Song of The Wind - Cello and Piano
Hopefully, you have already worked through the previous three videos in this series on Song of the Wind from Suzuki Book 1 for cello including Song of The Wind Previews, Practice, and Performance lessons. This video helps you take what you have learned in the previous lessons and combine it with the piano part. Playing with the piano means keeping steady, communicating tempos, and of course extra rehearsal but the end result is well worth the work!
Part of the joy of learning to play an instrument is the friends you make along the way so be sure to find a pianist you can make music with. I am so grateful for my friend Larry Gee who has accompanied on many a musical adventure.
Pro Tip
Don’t be afraid to talk to your accompanist if you feel like you need adjustments in tempo, want to add a ritard at the end or want to incorporate some of the optional dynamics introduced in the performance video.
As we learn to play Song of The Wind from Suzuki Book 1 for cello, let’s make sure that your posture is setting you up for success down the road. Here is a “handy” cello 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 string 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.
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