You Can Play! But Can You Rest?
After years of teaching, I learned that Variation B is actually the most difficult of all the Twinkle Twinkle Little Star variations for young cellists to learn. The combination of respecting the rest, and changing bows mid-pattern is asks a lot of an inexperienced player. Depending on how young you start your cello journey, it’s not uncommon to spend one full year on pre-twinkle, and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Theme and Variations.
This variation incorporates rests for the first time. Don’t let the name fool you — resting is a lot of work! If you don’t create some active space-holder for the rest, it is easy to make the time you rest either too short or too long. In the video, I give you a couple of options of things to say during the rest but you could also tap your foot or nod your head. Of all the variations, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Variation B benefits most from the use of an external time-keeper. Whether that is a metronome, the CD, or the practice video, you will find that you are more successful from the get-go if you have an external reference to keep you steady through the rest!
Once you hear and feel the rest, working out the bowing is the other half of playing Variation B successfully. Many students want to retake their bow during the rest or go in the same direction they were going before the rest. Just stick with back and forth and you’ll be fine! Do your best to follow along with the video. Slow it down if necessary.
Pro Tip
Don’t underestimate rests! As both a conductor and cellist, I can tell you that the most obvious and embarrassing mistakes are the easiest to avoid — playing in a rest! Count carefully and don’t lose focus during your rests!
As we learn Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, make sure that your posture is setting you up for success down the road. Here is a handy posture checklist:
- Posture – feet flat on the floor, cello between your knees, touching at your sternum, sitting straight up, shoulders relaxed, elbow out like a kickstand, straight EWP (elbow-wrist-pinkie)
- Left hand – thumb and fingers bent (making a “C”), fingers arched and contacting the string with the pad of the fingertip, thumb bent and under 2nd finger
- Bow path – bow travels straight across the string (t-bow), midway between the fingerboard and the bridge (forte-freeway)
- Bow hand – thumb slightly bent, index finger touching the stick between the first and second knuckle, hand pronated, fingers slightly apart — not overly spread or bunched together
- Keep fingers down as you play – as you ascend the don’t lift the finger you just played when you place the new finger. As you descend place all 4 fingers and then peel off the fingers one by one.
- Check intonation – verify your intonation. Play with the video, use a tuner, watch your hand in a mirror to check that you are on the tapes. Don’t assume, verify.