So…. It’s fall, and for the first time since I was a student (back in dinosaur times), I am in the same situation as many YOU (though probably for a different reason!!)
I spent 2 months of the summer roaming around Europe, and with the exception of 20 minutes playing cello in the upstairs showroom of a music store in York, was ‘cello-less’ for June and July. In August, I was with my mother and a practice cello – and now, in September, I am back with my own lovely instrument.
So…. I had to re-start from full stop – and maybe you are doing much the same?
Following are some ideas on how to do this – a restart w/out injury &/or annoying either body or mind.
FIRST and always good to remember – you know a lot about playing the cello, and letting your brain/body re-teach itself during the first few hours back at the instrument/music is a good thing. Like swimming for the first time each summer, after a bit of “just doing it”, it’s back.
1/ Fingers have lost a good bit of the callous !! so you will feel the strings vibrating (and quickly will re-learn to disregard this sensation). Also… that callous will not be rebuilt in a day or even a week. Doing a lot of practice right off the bat will result in sore fingers, which is ok, but LOTS (ie. hours each day) may well raise blisters under the forming callouses, and from a “been there, done that” you really really don’t want that.
2/ Your brain remembers ways to use your muscles in ways that they may not be strong enough to handle. Yes, you know how to torque your bow arm and play very loud for 2 hours, but not the best idea from a dead stop. Possible consequences include tennis elbow/ pulled muscles, etc., etc. (this is another ‘been there, done that’ - grimace)
3/ As we have often discussed, written music is another language, and therefore reading could be a bit rusty after a few months of not doing. Consider how your first few lines of your handwriting looks after a week of vacation and no pen in hand…. the same holds true for those brain connections. Go back a bit, and play tunes you enjoy – let your body remember how it reads.
And finally – play around with the cello a bit. Daydream in sound – play stuff not on the page – find out how it feels (and sounds) to slide on different fingers – to play a tune by ear – to play one note for a long time – to sing the same note you play – to sing a different note.
Try out this paradigm (this means a new way of thinking about something). Cello = Dog. Sometimes you are simply enjoying each other’s company; sometimes you are training the dog; sometimes feeding, walking, tending. In other words, there is both structured and unstructured time with DOG. Greatly encourage you to include unstructured time with music/cello.
And really finally – welcome back – it has been an incredible summer for me, following an incredible year. Thank you again, all of you, for your understanding, support, and smiles. This blog, which chronicled the travels, is now morphing into a blog for music doings – comments for students / concerts I am playing / concerts my colleagues are playing / comments on my playing- exploring – learning / musical things that are ‘cool’ to check out /
Tally ho – 2011-2012 is alive and well and rolling…..
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