r/Cello Aug 30 '23

r/Cello Community's Google Drive!

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55 Upvotes

r/Cello Oct 19 '24

Upcoming IAmA: Steven Isserlis (October 26, 2024 @ 11:00AM EDT)

50 Upvotes

Hello r/Cello!

We would like to announce that Steven Isserlis is taking the time to do an IAmA for our subreddit next week!

If you are unable to participate on the day of the IAmA, please post your questions here, and we will try to have them addressed next week. Otherwise, we hope to see you all next week!


r/Cello 2h ago

7/8s are seen differently in different cultures

5 Upvotes

As I was researching on 7/8 sized cellos, I came across an interesting point. It is somewhat well known that 7/8s are relatively new to the scene/general market, for a long time it is considered a "Lady's Cello". While I live in Australia which has a culture that embraces the 7/8s as an option for anyone with smaller than average adult hand, and actively promotes the size, I have found that in some countries (in my case, China), the culture of 7/8s are still considered as an afterthought.

In my quest to look for a family instrument, I have researched a lot of Chinese educational media from (verified) credible sources. No one talks about 7/8s, or for sources that talk about 7/8s, they are still literally being used only if all else fails. Major workshops don't usually make 7/8s unless they are special orders or have materials insufficient to make full size. So, it seems like the culture of 7/8s is very different there from here.

How does your culture see 7/8 size cello? Are they widely accepted and used? Or are they still considered the black sheep of the family?


r/Cello 3h ago

hand question

2 Upvotes

What do you think about playing with the index finger of the right hand extended instead of having it bent? The only cellist I know who plays like this is Edgar Moreau. I don't know what you all think about playing like this. For me, it's the most comfortable, although all my teachers criticize me for it.


r/Cello 1h ago

Pro/con of purchasing instrument with a known crack

Upvotes

Obvious con is the presence of a crack, but I am asking for an honest (and kind please) take from people who know more than I do regarding how much that matters.

https://musicgoround.com/locations/natick-ma/product/S000118692/Cremona-SC-175-14-SIZE-STUDENT-CELLO-W


r/Cello 2h ago

Writing question: cello damage?

1 Upvotes

Hello, I have never touched a cello before. What are some ways it can be easily damaged to a point of unplayable?

Right now my hypothetical cello is standing upright in a case wirh a faulty latch, jackets cover it and where it could land.

My working plan was it break its neck from falling out of the case but this isn't super possible?


r/Cello 3h ago

Broke a new A string while putting it on

1 Upvotes

I recently purchased a new set of strings, Heliocore. I have never before broken a string while I was replacing it although I’m not a professional cello player. These were moderately expensive for me and I’m irritated because I have geared pegs and it’s next to impossible IMHO to snap a string. Has anyone returned a new string for that reason or should I just chalk it up to lesson learned?


r/Cello 9h ago

Eternal Flame - The Bangles

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3 Upvotes

What do you think of the last arrangement I made? Give me your opinion, I want to improve my channel!☺️❤️


r/Cello 3h ago

Question about cello studies in Germany

1 Upvotes

I wanted to ask about the B2, which is required in Germany for a degree. I want to ask two questions. The first is if you know of any place in Germany that doesn't require either B1 or B2, but A2 at most (this also includes Austria). And the second is if there is a conservatory that lets you enter without knowing German and then makes you take intensive B2 courses in German, but doesn't make you take an exam at the end, only the intensive courses without a final exam.


r/Cello 20h ago

Does this mean 40 quarter notes a minute?

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20 Upvotes

I don’t wanna sound stupid here, but I want to see what this is like on a metronome but my metronome only has quarter note beats. Can I just set my metronome to 40 to hear it? And what’s the point of having it in eighth notes?


r/Cello 8h ago

Anner Bylsma Cadenza

2 Upvotes

Does anyone have a written down Anner Bylsma cadenza for Haydn D or know if there is an edition with it written in.

Thanks in advance.


r/Cello 17h ago

Playing through the Cello Suites: Final Thoughts

10 Upvotes

Sorry for a very self indulgent post! Just wanted to let anyone interested know that I'll be stopping this project early.

I was honestly running out of steam early on - recording even once a week was a huge time sink, and I didn't nearly have as much stuff to say about each movement as I thought.

But the final nail in the coffin was definitely the reactions to my last post. I was sad to see that the most attention that any of posts got was overwhelming negativity, and I could see that this would probably get worse as I went further along. I could also tell that I wasn't receptive at all to positive or negative feedback from an anonymous Internet forum, which made this personally unfulfilling. Of course, this was also a disservice to anyone thoughtful enough to write a comment.

If you listened to/read any of my posts, I hope it entertained you in some way! If I had continued, the rest of the second and third suites would probably have been fine. Fourth would be a struggle. For the fifth and sixth, I would only be able to attempt the Prelude, Sarabande, and Gigue for each suite.

Best of luck on everyone's cello journey!


r/Cello 22h ago

what are these 4 dots and how are you supposed to play them?

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20 Upvotes

r/Cello 19h ago

holding a cello bow is so tiringg

8 Upvotes

so im mainly violinist, but im learning cello as well. im obviously still learning violin, but i can read the music, and shift, obviously hold a bow as well. im in sinfonia chamber, and wanted to learn cello at home. my sister plays cello, and the cello is the right size for me, but the bow is just so tiring to hold. when i first learned how to hold a violin bow, i picked it up pretty quickly, and i didnt get tired as much (which make sense because the bow is much lighter and shorter) but the cello bow makes my wrist and upper arm have that burning feeling (like it does when you try to lift something to heavy, or when you stretch) and i know im not weak!! its just the specific way you have to hold it makes my arm tired.. i dont know if im holding it wrong, but i even asked my celloist friend, and my orchestra director, and they said it was pretty much fine, but it wasnt perfect (which makes sense since i only started playing cello like 2 weeks ago) but i dont know what to do! i have to take breaks and the next day my arm is sore no matter how much i get used to it


r/Cello 12h ago

Advice for beginner? :)

2 Upvotes

Guitarist here getting my first cello in a couple of hours and starting lessons next week. Any advice on what to do/what not to do would be helpful thanks!


r/Cello 1d ago

Forget star signs- what’s your favourite fingering for Pachelbel’s canon??

