Now the coronavirus dominates I hear from several students that they will be working from home next week. Of course they also do their work at home 100% but they already indicated that there is more time for the cello in between. To relax the working head.
Did you know that over a week, 5 times 15 minutes of practice is more effective than one time an hour and a half? Let me give you some more tips on how to play the cello in a busy life.
Plan your practice moments in.
Write them in your diary. Ten minutes before that you make a nice pot of tea, put your cello next to your chair, in a place where you can study comfortably. Choose a nice spot. I used to choose the nicest place in my tiny attic because I can’t study where I don’t feel comfortable. Look at the clock and until your scheduled end time you don’t think of everything that still has to be done besides playing the cello.
Play in with a scale
Give yourself a good start; play in with a scale of C or as an advanced player with a scale of D. Not too slow strokes but relaxed and smooth, that’s what your muscle groups like.
Practice difficult passages slowly
I do, and so do my colleagues. Why shouldn’t my students? By practicing slowly in the difficult moments, you give yourself a chance to succeed. You can also hear much better if you play cleanly when you play slower. Slow feels good; enjoy it.
Practice each piece with a goal
Pick new pieces first; play ‘pizzicato’.
When you, as a beginning cellist, still have trouble ironing, it’s best not to iron for a while. Your first ‘cake point’ or point of attention is then to pick your notes, or play pizzicato.
Do not iron your piece until you can pick your piece without slowing down somewhere because it is too difficult. And beginners; help yourself to fingering and note a stroke direction above every first note of the beat.
The last cake point of each piece is…
Now, your first quarter’s probably already over. Maybe you were already half an hour busy anyway because focus makes time fly. Take a short break. Put down your cello, drink a few sips of tea, walk to the window and enjoy the view.
Back to your seat and ready for the second quarter? Start again with a plan. Which pieces, and what are you going to look for?
I hope the coronavirus will soon be over, it frightens people and paralyses daily life. Let’s make the most of it and seek out the warmth of our friend, the cello!
Scarlett
info@celloverkoop.nl | 06 – 1818 9005
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