Whoopsie-daisy!

Please Visit my NEW website at louisvillecellolessons.com!

I'm adopting this post title as a new favorite phrase.  A charming young student says this any time she bonks her cello scroll on the wall or drops her bow from the stand.   Now, we practice moving the cello around in the space that we have, but when we have an accident "whoopsie-daisy!" just lightens the mood.

Besides, accidents happen.  Like when I…accidentally...flung my bow down the stairs at rehearsal with the Louisville Philharmonia last night!  We were rehearsing the fourth movement of Mahler's Fourth Symphony when yet another switch of the mute came along.  I had enough time to casually move the bow from one hand to another, switch the mute, and grasp the bow again with my right hand.  

Riiiiiight.  

Sooo, I moved the mute and then I smacked the bow out of my left hand and heard the titter, tat, clink, clank, clop of the bow on the stairs as I watched my bow moving away from me in slow motion.  

Wait for it…

Whoopsie-daisy!

All's well.  The bow is fine.  Rehearsal did not miss a beat (yuck, yuck, yuck).  Aaaand I was able to burn bright red and cool down to my usual porcelain (read: pale) before anyone had time to look back while I held back the giggles.  

If you would like to hear some gorgeous Mahler, Mussorgsky's Pictures At An Exhibition, Dvorak's Song to the Moon,  and a special performance from our spectacular brass, come hear the Louisville Philharmonia:  The Musicians' Orchestra at Harvey Brown Presbyterian on February 27th, 2014.  

Come say hi, and maybe you'll get to see some flying bows. (Hopefully not!) (But maybe…)

How to choose and achieve that musical New Year's Resolution

So, someone shared a great mnemonic device with me the other day that only made me roll my eyes for an instant before I opened my mind and heart to accept the good advice that was being offered.  When setting a goal or resolving to change something in one's life, I admit, this could actually be helpful.

 Be SMART

SPECIFIC

MEASURABLE

ATTAINABLE

RELEVANT

TIME-BOUND

Finished rolling your eyes?  Did you want to say "gag me with a spoon!" or do a dramatic sigh/groan combo?  Yeah, me too.  But it's got me thinking.  Just trust me.

Say a certain musician wanted to challenge herself musically in the year ahead.  She might vow to take lessons.  Practice more.  Play in an ensemble.  Yet, though those things may come to fruition as time passes, the SMART path can only help in getting her there in a more timely fashion.

Let's get a bit more detailed:

Specifically speaking, this musician may want to improve her playing by strengthening her bowing techniques.  In order to do this, she plans to practice and complete an entire series/book of etudes that has been collecting dust on her bookshelf for some time.

A great way to measure this achievement is by taking video of herself during practice to literally see the improvement or lack thereof as time and practice progress.  This process in itself makes the task much more attainable, by demonstrating, visually, the progress.

Another way that this task can remain attainable is by choosing an appropriate technique level of the etudes to be practiced.  By choosing something too simple, one will not glean as much skill, while, likewise, choosing something far too challenging will thwart the learning process.

Much like keeping the goal attainable, choosing a goal or resolving to do something relevant to one's life will be more enriching.  For this musician, choosing appropriate and relevant repertoire will do the trick.  (String musicians have a plethora of options for etudes in local stores and online.  Just ask for help if you are unsure of what you've chosen or even what to look for.)

New Year's Resolutions are fantastic for keeping a goal time-bound!  And for a musician with a goal like the one in this post, a year to work through an etude book of an appropriate level with a focus on bow technique is a great length of time to complete the task with accuracy.  Smaller time-bound goals can be set and achieved throughout the year depending on the length and challenge of each exercise, as well.  How much time will be devoted to the etude each practice session or how often, might be another level to address.

As for me, I keep quiet about resolutions, though the one detailed in this post has crossed my mind a time or two.

Do you have any musical resolutions you would like to define more clearly?  Need a hand choosing material or devising a plan to help you stick to it?  Leave a comment or send me an e-mail.  I'm glad to help.  Really!

It's my job.

As a music student, I always felt inadequate.  I went into private lessons feeling like I knew absolutely nothing.

What key is this?

What is this symbol?

How many notes make up a scale?

Can you demonstrate a staccato bowing?

My mind was spinning with answers, but they all just seemed too simple.  Of course this piece is in the key of D major.  Just like every other piece I've ever played.  That's the segno or sign.  Eight.  Eight notes make up a scale.  Or is it seven?  Ooooh, that's short.  Or bouncy.  Short and bouncy?

AAAAAGGGGGHHHHHH!  The pressure!!

Truth is, that was just me.  My teacher was only trying to find out what I knew.  She wasn't going to berate me.  She was going to teach me.  It was her job.

And now it's my job.  The answers are simple.  There are no trick questions.  I just want to know what you know.  Then I'll teach you what you don't.  

I'm not sure that I'll ever stop putting such outrageous pressure on myself.  At times that pressure is good for me.  

Yet for my students, my desire is for you to take a deep breath as you sit down to play and get out of your head.  Be sure that I will ask you questions at every lesson.  When you know the answer, I'll smile and show you how proud I am with a high five or "Ding!  Ding!  Ding!"  When you scrunch your nose and squint your eyes reaching for the answer you wish was back there, I will give you a hint.  And when it finally comes to light that you just don't know, I'll teach you.  It's my job.

Ugh. Bad Rehearsals Happen.

