| Author |
Subject |
fabcello
Registered
User
(8/26/00 9:15:59 pm)
Reply |
Practicing: Away from the cello
Any Ideas on practicing away from
the cello? For instance, if a person is injured, does not have an
instrument, etc., what other ways are there to practice? I have come
up with, studying the scores, listening to recordings, and some
forms of meditation. Any other ideas? Do any of you ever practice
away from the cello? Many times I find that when I leave and come
back from practice away from the cello, I have improved. Just a
thought...
~Frank~
My
Site
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matthias24
Registered
User
(8/26/00 9:55:55 pm)
Reply |
Re:
Practicing: Away from the cello
I will usually either just study the
music, or if i'm in school and can't get out my music, i practice my
fingerings and pretend that my right arm is the fingerbourd. (and if
that looks too dorky, you can try a pencil. it works too.  only drawback
to the pencil, is that it can only represent one string, whereas the
arm is usually wide enough to practice all four!) just a thought. Im
sure other people here have much better suggestions. I know that
flute players sometimes use a pencil to practice
fingerings.
~ aaron ~
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Cellochick
Registered User
(8/27/00 8:22:12 am)
Reply |
Re:
Practicing: Away from the cello
It's weird. I can visualize playing
the cello, and, with a little concentration, I can actually FEEL
myself playing the music, hearing it of course the way I'd like it
to be played. It helps a lot if you have the piece memorized. And I
agree w/Frank, it does help to "get away from it all" sometimes, get
a fresh perspective, whatever. Another way I practice w/o my cello
is by working on the shape of my left hand by curling it around an
orange or a tennis ball, to get the idea of the kind of a curve I
want in my fingers. I've also recently discovered a way to make my
thumb callous better by rubbing it w/a fork prong. This can be done
anywhere - it's quite portable. I've taken to carrying a plastic
fork in my pocket. Be prepared for some strange looks, though.
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Jim
Nuzzo
Registered
User
(8/27/00 12:35:37 pm)
Reply |
Re:
Practicing: Away from the cello
Any finger exercises that
work?
Jim
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Victor
Sazer
Registered
User
(8/27/00 1:52:11 pm)
Reply |
Practicing: Away from the cello / Visualization
An experiment by psychologist R. A.
Vandell proved that mental practice in throwing darts at a target
improves aim as much as actually throwing the darts.
Visualization techniques and mental practice are being used
more and more by athletes to improve their skills.
Everyone
does a certain amount of mental preparation or practice in all
aspects of life but unlocking its full potential in the learning
process can be can be a great asset for cellists. Needles to say, we
still need to practice!
Try something like this:
1.
Select a passage to practice.
2.
Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths
concentrating only on your breathing to calm your mind and
body.
3. Visualize playing the passage
five times, allowing sufficient time between each sequence to
evaluate what you have done.
4. If you
make a mistake, take the time to correct it mentally and continue
until you visualize playing the passage five times
correctly
5. Now, play the passage on
your instrument.
Do you find this helpful?
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Cellochick
Registered User
(8/29/00 8:20:59 am)
Reply |
What
kind of exercises?
If you mean strength-training, you
can build up the strength of your 4th finger (or any finger, for
that matter - my 4th finger's just a weakling) by setting you hand
on a horizontal surface, thumb flat, the other fingers curved. Lift
up the 4th finger, still curved, and SMASH! bring it down. Repeat,
but don't do too much too soon or you'll end up like
Schumann.
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