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Cellover
Registered User
Posts: 1
(8/21/01 9:37:17 am)
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Pre-beginner's
exercises
Hello,
I am 27 and will be starting my first cello class in
January 2002 (my first music reading class begins in 2 weeks). I am
very much looking forward to it and am really anxious to start
playing the cello. In other words: I can't wait! :-)
Now, I
was wondering if there are already some exercises I could be doing
in the meantime to get a head start on the actual cello learning.
Can anyone recommend any such exercises (e.g. finger exercises,
right/left hand independence exercises, ...). Any tips are
welcome!
Thanks a lot in advance!
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sbwaters
Registered User
Posts: 11
(8/21/01 3:21:30 pm)
Reply
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Re:
Pre-beginner's exercises
First exercise:
* Don't wait until January 2002.
Second
Exercise:
* Find an instructor who can casually help you on a
weekly basis for now and until formal lessons start.
Third
Exercise:
* Start playing anything you like right
now.
Gosh. I started (at age 53) on Suzuki Book II, III and,
shortly thereafter, Bach's Cello Suite #1 Prelude.
Wished
I'd started with an instructor months earlier. Would have avoided
bad some habits.
Fourth Exercise:
* Play for
fun!
regards/sbw
Edited by: sbwaters
at: 8/21/01 3:24:00 pm
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sbwaters
Registered User
Posts: 12
(8/21/01 3:22:41 pm)
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Re:
Pre-beginner's exercises
Never mind this reply. I tripped over my shoelaces editing. Sorry.
Edited by: sbwaters
at: 8/21/01 3:25:33 pm
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Cellover
Registered User
Posts: 2
(8/23/01 7:08:11 am)
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Re:
Pre-beginner's exercises
Thanks for your reply. I think you misunderstood my question,
though. I have never played the cello before, so it would be a bit
difficult to start playing whatever I like. ;-) I can only rent the
instrument from the music academy once I have attended the first
semester of the music reading classes.
I wanted to know if
you are doing some exercises to keep your fingers supple or so when
you cannot actually practise on the cello itself. Or would listening
exercises give me an advantage once I do start learning how to play
the cello? Anything which you think is useful is
welcome!
Thanks again.
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ashley
Registered User
Posts: 57
(8/23/01 1:40:45 pm)
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Re:
Pre-beginner's exercises
Hi Cellover!
Okay, I don't have any real big special great
wonderful advice or anything. But your post did remind me of a few
exercises that I've tried before...
These exercises are RH
exercises that hopefully will help with your bow grip. The first
exercise is to place your fingertips on a table-top (as if you were
playing the piano... or typing on a keyboard!). Then collapse your
knuckles, then push back up again. Keep your fingertips firmly
rooted on the surface, but let your knuckles and palm drop. It's
really hard to explain! But it basically looks like push-ups for the
hand. Just go up and down as much as you want and try to get that
feel. This should get you used to that motion (which you will be
using).
The other exercise for the RH is probably going to be
even harder to explain. But here goes...
Hold a pencil (or,
ideally, your bow, which I understand from your post you don't have
yet!) with your fingertips spread evenly apart (make it look like
your holding a bow). Hold it vertically or horizontally. I guess it
doens't really matter. Then, "climb" up and down the stick. This is
why you might need something longer than a pencil!!! Anyways, using
only your fingertips, try to move up and down the stick. So start at
the base and "climb" or "walk" your way to the tip and then back
down to the base again. Use only your fingertips! No grabbing the
stick or sliding up and down! This will hopefully help you with
coordination.
As far as RH/LH independence, I remember a post
from long ago that Paul Tseng wrote about some exercises for this.
Try writing numbers (or letters) with both hands at the same time.
Only, when you write a number with the RH, write a different number
with the LH. Basically, just try writing DIFFERENT things with both
hands at once. I've never tried it before for an extended period of
time, so I can't vouch for it. But if it doesn't work, blame
Paul!
Anyways, I hope these exercises can be helpful to you.
Actually, I hope you can at least understand them! It's really hard
to explain this stuff without being there in person! But good luck
anyway!!!!
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Cellover
Registered User
Posts: 3
(8/24/01 2:09:08 am)
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Re:
Pre-beginner's exercises
Thanks very much, Ashley. This is exactly the type of exercises I
was looking for. I do understand your explanations and I am sure it
will be fun trying them out! :-)
Thanks again!
Cellover
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karen83
Registered User
Posts: 104
(8/24/01 8:22:02 am)
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recordings
I'd also add that you could expose yourself to the instrument more
by listening to anything you can. Jacqueline DuPre, Rostropovich,
and Yo Yo Ma are some great cellists that you can start with.
Karen 
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