tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4368739163556879673.post5271528437768255645..comments2023-12-16T00:52:13.957-07:00Comments on Cello Brained!: Lesson #59 (Jazz 4/6/2012): ToneUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4368739163556879673.post-9508557963687074022012-04-19T14:19:43.490-07:002012-04-19T14:19:43.490-07:00Hey stranger, it’s been a while! :).
Yeah, I’ll b...Hey stranger, it’s been a while! :).<br /><br />Yeah, I’ll be traveling during the summer and will be away from my cellos for awhile. Just thinking about it makes me sad… poor cellos! <br /><br />It’s so interesting to hear how other teachers present things differently but use the same concepts. You touched on and wrote those points out quite nicely! <br /> <br />As for the ringing, it’s only been recently that I could differentiate a “closed sound” versus an “open sound” and whether ANOTHER cellist’s cello was ringing. I could hear it in my own cello, but never anyone else’s, so it was a very cool experience once I realized that I could hear it! <br /><br />My main issue is with weight and speed at the moment, well…I think mostly weight. <br />I haven’t quite been able to utilize hair amount yet either, since I’m still too busy trying to get my bow to stay on the “correct path!”<br /><br />Unfortunately, I haven’t had time to practice the way I normally do, so my tone and intonation has been way off lately, and now that I can hear ringing and resonance in my cello, it totally bothers me when I’m off…<br /><br />Hope you get some cello time too!<br /><br />…practice some air cello? ;)Gemini Cellohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04883738004233218440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4368739163556879673.post-87938720500471749342012-04-18T09:14:25.090-07:002012-04-18T09:14:25.090-07:00hey ya, have been long since last post right? I...hey ya, have been long since last post right? I've been in the busiest time of my life as well, that I haven't touched my cello for days now (plus that i couldn't bring my cello travelling with me, how I wish every hotel on earth can rent us cellos!)<br /><br />anyway, about the tone thingy, the way I am being taught is based on strings vibration. If I am understanding it correctly, my teacher always taught me to let the strings ring, no matter the position relative to bridge/fingerboard I am playing in. There are so many variables in bowing we can actually employ in phrasing and dynamics, of which I could recall being taught about:-<br /><br />1)Weight :- more weight/pressure via index means more volume, but too much will choke the sound and flatten the note + scratchy sound. Too little then you'll lose the ring and sound steely. <br /><br />2)Elbow height:- very much related to the 1st one but my teacher separately taught this to highlight the pros and cons of both positions. High elbow allows for better control, steady vibration and stable acceptable tone but lower position enables more varieties of tones. He played a passage that has so many color (silky to darker to very intense) using low elbow and explained low elbow offers more weight control. I originally thought with low elbow with this intention but it's only when I switched to purely high elbow that I finally pleased my teacher with my tone.<br /><br />3)Speed and bow length: I still fail in bow planning but this is the greatest tool when it comes to dynamic and phrasing! I failed terribly on my 1st try to 'humanize' my gossec's gavotte (my teacher told me in a lesson I was playing it right if I were to play notes, instead of to play music). What I need to do is to study the music a bit, notify when is the big phrase, what notes to use more bow etc. etc. still have very little idea on this, especially for 4/4 music.<br /><br />4)Hair amount: Haven't learnt much on this but basically more hair = more volume. my teacher recommended me to use more hair for flight of 16th notes (czardas, etude variation) so that I dont have to feel rushed while maintaining the volume (since 16th notes = short bow). While playing Air in G string, I was told to use less hair for the long notes with p dynamic. Wonder if it's a matter of preference but I wish I know how make my own decision soon.<br /><br />I believe there's a lot more angles to view tone in bowing, but these are what I learnt so far. I also believe it t might change in future (to suit my preference, and maybe 'vehicle').<br /><br />By the way, I notice I was forced to play lower to the bridge as I touch upper register (even at upper 4th position) to get decent tone and intonation..wonder if this is normal. Good luck with your own tone discovery!<br /><br />Bye now, hope life will be easier on our cello-ing time :) (already missing my cello so much!)thaddaeushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04148859973275353684noreply@blogger.com