DON'T wait to learn these techniques ⏰ | Adult Cello

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The Strad Podcast Episode #46: Billy Tobenkin on starting the cello at 25 - www.thestrad.c...
Billy Tobenkin is a Los Angeles-based cellist who specializes in teaching adult learners. As a professional cellist who started playing the cello from scratch at 25, he is in a unique position to help others, like him, who found the cello later in life. He has developed strategies from his own musical journey to accelerate the learning process, and he is here to share them with you.
Please contact him at [e-mail] with any questions or comments! Or visit adultcello.com
0:39 #1 - Ear training
3:29 #2 - Shifting
6:06 #3 - Thumb position

[@wingkongyip]

I like your analogy of the wilderness and the barbwire fence when confronting the thumb position for beginners.

[@notmyworld44]

Billy, I was a professional double-bass player for 38 years, and my inability and unwillingness to deal with thumb position severely handicapped me, keeping in the lower skill-set echelon in my section. Now learning to play 'cello, your showing and explaining this technique of landing on the 1st octave with the thumb is really a wonderful help. Thank you so very much!

[@guinnessflachmeier2007]

As a Double Bass player in my high schools orchestra who really wanted to play the cello, I sought out to play Bach Cello Suite no.1 Prélude...on a bass. This was almost entirely in thumb position with maybe 4 bars of normal position. I was scared out of my mind after my orchestra did a quick preview of thumb position. But after the months it took to learn that song, and the hours of dealing with a numb thumb from building new calices, I can confidently say that NOTHING will every scare me when learning a new song. Being pushed into thumb position (possibly too early) was very challenging, but it gave me a very high level of confidence and I absolutely agree that this is important to start early. Not necesarily on day 2 like mentioned in the video, but definetly within a year.

[@cynthiakwan7035]

I'm an architect and adult cello beginner. I really like your analogy of concrete drying for the right timing to learn more advanced techniques - so relatable! It gives me courage to venture out a bit more 😁

[@woodsidestory7604]

Wonderful tips from an amazing teacher ❤ Thank you for sharing your own experience and helpful insights from your background as a ‘former’ adult learner. You are such an inspiration and a precious mentor to guide us smoothly on our cello journey ✨🎻

[@Tom345guitar]

Billy, Your comments on ear training make so much sense but how does one achieve that?

[@asafirth4987]

I also wonder about that. Learning cello at 55 with very little previous music experience.

[@seanrobertson5284]

I'm about to embark on my Cello learning journey at 43! Your videos are beautifully articulated and perfectly descriptive, so thank you!

[@ezraschwartz5201]

Thank you for this video, Billy! Any recommendations for how to practice ear training?

[@elijahjones4667]

LOVE when you go over little digestible scales / new positions, like the thumb position octave! Thanks!

[@LittleLotteWanders]

One thing that I’ve discovered as an adult was that tapes were actually a huge hinderance for me. I played with tapes on my violin for years and tbh, I think it stunted my aural skills. I developed the majority of my aural skills through choral singing. I was abysmal at tonal memory until I started singing. I felt no independence as a musician until I picked up the violin again as an adult and had no one to put tapes on for me. Lo and behold, I could clearly hear when I was and wasn’t in tune. At first I thought “maybe it’s just muscle memory from when I was a kid and the tapes actually were beneficial…” Then I picked up the cello. Totally different fingering system. Just put my hands on it and my tonal memory got everything exactly where it needed to be. My teacher has even said she doesn’t believe in tapes unless you’re REALLY struggling.

[@janetbonneau6685]

I started violin as an adult about 12 years ago and also never used the tapes as I always thought maybe it was a crutch. I'm giving the tapes a try right now as I'm starting to learn cello - but not sure if it helps me much. With a violin you can glance down the fingerboard and check to see the tapes - but with a cello it's more awkward unless you lean the cello away from your head to be able to see the tapes. I guess they have their place but I really find my intonation better if I rely on my ear.

[@Dparrey]

The best part about getting comfortable shifting around the fingerboard is it allowed me to think more about the best way to play certain passages. Before you automatically go to first position but now I have all these fingering options and I think figuring out the easiest or best way to play something is a great skill to have. Still working on it and its actually a little overwhelming at first because now sight reading is harder haha.

