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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.

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.

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.

Thanks.

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. 

@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.

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.

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.

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.