How to Fix Common Problems: 3 Reasons Why Shifts Go Wrong

In this video we explore 3 reasons why shifting can misfire - and not all of them are down to your hands!
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Julia Morneweg is a highly sought-after London cello teacher with an exceptional track record of student success. Her past and present students have held music scholarships at many of the most prestigious independent schools including St. Paul’s Boys School, Latymer, Alleyns, Francis Holland, Channing School, Sevenoaks and Hornsby House. She has given masterclasses and run workshops at institutions such as the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, the RCM Summer School, Enterprise Scotland and Tanglin Trust School in Singapore.
Her own performing career has seen her perform as a soloist and chamber musician at venues including the Purcell Room, St. John’s Smith Square, St. David’s Hall Cardiff, Zurich Tonhalle, Daning Theatre Shanghai and many others. She was a member of the Erato Piano Trio for twelve years and has performed as a guest with leading UK and European orchestras. Since 2016 she is joint Artistic Director of ChamberMusicBox, a collective of outstanding British and European musicians promoting concerts around the UK.
The break to her performance schedule enforced by subsequent COVID-19 lockdowns encouraged her to make a long-planned series of videos. As well as looking after her permanent class in London, Julia also teaches students remotely via Zoom, FaceTime and Skype. Visit her website www.juliamorneweg.com for more information about lessons.
If you have a question or would like a specific topic explained in another video, leave a comment below!

[@Evelyn-zn6td]

This video saved my sons playing. Can’t thank you enough.

[@yngveskarphedinssons]

Danke Julia, not only this video but who ever was your teacher plus your eye for detail l have learned more in how to play cello than my cello teacher that comes to me to teach for private lessons. I plY classical guitar for many years l don’t get it that many teachers out there don’t know how to teach the basics to their students. Your video on showing how to properly bow is the 10/10. God bless you Julia Юлія

[@markknill3280]

Guilty of practicing shifts too fast....but what if you're playing semi quavers and the shifted notes needs to follow quickly, especially if its a big shift? Thanks your vids..I re watch them often and deepen my understanding each time!

[@monica4200]

Very helpful video - thank you!

[@kencarpenter2785]

A great video! I loved the mountain climber analogy!!! So true! Perhaps you have already addressed this, but I’ve been wondering about shifting exercises whilst attaining good intonation! Some times I work on octave shifts, from 1st position to say 7th. You are so right about SLOW practicing! The late Lynn Harrell stressed this. It was almost his mantra! Thank you!!!

[@franciscoarcegurza6474]

Thank you very much. Very clear and extremly useful. Just like all your other videos. Great help.

[@anasmenendezmartinez7527]

Thanks !!! great info.

[@lloyd_cello]

Thanks Julia! very helpful tips!

[@vforv9402]

Thank you so much: this helped me a LOT!!!!!!

[@randycousineau9274]

Thank you very much 🌺

[@barbara_vdWiel]

Thanks Julia, your explanation videos are always very helpful! I am going to tackle some shifts now 🙂

[@juliamorneweg5416]

Go for it and let us know how you're getting on!

[@barbara_vdWiel]

@@juliamorneweg5416 Well, you made me sing (which is a miracle on itself 😅) but it worked together with the other tips. Going much better! 🎶 thanks Julia!

[@juliamorneweg5416]

@@barbara_vdWiel That's brilliant news! Keep up the good work!

[@barriereid9244]

🍧🍧🍧🍧

[@JohnP470]

Hi Julia, Thanks for another great video lesson. Your presentation is excellent (you almost never say "um"). Do you recommend the exercises in Feuillard for practicing shifts?

[@juliamorneweg5416]

Hi John! Feuillard (especially exercise no. 16) would be a great vehicle to work on this. However, I think it is much less important WHAT you practise than HOW you practise it. Any piece you are working on will have countless shifts you can work on. Nowadays when I want to spend some quality time on my shifting, I'll often pick a page from a concerto or another solo piece and just go through each shift incredibly slowly and carefully without worrying about the piece as a whole, if that makes sense. The beauty of that is that I'm simultaneously honing my technique, but also learning or refreshing repertoire as a by-product, so that when I actually have to play these pieces a lot of the technical donkey work is already done and I can focus 100% on what I actually want to do with the music.

[@JohnP470]

@@juliamorneweg5416 Hi Julia, Sorry about the delayed response. Thanks for the thorough reply. I really appreciate your videos and your ability to communicate what is needed to play the cello well.