Long time no post. Again.

Wow, long time since I posted here. Alot of stuff has been happening so I guess I'm justified in neglecting this little cared about piece of blog.

Anyway, first things first!

I have a new cello! And I didn't pay for it.

I was given a cello by the lovely people at the "Benslow instrument Loan scheme". All I know about it is that it's at least a hundred years old, and is insured for £4000! I'm absolutely indebted to them for this and will find someway to donate something, at some point.

I've also just gotten a place to study music at Canterbury Christ Church University, which I'm pretty proud of considering I only picked up the cello a year ago. I'm so happy about how a piece of wood can have such a profound effect on my life.

That's all I really have to say. I'm quite drunk and have just remembered I had this blog! I will promise to update it from now on. (like anybody reads it.)

Peace and Love x x

New post!!!11!

Well it's been awhile!

For the few that have read this blog, (if any), the reason I don't post much is cause so much is happening at once! It's hard to find time sometimes :/ Full time study + part time work, and 'cello practice ;)

Anyway, things have really improved in the time since I last posted. This is my 4th month of cello playing I feel the progress I've made so far is pretty good. I'm most happy with the improvement in tone I've had recently, as since I've started to forget about the left hand and solely concentrate on my right, I've noticed bowing and (strangely) intonation have improved greatly. Nearly every note I is sounding in tune and with a nice tone to back it up. I still have trouble with fast and awkward string crossings, and co-ordinating the two hands, but with any luck these should be ironed out soon.

The biggest problem I face is repertoire. I'm really stuck for interesting pieces of music at my level. I'm a bit bored of playing old folk tunes and songs, I'd rather have some solid music that I could perform.

Anyway, just thought I' should probably post.

Peace out x.

Cello a go go!

On Friday I went 'cello shopping! Not that I have anywhere near enough saved to buy a nice 'cello, I just thought I should see what to expect for my approximated budget (which I'm setting at £2000). So I hopped on the bus to London, and headed over to JP Guivier & Co, probably one of the more famous string dealers in the world. Anyway, I rang the doorbell, and the first thing that happened is I fell in love with the girl who answered (Well not really, but she was hot). After explaining my situation, she led me upstairs ( ;) hehe) and said that I could try any 'cello in the room if I wanted, but she'd also pick a few in my price range. She picked two for me, and left me in there, on my own, to play.

The first 'cello I tried was valued at £2,500, was hand built and was relatively modern. As I drew the shop bow across the strings (the bow had a £250 price tag on it!), I'm pretty certain my jaw dropped and I fell in love for the second time that day. It sounded wonderful, one hundred times better than my stringed piece of wood. Instantly, I was reassured that the frustration with tone I'm currently experiencing is not my fault at all. Anywhere I played, it sounded glorious. So warm and rich, the overtones were fantastic and it resonated so well.

I tried a second 'cello after (carefully) laying this one down, but it was a £1000 cheaper and not nearly as nice sounding. And I had my heart set on the first one I played. They always have 'cellos by that particular luthier in stock (Henri De Lille I think) so I was assured when I have saved, I will be able to buy one. Just for kicks, I tried the £12,000 19th century Dutch Cello sitting in the corner. For some reason it didn't sound as nice as the De Lille I just played, but that was probably just my technique.

:D :D. I can't wait. I seriously hope I have the willpower to save that much. And I'll get to see that girl again. :P


Peace.

Looks like this is going to be a monthly thing.

I really have enjoyed writing what little of this blog there is, I just never remember to do it. Which is a shame 'cause I think in a year or two when I re-read it, it'll be rather interesting.

Anywho.

'cello ahoy! My teacher very kindly lent me her Bach suites, so I've been having a go at the easier ones there. I can so far play Most of the C Major Bouree, And the First G major Menuet. I'm also doing well with the G major Sarabande, which is quite surprising :). I'm also thinking about buying a microphone when I get paid, so I'll get some recordings and/or videos up then.

Also, to anybody that is actually reading this blog, if you know any good classical tunes for the intermediate/begginnerish kind of level, give me a shout. I have a hard time finding interesting cello music at my level, and my local library's sheet music section leaves something to be desired. I bought the sheet music to song of the birds, and can play the first few bars and that's it. Otherwise I need something other than the Bach suites to play.

Peace out, and I'll try and keep this more frequent/interesting.

x.

Long time no postee.

Finally back into the rythm of normal life. Lots of going out and live music and very little 'cello. In the past month, I've managed to go to Glastonbury music festival,which was pretty intense to say the least, and seen Rufus Wainwright on two occasions. My towns annual music festival also took place, and funnily enough, Steven Isserlis (one of Britain's foremost 'cellists) is friendly with my town. So he gave a free masterclass to anybody who bought tickets to his recital. I bought a ticket :D. Watching him play was an eye opening experience, he has a total domination of the 'cello, and the music he is playing. He really gets under the skin of the music and pulls the most out if it. He is also rather exciting to watch (his hair is fantastic!). Apart from being slightly too arrogant (I think he's allowed though), he's quite a nice guy too.

Watch him play Song of the birds here;

http://youtube.com/watch?v=k50emadHTJ4

As for my own 'cello progress, I've manage to improve quite a bit. I'm feeling a lot more confident with my bow now, and I've started to get the tone I desire. I still haven't got any complete pieces under my belt (except a few childish duets by Bella Bartok.) but I'm going to start looking at the easier pieces in the Bach suites later this week, (I feel the G major Prelude is a bit beyond me at the moment). I've also been looking at 'cellos to buy (instead of the cheapish one my teacher gave me).

Hmmnmnmn.

Peace out.

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.