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booeyschewy
Registered User
Posts: 1
(6/27/01 7:02:10 pm)
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questions about
buying a cello, cello playing, and etc
Hi, I am sure this is an old thread but I am a bit different so
here goes. I am a 19year old german philosophy student at Reed. I
have never actually learned an acoustic instrument formally though I
have toyed with many. I have actively composed, performing, built,
etc electronic instruments for some 5 years now. So in otherwords my
experience lies greatly in experimental and "minimalist" or
"postmodern" composition. I have some basic music theory behind me,
but as I have said I had no instrument to use it on. I picked up the
cello last year for a semester in part from the looming and growling
basses of Wagner and some contemporary works. I quit because I
couldn't afford the rentals, I thought I lacked the time (as if I
knew what not having time was as a freshman), and was experiencing
back pains etc. Well things have changed. I am re-evaluating a lot
of aesthetic ideas I had previously, and I have realised how truly
impoverished I have been by lacking an acoustic instrument. I have
soem money to spend and I would like to invest in our dark friend.
All I have found, using evil-bay, is bad bright orange chinese mass
produced cellos or the whole 3000-thats funny price range. Here are
my questions.
Should I buy a cello now? I hate the idea of
rental in general as it seems to be a waste of funds. If I should,
where is the place to find a mid level cello? I don't want something
that is worthless but I am an utter beginner.
Also does the
discomfort go away? I have lower back pains in general, so the cello
was seriously hurting me after long sessions. Other than physical
discomfort I was really sort of let down by practising in general.
Coming from an electronic composition backround, I am using to be
able to learn new technologies quickly and write whenever,
experimenting as I go. I like experimentation, but practising often
seemed mechanical and dreary. Is there a way to balance? I have
heard it takes a very long time to get good enough to be truly
expressive, so what do you do in the meantime? I am just a little
scared I guess to go from writing to practising. To start again at
such a late age puts me at a disadvantage, not that I want to be a
part of the whole playing since I was 3 hoch Kunstwerk orchestra
paradigm anyway, but I don't want to remain an eternal novice (hows
that for a picture of hell, practising scales never learning a
piece)
Any help is appreciated, Todd
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drcello
Registered User
Posts: 453
(6/27/01 9:02:05 pm)
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pain
You should not experience debilitating pain from playing the cello.
However, I believe all cellists experience some degree of pain. For
example, fingers and side of thumb when learning thumb position.
Your right thumb is bound to hurt after bowing your cello for an
extended practice time. And if you sit for a three hour rehearsal
and don't get back pains you must be superman. So, yes, there will
always be some pain. But if it is truly great pain, you need some
coaching, cause you must be doing something wrong.
Marshall C. St. John
drcello@vei.net
Wayside Presbyterian Church
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rexmeow
Registered User
Posts: 17
(6/27/01 10:42:30 pm)
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Re: questions
about buying a cello, cello playing, and etc
19 is not an old age, one is never to old to learn. Expression
comes from one's self, I've always considered myself expressive on
the various instruments I play. I've played for many years on
violin/piano, but I started alot later than you on cello and taught
myself, based on the musical knowledge I already had.Exercises and
scales will give you a good background to eventually learning those
cello pieces, I do those sometimes. Sometimes I'll warm up with
Bach's Goldberg variations or some other exercise like pieces if I
don't feel like doing scales or regular exercises.Theres lots to
experiment with on the cello,I go to a music library here and have
checked out lots of pieces and copied them so I have lots to keep me
interested. If I get tired of practicing a piece, I'll grab a new
piece and dabble a little bit to keep from getting bored. BUt it
takes practice to get you at a good level, but you have to start
from the basics first. Buying vs. Renting? If you plan on sticking
to the cello for a long time, buy.Do you have music stores there
that have used cellos to buy? Or you could try out various cellos in
a certain price range, I have an italian cello which I love, based
on the Montag. model.Some stores also have rent to buy
programs.Pain: try doing ab exercises, having strong stomach muscles
support your back.I work out alot on my abs because I bike and
skate(skating requires lots of bent/tucked positions from your back)
alot.So I don't have back pains when I play.How about pushups/dips
and weightlifting? I have some pain in my left hand and legs
sometimes if I practice a long while, so I do take breaks and
stretch. BUt I had some bad mountain bike injuries on my left
hand,wrists, and legs, so thats why I still have some pain
sometimes. Thats why I road bike and skate more so I can keep
playing my cello and keep injury free, but I still love those trails
but stick to easier ones now.Yoga is really good,improves your
flexibility. There are some good stretching exer. for your back.I do
exercises for my hands with the chinese baoding balls, that helps
me.Well, I hope this helped a little. Good luck. Bon nuit.
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ruthann
Registered User
Posts: 511
(6/28/01 1:22:44 pm)
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Re: questions
about buying a cello, cello playing, and etc
Check out Victor Sazer's book, the title is something like "New
Directions in Celoo Playing." He does an excellant job addressing
the issue of pain.
cello_suttonr@hotmail.com |
booeyschewy
Registered User
Posts: 2
(6/28/01 2:19:32 pm)
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thanks and one
more question
Thanks everyone  You were all
very helpful. One last thing, if I do decide to purchase a cello
what should I know? Is there a site covering that? I know it gets
complicated wityh what sort of wood, what year, what nationality
etc.
by the way is paying under 1000$ realistic for a decent
cello?
Thanks, todd
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Bobbie
Registered User
Posts: 499
(6/28/01 3:02:48 pm)
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Re: thanks and
one more question
Try http://www.cellos2go.com/
There
is good information there about what to look for in a cello, whether
renting or buying.
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