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.

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.