Not enough practice time.

Finally got round to picking up the 'Cello again today, even if it was only for an hour. Didn't really get much done, except a few scales, and arpeggios to limber me up. I'm having a lot of trouble with the Eb Major scale, and D minor, both two octaves. I know exactly what to do, but as far as intonation is concerned, it's not happening. It's important as well, because the first Bach prelude has a few extensions and troublesome (for me) shifts. Either way I'm still slogging through Bach. My bowing is troubling me as I'm playing every phrase nearly entirely slurred (which is how I like it), but I know this is incorrect. The intonation is fine, but I notice I go ever so slightly out of tune without noticing, and am promptly reminded upon playing an open string. Anyway. It' s late. I gotta be up in 6 hours.

My 'cello barks instead of singing.

Ok, 'Cello time.

Thanks to the guitar practice I've had, I picked 'cello up a lot faster than I thought I would. And my teacher seems to put a little too much faith in me I think. I've been playing for a little over a month now and I can play up to the minor key change in the first Bach prelude, and half of Sonata III, Allegro, from Vivaldi's Cello sonatas. Not well, but in tune (mostly) and in time at least. I like to think that that's good progress. I have one aim in life, and I would love to play the Elgar 'cello concerto, even just the first movement, and all of the G major Bach suite. At least I set my self good targets eh?

My 'Cello, Edward, is a cheap, but handsome beast, who doesn't make very nice sounds when I'm behind the bow. My tone is the one thing I really hate. Practice practice practice.

Hmmn. This is a picture of me. I am drunk. In the picture. Not now. I am Nathan and I like to play 'cello badly sometimes. This blog exists to chart my progress as an adult learner. I started playing guitar about a year ago, and after achieving some proficiency in the instrument, found it boring. Thus, I invested in 'cello lessons! It is an amazingly fun instrument, and as of today I will have been playing for a month.

Yay.