those of you who have studied with me know that my stance on fingernails has been expressed in one word -- SHORT.... and that if they are not short enough - they get cut before the lesson starts.
.... well .....
I am rethinking that -- and not because of the workshop, but due to the intersection of a happenstance and a comment by a gent sometime back.
The happenstance was a visit to my mother during which I was very busy, and on which I had forgotten my nail sissors - ergo, long nails - and little time for cello.
the comment (made some years ago) was mention that nails are outside bones for the ends of your fingers, supporting the knob of flesh at the end of the finger.
At the moment my nails on 3,4 & 5 are about 1/4" long -- longer than I have EVER had them. At the same time, a childhood of gnawing on my nails reduced the attached part of my nail by ... a good bit... and even with these longer nails, there is still a good 3/8" of finger past the nail (before the end of the finger) and when the finger is in a low arch - only skin hits the string.
FYI - i am trimming first and fourth more -- first so that when more a 'u' shape than a smile (thumb position) the nail doesn't hit -- and fourth because that finger was less bitten, and hence less finger past the nail.
it is a new and interesting idea. so far benefit? more amplitude on the vibrato, which I attribute to a longer final digit, and a slightly longer reach, ditto.
learning, re-thinking, re-considering, growing....
happy summer
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