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I decided to go back to book one and work on the pieces that I was rushed through with my early lessons. I need to play them until I can actually play them, and. ot be pushed to the next lesson. Back to basics.
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I was playing songs from book 1 today, and they are getting better. I also do not want to forget songs beyond Book 1 that I have done. I played a couple of old standbys. They went well.
I did record myself today for reference. Not posting it, it is for my reference to compare with another day.
I also did an experiment. I played with my eyes closed. It was interesting. Please, no lectures, videos, or anything about this. It would be too much information, information overload and just confuses things, and probably not exactly what I was experimenting with. I know what I was trying to do. It was an experiment.
I am finding that I am still loving these Dominant Pro cello strings, so much so, that I felt confident enough to write a review about them on their spot in the Fiddlershop's website. I hope others find it helpful.
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January 18, 2024,I recorded a 2017 concert by the Lumineers, that was aired on the AXS Channel. I have never heard them before. I watched it today. Wow.
They have a background cellist/singer in that group. That group would not be so good if it was not for that deep soulful cello. This group's cello, in every song, was sooooo "visible" and haunting. I might have to get a CD, I do not stream, I play CD's.
It is described as American folk-rock. It was a concert at something called Musilac Festival. That cello, although not the main instrument in the group, was fantastic.
The cello is more than an orchestra instrument for classical music. Think outside of the box.
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It has been a while. We need more activity in this forum. With no activity, the desire ro keep the blog activity wanes. If you are a member reading, please log in and participate in the forum. If you are a guest reading this, please join and become an active member.
This is from another forum blog Imhave from Feb. 5.
Cello day not too bad, but then the songs were all slow paced, and therefore, not as much of an issue with bowing one note as much on string change on the strings I have issues with.
My Fanwy, I am doing the entire song now. The second part gets up into the upper registers in the A string. I just cannot get a good sound up there. I can play the upper registers, but the sound is bot there. It is much better with these Dominant Pro steings, but still not as I like. I will work on it.
Moon Over the Ruined Castle. A Suzuki book, maybe book 2. It is in 2 books, different versions. This is the book it appears in.
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I worked on my cello this morning. I actually did the Moon Over the Ruined Castle from book 3. I thought it was in book 2. This version just has the F#, no flats. I believe it is E minor because it ends on an E, not a G. Although both are played in minor keys, to me, this version does not sound as haunting, sounds mysterious, but not haunting. Going from b minor to e minor gives it an entirely different sound.
Also, this version uses the D and A strings, whereas the book 1 version used mostly C and G strings. I also was able to do mostly 4th position while playing this version from book 3.
I am not sure, now, which version I like better. I did not like this version as much before, but I am liking it. I do not dislike it. I do miss the haunting sound caused by the key the other version was played in. But, I love shifting, and I also like the feel of this version now, too. Maybe it is the C and G strings vs the D and A strings that gives it its haunting sound.
This is Moon Over The Ruined Castle, R Taki, Suzuki Book 3, 2-19-2024, V2 Shifted version Slight Vibrato
So, I do feel like I am making progress again, on my cello. I did notice a huge difference when I did What a Wonderful World, which has become my signature when playing. I love this on cello. No, there is no recording. The file is too large to just upload without going through a YouTube link of Google Drive. I am not interested in those. If I can get it to a smaller file size, I will attach it, sometime, maybe.
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You're right, they're quite different. I don't think it's the tonality per se that makes a difference ; rather, just the fact that the lower register feels darker than the upper register. Same goes for the viola… The same tune played in B minor but an octave higher would not have the same daunting effect (as least I don't think so)?
Congrats on the two versions anyway. They must each present their own difficulties. You're nailing the intonation in 4th position!
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Thanks.
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Wow, it has been a couple of weeks!
Last night, my new book arrived! Looks doable.
Easy Celtic Pieces For String Trio
It has about 8 pieces with a part for the violin, viola and cello. I have to figure out if it will be better to learn the cello part, then listen to the cello part and play viola part, and then add the violin or the other way. The cello parts are the boring half or quarter notes, that often repeat. Basically, background. Each instrument is a part, not the version of that song written for that instrument, so it makes sense that the cello would not have the melody.
I was thinking learn cello first and get it recorded at a steady speed that is doable for me. Then I can learn the others, and then play them along with listening to the cello and match it up.
Yes, I know that is not the way you all with all this recording savvy would do it. I am not into recording myself, and am not interested in learning all that recording mumbo jumbo. That said, I am so impressed with what I have seen and heard here on the forum, and love watching and listening, just not what I want to do. Maybe later, I might play with it, who knows.
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Last night I did a quick go through sight reading the songs in the new book, using my violin.