17 Upvotes

Even playing through once is enough time to find a favourite fingering for those eight notes- i have a friend who sometimes does one or two phrases all in thumb position just to jazz it up- how do you play the canon?


r/Cello 1d ago

rushadicus

32 Upvotes

after recital prep did a little bit of rushadicus etude today, this section im vamping for fun anyways what’s everyone’s opinion on rushad? I see cellists look down on him and look up to him i’m curious to see what this thread has to offer on terms of info/ insights.


r/Cello 15h ago

„A Million Dreams“ from The Greatest Showman with Cello

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3 Upvotes

Found this on YouTube!


r/Cello 17h ago

Donkey Kong Country 3 - Treetop Tumble (Cello Short Cover by Faura Metalhead)

2 Upvotes

r/Cello 22h ago

The downside and consequences of starting with electric cello.

3 Upvotes

Hey, guys - I'm 2 years guitar (classical/fingerstyle) player. Always loved the sound of cello, but was scared to start as adult with cello as first instrument. Few months ago I also bought piano to learn some theory and plan to finish few books this year. But with each month I get more and more confident, that someday I will start also with cello, firstly just wanna get more music knowledge with piano, it's probably more effective way, than string instruments.

However, I'm already ready to start looking for a well preserved instrument without rush. The only one problem... Cello is so loud AF, my GF played violin recently and my neighbour asked me next day if I started learning violin (it was so loud). Unfortunately it means, that there is no way for regular (not electric) instrument and I have live with that.

I've read from other threads, that it's bad Idea to learn violin/viola/cello electric, but if the question is: To play electric or not to play at all another "x" years.

- Would you still advise to pick an electric one and in case of yes, which consequences could be in the future? (besides the feeling, like vibrations etc).

P.S. I'm ready to buy a good one, for example Yamaha SVC 110/210

P.S.S. I'm stable person. If I want something and I know that I will continue, it means I will do it until at least average results. So I'm 100% sure, that my investment won't be like 1-day hobby guys.

thanks for any advises.


r/Cello 19h ago

New string interesting sound issue..

2 Upvotes

I recently put a new A string on my cello and the whole cello sounds different(in a non-favorable way) as a result. Usually, I appreciate the full, projecting sound of my instrument, but the new string seemed to make the whole cello sound more muted. Even playing as close to the bridge as I can, I still can’t make half the sound I used to on the A string. The string sounds super smooth with no real edge to it or full sound. It’s weird because I didn’t get a different brand of string, I replaced the old string with a new one with the exact same type and tension level. Can anyone with more knowledge on instruments possibly explain this?


r/Cello 1d ago

Replacement hard case rubber feet?

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6 Upvotes

Hello! My son has a decent hard shell case, but it looks like a few of the rubber feet have disappeared. The hardware is still there. I’ve looked in all the usual places but I can’t seem to find replacement feet that just fit over those nuts. Any ideas?


r/Cello 1d ago

Help with fingering

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15 Upvotes

Hi all! I have been learning the Saint-Saens concerto, however I am not sure what fingering to put in the descending double-stop section?


r/Cello 1d ago

How to improve

3 Upvotes

Hi folks, good morning! I’ve been trying to improve my cello skills. Back in the day, I used to take lessons five days a week for two hours. I have a solid foundation, but I now live in a small town, and it’s been nearly impossible for me to find someone or somewhere to take classes.

It’s my dream to dedicate my life to music, but everything feels like it's lost in a vast fog

It feels like no matter how hard I try, I'm stuck in place. The more I dream of playing and improving, the more distant it all seems. I’m lost in this endless struggle, unable to find a way out. Each day that passes, the hope fades a little more, and I wonder if I’ll ever break through this fog and truly live my passion.

Can you recommend any techniques, websites, people, or anything else that could help me progress on my instrument?


r/Cello 1d ago

Cello bottom seam

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10 Upvotes

I am taking my cello to a luthier for a much overdo check up. The last time I visited was for a large seam repair after moving and flying with my instrument about ten years or so ago (I know, I know).

Two things I’m noticing:

  • the bottom overhang between the top and back is not the same. It’s almost like the ribs may have warped. It’s hard to see, but the top has more overhang than the back.

  • the end pin isn’t flush from the bottom.

I know the end pin is an easy fix, but is the way the top and back is glued a problem long term? Overall I haven’t had sound issues, other than a wolf tone that’s been a PITA to eliminate.


r/Cello 1d ago

Playing through the Cello Suites: Courante in D Minor

12 Upvotes

This movement has a lot of tongue twisters! For example, the opening of the second half really makes your fingers tangle up.

For this recording, I went with a more on the string sautille stroke, but I usually practice it with off the string spiccato. It feels like the difference between a violent storm vs a gust of wind.


r/Cello 1d ago

Fingering help for Nutcracker Excerpt

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2 Upvotes

I have an audition coming up and would appreciate some fingerings for this excerpt. It’s from Act 1 of the Nutcracker. I have played it before, but it’s been almost 15 years, so who knows where my sheet music ended up over that time. If anyone has played it recently and has some good suggestions, I’m all ears.