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I have been on vacation for a week. I got back about 1 am this morning.

This afternoon, I picked up my viola and really was able to play it quite well. I even tried adding some double stops to Amazing Grace. I was never taught double stips in my lessons. I think I did it right. I just don't know where they sound best in that song, plus, I did not know quite how to stop the double stopping and go back to one string, but it sounded neat. It seemed when I did it, I just kept doing it and had a hard time switching back to normal playing. 

Cello Practice Session 6/1/2023

Amazing Grace 6/1/2023_1

Amazing Grace 6/1/2023_2

Myfanwy 6/1/2023 First section that I am working on

I just finished working on my Bourrée and Myfanwy. 

I added the next section to the Bourrée; I added nothing to Myfanwy. The little section of shifting in the Bourrée is enough new stuff added. 

I am watching my bowing because I am getting some odd sounds, like the string have broken wire, But that is not the issue, it is just that twang sound you get. I cannot figure out what I am doing.

There is also a part in the Bourrée, the new part with the little bit of shifting, that I run put of bow, so I was trying to figure that out. That is one of the areas with the odd sound, too. When I go from the E on the A string and then the A on the D string followed by the G# on the D string, I am weak, run out of bow, and have the bad sound. I am trying to bow slower so that I do not run lut of bow, and to end closer to the tip with the nite before the E string. 

Now that E on the A is a slight shift. The A on the D is a shift in the D and is directly across from the E. It is so awkward for me to do that. My 4th finger is very weak and is not going to get strong, maybe I should change up the fingering to suit my abilities. I am not a spring chicken and it is what it is. 

Note to self, need to make another clean copy of the Bourrée, before I started making it up. Some of the early notes I no longer need, but I have to add different notes. It is too messy.

@wtw and @Ripton, and @Violaman Any suggestions and thoughts, even though this is cello, just the idea of adjusting fingering to suit my needs. 

@Ripton I think being tense is probably the main issue, now that you mention it. I bet that since I know I have issue in those certain spots, I am tensing up as I get to those areas.

I hope that is not the case, because I don't know how to stop thinking about those areas, and issues. Sometimes, anticipation is not a good thing. But, when it is the Carol King version, always great! 

@Ripton I have tried that. I have worked sections, then started a little ahead and added it to a few measures before it, jut to work it in, and keep do that until I start from the beginning and try to continue through. The minute I get to the sections I separated to work on, I know it, and freeze. 

That does work for a lot of people. It works for me, until J try to work it back into the piece. Isn't that weird? So, then I get tired of breaking it apart, because putting it back together doesn't seem to work, so I just start working on a large section over and over, and fuddle through those parts. They bowing always gets me. Maybe I need to make clearer marking on music that is more in the line of encouragement, instead of careful, slow down, etc. Maybe, keep going, you got it, etc? 

Thanks, @Ripton. I always forget that. I believe I was always playing it at the tempo I want it to be. SLOW DOWN, MOUSE!

Oh, wow! I installed my Krentz magnetic modulator/wolf tone eliminator on my cello. Wow! I watched a video by someone, may have been done by Krentz. He showed how to install it and how to use it to get a different tone from your instrument.

I got rid of the wolf, and then I moved around like he said. Very nice. I didn't do too much, I have a headache, but when I am better, I am going to play around again. I noticed just a tad wolf on the open D, but it is gone from the rest of that string. I don't think I will worry about that. It is barely noticeable and might wake up another wolf if I' get too picky, so I am just going to play with the movements in the other directions, I will have to looks at the diagram that came with it, and maybe re-watch the video so I am moving in the proper directions. But that will be later. 

I am relieved the two magnets connected and I did not have to go fishing for the piston end in the cello. 3 for 3 with doing that. 

I did my cello this morning. I noticed that I am beginning to spot missed fingering a lot more easily now. I can tell more often if I am flat or sharp with a note, at least this morning. 

I was working on Myfanwy and added about three more measures. I also did my What a Wonderful World. 

I then did my ukulele, which is coming along, also. 

It was a good day.

Sometimes I have to think about it, but usually I have an idea of what I want to do. I like the variety, though.

I did my viola this morning. I did some songs I have memorized, just short little ditties, mostly from Suzuki. I then tried What a Wonderful World. I do play that on my cello. I figured it out on my cello a while ago. I am not trying it on my viola.

I shift a lot with What a Wonderful World on my cello. I find it hard to shift on viola and violin, so, while I am beginning to learn What a Wonderful World on my viola, I am not shifting. That is how I did it with my cello. First position and then I added shifting where it was appropriate, either for fingering or sound. Open strings do sound a little different than that same. ote shifted in a different string. To me, the fingered shifted note sounds fuller and softer, if that makes sense.

The session went well. I was actually pleased. I heard some really nice sounding notes that were spot on, and the other notes were not too far off. For me, that is great progress. I used to not even notice when I was off, I am able to do that more often now.