We all have a bad rehearsal.  Our head is just not in the game.  The bow is flopping and squawking.  The left hand fingers seem sluggish.  Oh, and the conductor's tempo is nearing the speed of light that leaves you in a cloud of dust.

You feel me?

Who's been there?

That was me.  Last night.  Ugh.

A few times I just stopped playing so I could take a second to slap myself straight (all in my head, of course).  I would start back on a downbeat and dig in harder with more concentration.  And by the end of rehearsal I just hung my head and snuck out without looking my stand partner in the eye.  She made a lot of excuses for me last night.  But really, it had nothing to do with her and all to do with me.  I just wasn't up to par and couldn't pull it together.

So what can I do to remedy this?  How do I come back from this for next week's rehearsal?  How do I go back to the front stand with my head held high and a crisp approach to the music in order to lead the rest of the section?

Practice.

And a lot of deep breathing.

Today, I'm shaking off the shame of a fantastically calamitous rehearsal.  I'm going to tune up my cello, play a few three octave scales, analyze my posture and thumb position approach.  I'm going to mark up my music with fingerings, bowings, and words of encouragement.  ...And a few pairs of eyeglasses to remind me to LOOK UP!

For my students:

1.  Choose a passage (listen to it/find a recording)
2.  Clap and Count (write in difficult rhythms)
3.  Pizzicato
4.  Add the bow (with correct bowings)

That's the method.  I won't attempt one step until I've mastered the step prior to.  Neither should you.

Need some advice?  A word of encouragement?  Some help finding a good recording?  I'm here to help.  Leave a comment.  I'll get back to you when I take a stretch break.

Studio Stuff

Grace Salsman Cello Studio:  Background, Philosophy, & Rules

I hold a degree in Music Education--strings (cello) and vocal.  In addition to private students, I have taught elementary, middle, and high school orchestras.  My private students have ranged in age from 9 to 60, some of whom have decided to study for a short time and others who continued their studies for more than two years.  

Currently, I play in a quartet, violin/cello duo, cello duo and I am a cellist with the Louisville Philharmonia:  The Musicians’ Orchestra.  I am a soprano with the Schola of St. Francis of Assisi and sing in a cello/voice duo. 

PHILOSOPHY

My teaching style is very straightforward and step-wise:  A student should not learn this before demonstrating knowledge and ability of that.  My hope is that every beginning student can leave the first lesson playing the instrument with correct posture so that we can build on those steps to create more music going forward.  When I feel that it will aid in your learning, I will play along with you on cello or piano and when the student advances to a level of proficiency in reading and skill, I like to work up duets.  I aim to have a house concert in which students can perform solo and/or chamber works twice a year.  My goal as a teacher is to create excitement for the cello and experiences from which both the student and I can reap pleasure and satisfaction of a job well done from the time we've spent studying the cello together.  

RULES

~My studio is located on Warner Avenue between Cannons Lane and Breckenridge Lane.  

~I accept cash or personal check.  I do not offer refunds. 

~Plan to arrive on time.  Other students may be scheduled before and/or after your lesson and I will do my best to give each student their full time and attention.  

~If you are unable to attend a lesson for any reason, I must receive at least 24 hour notice from the time of the lesson for the lesson to be rescheduled, otherwise the lesson will be forfeited.  Emergency cancellations will be dealt with on a case by case basis.

~You are responsible for the purchase of your own materials:  rosin, strings, music, exercise books, rock-stop, etc… (we will discuss these items in the lesson as they are needed)

~Bring a pencil each week to make notes in your music.

~You may contact me by phone or e-mail, either is fine with me.  Though, if you are unable to make a lesson, or may be late for a lesson, please call and leave a voicemail.  I prefer not to communicate via text message.

The suggestions and rules I list above are for the protection and development of the student/parent and teacher.  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.  

Thank you for choosing me as your teacher.  I look forward to making great music together!

Caring for your Cello

This is a good article on cello care and maintenance.  Thought I'd share it with all of you!

I'll be taking my cello up to the Baroque Violin Shop in Cincinatti next week to have a set up and general check up. My bows need a rehair like whoa, so I'll be having that taken care of as well.  I have always found instrument repair and luthier-ing fascinating.  I'm rather looking forward to heading up there, but who am I kidding, I just love being in a shop lined with instruments I can admire and play.  And choosing a bow to use from the bow cases…don't get me started!  It's better than being a kid in a candy store.

Yes, it's true.  Next weekend, I'll be nerding out in the most fantastic of ways.

~Grace

What You'll Need

For your first and subsequent private cello lessons you will need the following:

*1 spiral bound lined flip pad for notes

*1 mechanical pencil

*Your instrument and bow

*Extra set of strings

*Rosin

*Rock-stop/donut

*All current music and etudes

These are the items every student needs to guarantee a successful lesson.  Most instrument cases come with pockets made for just such items, so that wherever your instrument goes, so do the items that will keep you prepared for that tightly scheduled afternoon when you don't have time to turn around and grab the rosin you left on the table.  Keeping it all together ensures that a great day doesn't fall flat (music joke alert!) just because you happen to be missing one of these essential items.  

I'll have the other stuff:  

*Tuner
*Metronome
*New Music
*Chairs
*Stands

Please leave a comment or question below if you'd like more information or suggestions on brands of items to purchase.  And maybe I'll see you in the studio soon!

~Grace
louisvillecellolessons@gmail.com