So my issue: I'm using MuseScore and the solo cello pizzicato at mezzo-piano and below is inaudible. That's, of course, the software's issue, but I have to wonder, when playing pizzicato how do you judge the dynamics in relation to arco? I naively expect, if the same dynamic is written, it should sound roughly equivalent. But my understanding is that by its nature pizzicato is quieter in relation to sustained sound, so at some point, in the fff regions it's going to be impossible. Or you get into the Bartok pizzicato regions.

I don't know if what I've written makes sense, but to wrap up, should I have separate dynamics for arco and pizzicato sections?

I’m buying a new case soon and I’d love to install a Fiedler backpack system on it but I don’t have the tools to do it myself. I know Thomann sells Gewa Air cases with Fielder backpack system already installed but the color that I want will take quite a while until it’s in stock.

Is there a strings shop in Manchester that can install the system onto my case for a fee?

Here's a very interesting conversation with Cuban-American cellist Tommy Mesa about his new heartthrob, a 1767 cello by Nicolo Gagliano and how he jumped straight into the performance deep end when it was offered to him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0RnWFGoxig

This is one episode in an ongoing series about how string players relate to their instruments. The interviewer, Masumi Rostad is an in-demand violist whom I met some years ago when I was recording a chamber music festival where he was featured.

I've only played a few pieces from Bach 1 to 4, preludes and a few from 1 and 2, and most of 3 and 4.

But this 4 Gigue feels so difficult! The melodic patterns are... weird? Those bariolage-like anchored notes don't work at all in Eb major. I need to either make dodgy shifts constantly, or play at a position a bit high. Overall it's hard to maintain a constant flow, but the music is written such that it *needs* a constant flow. Other pieces in 4 are fine because they are slower or don't jump up and down much. 4 Gigue is weird lol

And no, suite 5 and 6 are not something I'd get my hands on for now 😅

My A and D string sound really off despite both my tuners saying they’re in tune. D especially sounds off

Have to have Haydn D for professional orchestra audition. When they say to have first movement prepared they always ask in person for just expo or expo + cadenza. Has anyone actually had to play the full first before for a professional orchestra? Just trying to see if my anxiety about having to go past expo is realistic

As a new, and older, student, I have discussed with my teacher the difficulties in learning how to figure out fingering options by studying the sheet music requirements. I said to him it would be great if there was some kind of sophisticated tutorial that developed a more intuitive sense of fingering through repetition of common patterns in fingering choices. And, even better, something that integrated with Suzuki or other approaches for learning basic left hand positions. Anyone aware of anything here? Or skilled enough to make yourself, with the enticement of having your name elevated to the Suzuki-level firmament?

I started at 12 and feel like no good players ever start later than 8 (with the exception of Carter Brey ofc)

Yes or absolutely?

I'm an academic student, almost professional cellist, I have a high quality bow but in my experience I think in orchestra one should use a low quality bow.

Im looking for a cello bow brand that makes good wood bows with low prices

I think the most important quality in that bow has to be the easy sound response and a good quality of the sound in the softer dynamics

Any suggestions?

I played from age 9-16, and then stopped because I moved to a different country and the cello belonged to my orchestra. That’s now 25 years ago exactly, and I have barely touched a cello in between. I rented an instrument for a couple of months maybe 8 years ago, but it was a full sized one, and it felt all wrong (I played a 7/8th and have small hands).

I’ve thought about playing again quite a lot, and then in June a 7/8th second hand instrument with good sound came through in my idle Internet auto search. I have some health issues which keep me housebound more than I like, so I figured it was a good time for a hobby I could do in my living room.

The size felt right immediately, and I have been able to play with very little discomfort in my hands and fingers, and I am just amazed at the muscle memory! It’s not like my playing is very good, and it wasn’t amazing to begin with (I was a social cellist more than an ambitious one), but my hands know where the positions are, and how the bow moves, even 25 years later. I can apparently also mostly still read musical notation, with some refreshers here and there, and I have a pretty fluid ear. I enjoy sitting down with it for 20-30 minutes. Gets me off my phone and into a completely different headspace.

I’ve had two lessons now with a lady who comes to my house (to save my limited energy), who is possibly born after I stopped playing, and she is kind of amazed, too. She put some music in front of me and asked if I could play it, since she had no idea how to place me skills wise, and we were approximately equally surprised that I could.

My best friend bought herself a new violin for her 40th and restarted lessons as well, and my other best friend has dusted off her old violin because her 6-year old has started playing. At this rate we’ll have a little trio going soon, of middle aged ladies with no ambition but plenty of joy.

If you’re thinking about it too, just do it, and go in with no real expectations. Could just be a happy surprise!

Hi! I'm a junior at Berkeley and live in Albany. I'm looking for a private cello teacher for regular weekday lessons.

I'm still a beginner at cello, but I studied classical piano for 9+ years growing up, so I'm looking for someone who can be pretty structured and detail-oriented with technique, bowing, intonation, posture, etc.

I'd be especially interested in learning from a Berkeley student/alum who has a strong cello background and some teaching experience. I'm hoping to find something reasonably affordable and close to campus/Albany. Mandarin-speaking would be a huge plus, but definitely not required!

If you teach cello or know someone good, please
DM me :) Thanks!

So far I've come up with the 2nd mvt of Shostakovich cello sonata. Some bach suites stuff would fit but I don't love playing them - also not so performative. Thanks

the Shostakovich cello sonata is about the limit of my ability. i struggle with Elgar cello concerto. something like the swan would be below the required standard of the performance though.

