variation Archives

About Thumbs — by Selma Gokcen

You never know what is enough unless you know what is more than enough. —William Blake To anyone engaged in a skill requiring dexterity—surgery, drawing, and of course playing a musical instrument—the use of the thumb is crucial to successful execution. Thumb-finger opposition is one of the primary characteristics which distinguishes primates from other animals, allowing them to manipulate tools; in humans this potential exists at the highest levels, facilitating the development of skills which make extraordinary use of the hand...witness the moto perpetuo. We also have expressions to describe this relationship when it doesn't work well: "He/she is all thumbs!" To enable this thumb—finger opposition, there is a considerable amount of brain space devoted to the fleshy area of the thumb between the base joint of the thumb (located at [...]

By Selma Gokcen|2021-09-13T13:17:08-04:00June 16th, 2013|Categories: Alexander Technique for Cellists, Playing Healthy, Self Discovery|Tags: Arizona State University, index finger, talent, primates, about thumbs, manipulate tools, language, Thumbs, advances, Mary Marzke, potential, brain space, middle finger, discussion, Changes in the ligament, modern humans, skill, Chimps and monkeys, modified design, Gokcen, closed fist position, neck of the cello, conform the thumb, cello, opening and closing the hand, Selma, dexterity, cellobello, palm, brain, grasp, professor, physical anthropologist, variation, highest levels, playing a musical instrument|

The Holy Sextet (Part 1) — by Brant Taylor

Think back to when you were shown how to use the bow to successfully produce different sounds on the cello. In all likelihood, you learned that there is a trio of "variables" that are combined in certain ways to achieve a desired result: WEIGHT, or how much of the right arm's heft is placed into the string from above (I prefer the term "weight" to "pressure," though they refer to the same idea). SPEED, or how quickly the bow is moved laterally. CONTACT POINT, or where the bow hair makes contact with the string relative to the bridge (or fingerboard). While each of these variables is critically important to sound production, the complete recipe for successfully controlling the string with the bow involves more. There are at least three other basics [...]

By Brant Taylor|2023-04-17T14:09:04-04:00November 28th, 2012|Categories: In the Practice Room, Self Discovery|Tags: tone, struggle, weight, contact point, cello, bow technique, cellobello, bridge, Brant, Vibrations, Taylor, variables, control, variation, pressure, bow speed, relaxation|