Here is a listing of the songs
1. Arran Boat Song
2. Irish Washerwoman
3. My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean
4. Rakes of Mallow
5. Sally Garden
6. Scotland the Brave
7. Southwind Waltz
8. Sweet Jenny Jones
Ok, on my violin, I can play Irish Washerwoman, but not as fast as I know it is to be done, yet! This is one of the few songs that I used to be able to play at speed on the piano. There are too many runs for me on the last measures, 10-17. I want to do it justice, so I will hold off because I think with these songs and the book recommended by SharonC, I might be able to get there.
Scotland the Brave has the same issue as The Irish Washerwoman, plus, I do not know this song. I could not get the rhythm correct, either. This will wait.
I play a different version of Southwind on my violin already. I like my version. So, I will leave this alone.
Sweet Jenny Jones is what I will work on. I find it will be good to get more comfortable with bowing, I think that once I can smooth this out, I can really get into learning some bowing and becoming more comfortable with bowing. I like the tune. The viola part will also be adding to what I learn, and push me a little, but not too much. Baby steps. The cello part is doable, and does not look boring, granted not all the melody like the violin and viola, but enough string changes to keep it interesting.
I suspect that Sweet Jenny Jones is to be played faster than I intend, but in my mind, it should be slow, so slowing it down will not sound weird to me. Which means that I will not push myself faster than I am ready.
How is that for reasoning and thinking it through?
I am not sure if I want to start working on the violin or viola part, both have the melody, viola comes in a few measures late, or if I want to do the cello and record it and listen to it while playing the other parts. Decisions, decisions.
I am leaning towards doing the cello part first. I know the speed I need, based on my playing the song on my violin last night. This way I can listen to my cello while playing the other two, probably violin first because it starts few measures before the viola chimes in. The viola sheet music part looks like the violin, so it is the melody, too.
I know you can use a metronome, but I cannot play with a metronome.
Thoughts, anyone? Have a thought, but not a member? Join the forum.
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Sounds like you have enough to keep you busy for a while.
Good luck with playing and recording all three parts. My way of doing it would be exactly like yours - record one part and then play the second one along. Then the 3rd. I tend to start with the "fullest" part, generally a "melody" part - one that doesn't have many silent bars, because I'm not good at counting those, as I don't use a metronome. And I can see why one should start with the steady accompaniment parts, but I wouldn't be able to keep the same tempo throughout.
So have you decided on which song you'll work on first? Sweet Jenny Jones it will be? I don't know it but I look forward to hearing you play it - if you share it here.
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@wtw It will be Sweet Jenny Jones. I think I am going to do the Violin part first. I think it will be better to match my steady cello part to whatever I end out with using my violin and viola. I have see YouTubes of this slow on a small harp and to speed with people dancing to it with a dance that uses sticks.
I tried it with a little more speed on my violin and lost my intonation pretty quick, so I think this will be the slow version. I will post something when I get it.
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It has been a while. I am so impressed the strings I put onto my cello a couple months ago stay tuned so well. I haven't been able to do my cello for a while, and I only had to tweak my D string ever so slightly. Nice.
I am surprised that I was able to pretty much pick up where I left off. I hope that means that I am beginning to be consistent.
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That's good news, glad to read that @Mouse . Nice not to have to start a piece all over again after taking a break ;--)
Sometimes breaks are actually useful, too.
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Yep. A longer break now, though. I have my knitting machine set up. I am still learning that, but will take it down as soon as I can.
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I have been playing, but it has been mostly my violin. Having issues.
I did out violin strings on a15 inch viola that I have. It actually sounds better now. It does not sound muffled, either. I think the violin strings have more time to vibrate or whatever on the 15 inch viola than the viola strings did. It was interesting.
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Won't be playing for a few days. We have company. I am curious how the cello, viola and violin will sound when I am playing in the other room. I hope it does not mess me up.
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The cello did not sound different in the other room. I remember when I played it in the kitchen, it sounded richer. Interesting.
I did find that it was not convenient. Not enough room to properly bow it. I will continue playing the cello in the living room, but I might try my viola and violin in the other room.
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Wow, long time! I still love those Dominant Pro strings in my cello. They are simply amazing! If they were not so pricy, I would try them on my viola, but the viola strings re less money, Hmmmmm.
I need to play a little more in my viola, seriously. I have been having too much fun on my violin, but I can just play those same songs in my violin easy enough. I think they would sound great on the mellower viola, actually. Hm. Maybe this week I will do that.
I have a replacement circular knitting needle tip supposed to arrive today, the other arrived cracked, so I will be finishing a doll sweater this weekend. I also have some yarn arriving, so I will be swatching and getting a gauge for them, number of stitches per 4 inches and number of rows per 4 inches, so I can build a sweater pattern, or whatever I use it for. So, I do not see serious playing time, I said, serious, I will definitely get them down and play already known pieces.
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Man, I love those Dominant Pro strings on my Fiddlershop cello. Wow! They still hold their tune well, too. I had Dominant Pro in a violin a while back and could not stand them, but on this cello, they are simply lovely. They are also easy to finger.
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Mouse