No better way to end the weekend then with this amazing beautiful piece and music video, just premiered!

I'm curious because for the longest time, I thought Saint-Saëns First Movement was out of my league. But I just played it and it's surprisingly easy (it just sounds wayy harder than it actually is). What are some other pieces I shouldn't be scared of just because they look or sound intimidating?

This is out of Vivaldi Cello Concerto G Minor RV531

Struggling with these areas and would like to know what position and fingering would you use?

I learned this song years ago and had it down. I decided to revisit it recently and I’m really struggling with this area.

I just play as a hobby and to keep my mind sharp.

Hi, r/Cello!

I’d like to share with you the cover to Dover’s edition of the third volume in Schroeder’s famous compilation of etudes/caprices. This classic resource contains music for study by master cellists of the past including Piatti, Duport, and Cossmann. If there’s any corner of the internet that will appreciate it, it’s here. Apologies if this masterpiece has been shared before.

https://store.doverpublications.com/products/9780486852928?_pos=3&_sid=b34ae9af6&_ss=r

I recently started an online Adult Beginner String Student group and you're welcome to join us if you recently started learning to play the cello! We meet monthly. I'd be happy to send you the slides I used to guide our August meeting. If you would like to participate in our next monthly gathering, please just send me an email at rachelkb123 [at] gmail [dot] com

Hi! I’m a beginner and I’ve only been playing the cello for a few months. The pegs are so stiff when I’m tuning that I’ve actually ended up with a blood blister!!😭　It can also take me nearly an hour to tune.
Is there any tool or method I can use that won’t leave my hands hurting?
And then, even after I finally manage to tune it, the pitch drops after a few minutes?! Why???
I’ve looked through some of the older posts on the subreddit, but I still can’t seem to figure it out.

as title says me and my friends were arguing about this and thought i would ask on here as well

Hey everyone, I'm a cellist (hs freshman) who's about to reach his 5th cello anniversary in 2 weeks. This is a pretty big milestone for me so I'll drop a timeline of a sort of this past year 😃

1. Finished prelude to Bach suite 2.

It was pretty bad, this was before I was serious about cello and was also before I had a serious teacher. My past teachers (I had 4) were all undergrad or grad students who needed some extra cash, and they were all pretty bad at explaining to elementary school me about fundamental techniques, I'm still learning. My new teacher is 60-65 years old and is now chilling as the principal of our local symphony, he's helped me grow a lot as a cellist.

Looking back, playing this piece was probably the turning point in my cello life, cello was completely irrelevant in my life before and I learned to love music through this piece and yo-yo ma's recording of it (love you yo-yo!)

2. Suzuki book 8

I was introduced to thumb position in the first piece in this book, Berteau's sonata in G major (September-November).

The reason I played Suzuki 8 btw was because I practically skipped through all the "hard" pieces in Suzuki 5, 6, and 7. Thankfully my love for cello (that developed after playing the Bach 2 prelude) helped me push through this piece even though I shouldn't have been able to. I would say that my thumb position is very decent right now, so I don't think rushing through Suzuki was that bad in the end lol. Though this is easily my most hated piece this year, the cadenza is still fun to play when my cello and I are in a awkward silence, and taught me a lot about string crossings.

The second piece in this book was Saint Saens' Allegro Appassionato (December-Feburary).

This was one of my two pieces that I had a performance for (studio recital, each student of my teacher plays one piece each), and was easily the better one.

Idk wtf this piece taught me but it was fun so alg ig. Good showpiece too.

The third piece in this book was Elegie by Faure, but I didn't play it. I did attempt the 4th and last piece, however. Van Goens' Scherzo (March-April).

Easily the hardest to pick up of the bunch, the sautille was so hard for me and it just didn't click. I ended up skipping this piece :(

3. Lalo cello concerto (April-August)

First concerto! This was kinda insane because I finished the 1st mvmt in a month, 2nd mvmt in a couple weeks, and 3rd mvmt while I was in vacation.

The first movement was the other recital piece that I had. This one went not as good as the Saint Saens because I forgot the last page of the piece (it's so long!). Not a fun experience lol.

4. Haydn C (August-present)

If playing Bach 2 helped me love playing cello, listening to Isserlis' recording of this piece helped me love cello even more. This was the first cello piece that I ever listened to, and my first encounter with it was after almost 4 years of starting cello!

I remember that 13 year old me made a pact with myself that I would play this piece by the time I was 16 😂 Look at me now! It's crazy how time flies...

Extra: I finished up the rest of Bach suite 2, but didn't focus on them as much as I should've. All the movements are kind of crappy and I'll visit it again someday. I've started the prelud of Bach 3 along with the Haydn, and I promise to play more Bach! 😆

I also made all-state for the first time this year, truly an amazing experience where I met a ton of new friends. I hope to make all-state again this year, but it'll be a challenge.

Thanks for reading guys! Just wanted to put this out here because I was so proud of my growth! I also have clips of Bach 2 prelude, Allegro Appassionato, and Lalo mvmt 1. If anyone wants to see them, just dm me.

Looking for slow paced D-flat Major Pièces or artists.

Hello! I’m new to the cello, about 3 months in. This is my first hour trying to play this song (gavotte in Suzuki book 2). I know my intonation is definitely a bit off, but other than that I was hoping to get any suggestions/feedback of things I’m doing that I might not be noticing. I don’t want to build bad habits and figured outside perspectives might be helpful. Thank you! Also yes I do have a teacher I see weekly but I just wanted to post this here as well!