tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10680113.post8765197527018751120..comments2024-03-23T11:40:13.092-05:00Comments on Musical Assumptions: Hello CelloElaine Finehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14248422399226824168noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10680113.post-31647849677695574792009-04-02T19:15:00.000-05:002009-04-02T19:15:00.000-05:00Compared to me Navarra is a veritable chimpanzee! ...Compared to me Navarra is a veritable chimpanzee! He can bend his arm when playing on the D string! I think that this man is a little larger than he seems in the film--certainly taller than than my 5'1".<BR/><BR/>I do love these films. And the flexibility of Navarra's right-hand fingers is a wonder to behold.Elaine Finehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14248422399226824168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10680113.post-55297096193690780382009-04-02T18:38:00.000-05:002009-04-02T18:38:00.000-05:00I'm not buying the short arms can't use the whole ...I'm not buying the short arms can't use the whole bow argument. <BR/><BR/>You might enjoy watching a master, <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ber93Z85eA" REL="nofollow">Andre Navarra</A>, explain the basics of cello bowing. His arms are not long, either. (Part 2 translated by the same user is also available.)<BR/><BR/>Be careful, though, this stuff is addictive.gottagopracticehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10680113.post-86834442103563964172009-04-02T11:40:00.000-05:002009-04-02T11:40:00.000-05:00Nope. It isn't an April Fool's joke. It seems th...Nope. It isn't an April Fool's joke. It seems that my right shoulder difficulties come from having short arms (and legs--they often don't reach the floor when I'm sitting in a normal chair, so I'm considering practicing the cello in heels). I talked with a cellist friend last night who told me that the only remedy for short arms is to stay away from the upper half of the bow, which seems a little self-defeating on any string instrument.<BR/><BR/>On the cellist "survival of the fittest" scale, I would be eaten and rendered extinct! Perhaps having short arms is why I find violin and viola so comfortable to play without a shoulder rest, even on the lowest string. Thank goodness I have no aspirations to actually become a real cellist.Elaine Finehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14248422399226824168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10680113.post-22423957706696155222009-04-02T08:19:00.000-05:002009-04-02T08:19:00.000-05:00First response: the arm position of upper string p...First response: the arm position of upper string players is natural? OK, wait, I'm thinking of the pretzelly left, and you are speaking of the right. Still, it takes some reach to play the lowest string.<BR/><BR/>Second response: cello bowing isn't about brawn. It should be similar to reaching in front of you to place your fingers on a rail, and moving the arm back and forth while allowing the weight of your arm to hang off the rail. Pretty natural. You'd benefit from having a cello teacher check out your budding technique, as muscling the sound out can lead to problems.<BR/><BR/>Third response: maybe this is an April Fool's joke!gottagopracticehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08112740396190991150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10680113.post-83173144002460097192009-04-02T05:31:00.000-05:002009-04-02T05:31:00.000-05:00Welcome to the tribe! We feel your (right arm) pai...Welcome to the tribe! We feel your (right arm) pain... playing the long stretches of battute out at the tip in the Overture for the Barber of Seville I thought my arm was going to turn to jelly. <BR/><BR/>Keep us posted how it's going!Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09511926573138262913noreply@blogger.com