some manual decompression of my neck and back, and…
bottoms up
I’d fallen into bad habits over the past 2 or 3 years: I used to be an ardent red wine drinker, but found so many syrupy/cloying/medicinal notes in the Malbecs, Cabs, and Pinots that were in my (modest) price range…
A little holiday cheer
I’m pretty proud of these girls, throwing together some not exactly simple pieces in about 3 weeks’ time. We could have used another month to get used to new cellos (!), agree on bowings, and make it perfect, but you…