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You have that right. I am anxiously awaiting to get my new chinrest for my viola. I hope it works. I want to experiment with WTW’s post about the C and G strings. They are similar to issues with the cello, and I replied as such. 

Ms Blog

I was able to do my cello today. I did the songs and also did the four lessons in the Cassia Harvey 4th position. The 4 lessons went a lot smoother. I am feeling more confident. I think my intonation is improving. I am also trying not to look at my left hand as much.

I received my new viola chinrest later this afternoon. In using it a little bit today, so far I like it, but I didn’t use it long enough to make a decision.

Well, yesterday I did not play much. I did my viola a little to give the chunrest another go. 

I received the Cassia Harvey Fourth Position Study Method For Cello, and the Cassia Harvey Third Position for the Cello, Book One books that I ordered. I was looking the study guide for 4th position book. I am very pleased. It breaks it down and gives you more pieces that use 4th position. Very good purchases. The Third Position book is the same format as the Fourth Position book. 

If, in using the study book for 4th position, I find it is as useful as it appears, I will order the study method book, if there is one for third position. 

Ms Blog,

I have had a very sore right shoulder/upper area the last few days. I tried playing just bow, but I can't do the bowing. I did, however, practice the shifting without bowing for a while.

Maybe, it will be better in a few days. I will have to take it easy and let it rest for a few days. Bummer.

If I make a card, I will have to use my electric Gemini so I don't have to hand crank. I will have to remember to do that because the hand cranked Spellbinder is easier to feed the paper and dies through, plus, I like cranking it. I am glad I got the two cards for my grandkiddies done and mailed before the upper arm/shoulder got sore.

Maybe, I will just do the left hand shifting movements again later today.

Well, Ms Bog,

I did my cello this morning. I weeded out some exercises that didn't seem to work for me. 

I kept the following

Cassia Harvey Fourth Position For Cello - Pages 2-5. Along with exercises, it has versions of Ode to Joy and French Folk Song written to use the 4th position shifting. I like those versions, actually.

Cassia Harvey Fourth Position Study Method - pages 11-13. This uses shifting and using the 2nd finger in each string's 4th position. ie A string 1st finger in 4th is the E, 2nd findger would be the F natural. This is a little more difficult because my index finger(1st finger)  is stronger than the middle finger (2nd finger). Along with exercises, these pages include, A nice little Folk Melody written by Harvey (a very good exercise, too), A short version of Rigadoon that is very challenging, and The Blue Bells of Scotland.

I am also still working on, "You'll Never Work Alone - adding shifts where I think they are appropriate.

I wanted to play Berceuse by F. Schubert but my elbow and shoulder got sore. 

I have been making some greeting crds. Rather than use my electric cutter, I am using my manual. I prefer that. Kind of wears on thw shoulder and elbow. I guess I should give it a rest and use my electric one for a bit. Imdid use it this afternoon. But I really prefer tom rank them. I have no idea why. Well, it is easier to feed the plates, dies and cardstock through the hand crank than the electric. It is called the sandwich. There are not as many layers to my hand crank Spellbinder sandwich as there are for the electric Gemini. I don't like my Cricut and Scan n Cut at all. 

I just played my viola and violin a bit. 

Hi, Ms 

This was. cello morning. I did change my lesson plan. First, I have moved on from the 4th position with 1st finger. The 1st finger is also used in the 4th position 2nd finger exercies. So, I do the 2nd finger in 4th position exercises.

I am using Cassia Harvey's Folk Melody that uses the 2nd finger in 4th position, followed by her version of Rigadoon that uses shifting and a switch from the A string down to the G string. I havw stringnchange issues. 

I was doing the entire Blue Bells of Scotland in the book. It is a small simple song, but I have decided to break it up so I can work on smoothing out some skills. I am working on the first section, that is played through twice. After I can do that smoothly, I will do the ending section, and then put them together. This will allow more 

I am keeping You'll Never Walk Alone in my lineup so I can work on a song I know nd work on dynamics.

I putting F. Schubert's Berceuse on hold for the time being.

This morning I did my viola. I have selected some songs to use for my lessons. I have to weed a couple out because there are too many to be able to really work on anything in depth. Here is what I have:

Suzuki 1: Song of the Wind, May Song

Suzuki 2: Boirrée by G.F. Handel

From Manfred Schmitz, A Little Pop Music - Eine Kleine Pop-Musik: Hallöchen! / Hi!, Am Morgen / In the Morning, Abschied / Farewell, Kleiner Harlekin (I) / Little Harlekin (1)

The Manfred Schmitz book is a German Publication. It is a nice viola book with 96 songs. The preface is in German and followed by English. This book has many songs of different keys and rhythms. I don't know where I got it. I think it was actually given to me by the guy I purchased an electric violin from. He gave me a cello book and violin books, also. I was not able to play any songs in this until recently, so I must have improved. 

These selected songs have their individual difficulties. The 2 Suzuki Book 1 songs, I will use for warm up. They are pretty straight forward foe me. I can just have fun and loosen up.

The Boirrée by G.F. Handel does have the E stretch on the A string, and 8th notes. There is also the G# that is in a run of 8th notes. There is also one section that goes down to the G string for a couple notes. The Suzuki songs are all D and A strings. I rarely get a work-out on the G and A strings of my viola or cello. But, it is only B C D B A then it is back up to the G on the D string and it only does that once. So,  ot mich use of the G string.

Hallöchen! / Hi! has staccato notes. It is all D and A strings.

Am Morgen / In the Morning, is mostly done on the G string with one note on the C string and ends with a G, maybe 2 measures in the D string.

Abschied / Farewell appears to be all D string with a little A string, nut it is key of F (? - just has a B flat). But, since, from what I see, there is not one B flat in the entire 17 measures. Lowest is a D and highest is an A. It does have a difficult count with the 8th notes and tied notes. 

Kleiner Harlekin (I) / Little Harlekin (1), uses all 4 strings about equally. There aren't any 8th notes, but there are staccato notes. It is the common C# and F# used so much in songs for learning. It does have the occasional G# on the G string. 

I think the Abschied / Farewell, Am Morgen / In the Morning, Hallöchen! / Hi! can be eliminated. We will see how that goes.