Teaching Archives

“Which Hand Do You Hear?” — by Bonnie Hampton

When Paul Katz invited me to participate in the “CelloBello” Blog, I was intrigued and immediately saw his idea of a free exchange of cellists sharing their experiences, exploring ideas together and just being in contact as a larger community. As cellists,we have a rich heritage and spirit and we certainly love that instrument a great deal.  Otherwise, why would we carry it all over the world! There is so much to explore, but one thing which I find an endless investigation is the whole use of the bow. Of course, all the issues of the left hand are immediate. We play the notes. Expressively, our uses of vibratos are part of our individual “voice,” but while one might call the work of the left hand, our craft, how we [...]

By Bonnie Hampton|2019-08-05T15:06:25-04:00May 4th, 2011|Categories: Artistic Vision, In the Practice Room, Self Discovery|Tags: individuality, cello, personality, Listening, cellobello, possibilities, musicianship, music, passion, searching, Experience, Bonnie, virtuosity, clarity, Coordination, discussion, exploration, Sound, Hampton, expression, improvement, hands, Teaching, character, individual voice, vibrato, communication|

In the Zone — by Talya Buckbinder

I received my most memorable lesson in distraction during my first year of playing the cello. My teacher sat me down one day, instructed me to play the Gavotte from Suzuki Book 2, and then proceeded to demonstrate the most amusing display of histrionics I'd ever seen, even going as far as to caterwaul loudly and spill her coffee down the front of her dress. My teacher thought she could train me to focus on the music if she presented me with an array of possible distractions. At the Perlman Music Program, Toby Perlman would tell us the story of how Mr. P played a concert through an earthquake and continued performing, completely unaware that the earth was trembling below the concert hall. We all laughed incredulously, though I couldn't [...]

By Guest Blogger|2017-10-24T04:17:45-04:00April 6th, 2011|Categories: Performance, Self Discovery|Tags: goals, student, focus, Technique, Concerto, Haydn, Distraction, Teaching, effortless, cello, lessons, cellobello, relaxation, music|

The Cello Can’t Learn

I am fairly certain that I would have been voted “least likely to have a teaching career” upon graduating from the Cleveland Institute of Music. As someone at home on the stage, I had been pursuing a career in performance since I made the decision to become a cellist at the ripe age of 11. Would I play in the Chicago Symphony? Be in a String Quartet? Play solo concerts? The answer was undetermined, but the path I was on was well established. It was a seemingly random act of fate that forever changed my direction in the music field. I met Doris and Bill Preucil when I was a senior at CIM. They claim they recognized the “teaching spirit” in me, a fact I found strange at the time, [...]

By Melissa Kraut|2011-03-14T10:15:19-04:00March 14th, 2011|Categories: Teaching|Tags: career, cello, musicians, improvement, Kraut, Melissa, Teaching|

“Why?” That is the Question! — by Robert DeMaine

"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." So the proverb goes. As a teacher, I think to myself, "Wouldn't it be something if I made a positive difference in all these people's lives?" Well, that would be mighty grand, but if I can reach just one really thirsty horse, then it has all been worthwhile. And here, I am humbled by the important question at hand: How does one organize a thought and articulate it in a helpful, meaningful, and transparent way to the recipient of the message? Can just one life be changed for the better? I'll do my best ;-) To be sure, I have my share of opinions and a certain amount of experience in the "field that chose me" (and [...]

By Robert DeMaine|2020-10-07T20:56:45-04:00March 14th, 2011|Categories: Artistic Vision, Self Discovery, Teaching|Tags: Teaching, cello, performance, improvement, self|

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