[@feliperojas6686]

Hello Bill.. Thanks for all your time and very useful videos.. What is the beat to send you a audio file with the sound of my cello so you may advice what to so..thanks.in advance

[@janetbonneau6685]

Billy - Thanks for another wonderful video! I will give this a try!!

[@hellomate639]

I'm learning the cello so that I can play a real instrument rather than using virtual strings. I've had all this music for the cello in my head for years too. I remember you showing me that you actually want to get those partial scale shapes practiced. This helped me tremendously at getting a rapid start, since my focus on the piano lately has also shifted to improvisation. I'm kind of over the old learning path.... and am in favor of the older learning path! Way back in the day, everything was improv for musicians. Only recently has theory turned into this weird, dense, impracticable subject. Learning music through improv and composing has been a lot of fun.

[@celestecorti6570]

Thanks 😀

[@ellenanna55]

Billy I couldn't agree with you more about learning these techniques in the very beginning. I am 68 almost and I started taking Cello in my 50's. I have some musical experience so I wasn't entirely intimidated. I took cello lessons for some years and was only introduced to the occasional shift when playing certain pieces and the keys 😅I played in were C, G, F and D. My teacher was great with children but I found another that challenged me finally. My issue NOW is I've left learning vibrato for such a long time, I now have that psychological block against ever mastering it. It feels like it did when I was learning to ride a bike or learning how to drive a stick shift. I've convinced it ain't gonna happen. Other than recommending a therapist, do you have any advice?

[@lelo8976]

Hello Billy, I'm currently experiencing some difficulties in playing chords on the cello, especially in making 3- or 4-note broken chords sound juicy till the end. Surely this is something other students are struggling with as well. Maybe you have some advice on that topic? It would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much for the effort you're putting in your teaching. Karolina

[@wendytomey4524]

Your timing in posting this video is perfect for me. I am struggling now with expanding out of 1st position; thumb position is contemplated only in my nightmares! Can you recommend any books or online videos that you think might help me to learn the geography of these higher positions? Thanks for another terrific Video! Wendy Tomey

[@pdxpiney]

Hi Wendy, I’m chiming in because it’s been awhile since you posted your question. In the video, he mentions using Rick Mooney’s Position Pieces books. They seem to be aimed at young cellists, but the exercises are effective. Volume 1 covers 1st-4th position, volume 2 deals with 5th-7th, and then there’s another for thumb position :)

[@victoriayuart]

Really love the new video, Billy! And thanks for sharing the new tips and advice.🥰🥰 It was a really funny coincidence because in January 2023 (just a few weeks ago) I actually decided to go ahead and learn all my 7 positions in one go. Knowing where they are geographically and testing out the waters. But Like the 2nd and 3rd tips you mentioned. I could have waited and "hopefully" learn all my positions at some point but I was like, ok let's put my hand in the cookie jar.🤣🤣 Why not lol. Since I am the curious type. Learned all 7 positions along with extended positions and half positions. It was really eye-opening. And now I understand more of where my left hand is going. It was like almost like wandering around with now map in an unknown country when I didn't know anything beyond the first position. Keep up the great work! Love your motivational and inspiring videos so much!

[@ForestTaber]

I came for the cello and stayed for the cat.

[@christinewallace4924]

Although I've been at it for several years, I never did any ear training, and I know it would help immensely....how do you recommend doing it?

[@KevinKJohn]

1:09, surprise cat in the bottom left... Yes, I have the attention span of a goldfish, even as an "adult" learner, haha. Thanks for the tips today!

[@KB1.1]

Can one put the thumb on the g and d strings? Or is it always c +g and D +a?

[@JediMonk1111]

Thank you!

[@francaarnold5213]

I really would like to train my ears. How can I do that?

[@mufitkahraman5908]

Thank you very much.

[@traceyschaufele]

Interesting! Thanks!

[@stephenedwardleemusic8997]

thank You !!!

[@notmuchtoseehere.9862]

Is that a new cello?

[@M-Lampert]

Love what you are trying to teach! However I think you have the tendency to talk way too much! Confusing actual beginners! It would be great to keep it simple, less talk, stop mentioning the million other options, just keep it simple. This is in general throughout your videos! I’m not saying the content isn’t good! ❤😅