How to play the Cello | The left hand

[@asrinivasan2]

Beautiful playing and great class, very helpful, thanks

[@gerardquinn4513]

An excellent video. New insights and I love the mathematical explanations. I could hear exactly what Julian meant with the open G and B. Thank you so much. I look forward to more videos. Beautiful sound of course.

[@aristotleolympiada4540]

Wow, this is absolutely fantastic! Julian, you are amazing.

[@jorisArt]

This is a great little lesson, and you are a very fine Cellist! Thanks

[@GustavUppercut]

Thx for a great video! I was wondering if you could expand on the exercise you were doing to keep your joint from collapsing. I am having the same problem and it's VERY frustrating! Thx again

[@tambalagiu]

Most instructive. I will never play Bach the same way again.

[@matsmats888]

Where is Lesson 3 please? These are fantastic

[@radioazma]

Hello from cairo, is it possible to email mr thompson a question as i cant seem to find his email online

[@joashlim207]

Just found this gem! what is the reason for using the mostly lower half of the bow for your interpretation of this piece?

[@ellthaliona4339]

I've been playing with a collapsed left hand for about five years, do you know how to fix it? Are there specific exercises that might help?

[@violetgilbert9618]

I was wondering what type of cello you are playing. It has such a beautiful sound. Please share the name. Thank you. Also any advise on buying a cello. Thank you.

[@joehiggins5705]

This video is really interesting. However, the instrument i play is a viola. I was wondering if the skills for cello playing in this video could also be used to play the viola?

[@mise6922]

Dall'Australia con Amore!😍 (parafrasando il titolo del celeberrimo film di James Bond)

[@tubbie0075]

That's an interesting tailpiece. What is the advantage of using a tailpiece that is shorter on the A string and longer on the C string? Does it has anything to do with the tension of the strings? Do you need to use a different set of cello strings to go with that tailpiece or normal cello strings?

[@AustralianChamberOrchestra]

Hi tubbie0075, Thanks for the question! The design of the tailpiece allows the string lengths on either side of the bridge to resonate sympathetically with one another, at pythagorean ratios that are related to the overtone series. On some instruments, using this kind of tailpiece can result in a more resonant sound, with broader spectrum of overtones. You don’t need a different set of cello strings - there should be enough extra length in the string when fitted, though perhaps fewer turns of the tuning peg! For more information: zmtsound.com/zmt-tailpiece

[@jondoes8222]

how do you practice trembling a note? I was wondering if there are exercises. Its kinda like patting belly and circling head with hands I think. So do you do?

[@AustralianChamberOrchestra]

Hi Ron, If I understand your question correctly you're asking about how to learn and practice vibrato. In some ways it is perhaps a little like patting your head and rubbing your tummy at the same time, although, in my opinion, it has a more beneficial aesthetic outcome. As you can hear when you listen to someone playing or singing using vibrato, it is an oscillation of a note that hopefully creates a pleasing sonic effect. It can also sound quite awful in some contexts, so beware! There is a school of thought that back in Baroque times vibrato was used more as a special effect or an ornament, rather than continuously applied. If it's piled on to thickly or heavily, or on the wrong material, it ends up a bit like spreading an oily layer of peanut butter onto a nice delicate ceviche. In broad terms, cello vibrato is a pitch oscillation caused by the movement of the left arm and hand. It is important to note that vibrato is initiated by the arm and not within the hand itself. In my opinion it's also worth starting with a vibrato that is initiated by the left arm moving up and down (in the plane of the fingerboard) as opposed to the forearm rolling forwards and backwards and using the finger as a pivot point. You could imagine that it is a little like glueing a matchbox car to the end of your left-hand fingers and then sliding the car up and down the strings of the cello. Only move about 2 centimetres and try and set up a nice rhythmic pulse - you can try experimenting with different speeds - and try and keep your arm and fingers relaxed. The next step it to refine this motion when you anchor the tip of a finger on the note you desire. As you can imagine, it's not the easiest thing to write about, without some kind of visual or sonic reference. Luckily there's a lot of good material on youtube about vibrato, just put in "cello vibrato". I'd especially recommend Steven Doane's ideas - kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHjLfoiQeMd2Z5Y. Cheers, Julian

[@nicoleterrell1098]

He seems cool.