[2024-06-25] Bach - Sarabande in C Major

I could have sworn that I recorded this already! Evidently not. I'm a big fan of the Sarabandes in the Bach cello suites. Beautiful and resonant. But that also makes them hard - the smallest mistake stands out like a sore thumb.

[@DanielBrice7f58a6]

reminds me of Over the Garden Wall

[@matt-learns-cello]

Listening to this: ruclips.net/video/9kgRHg3TaAI/видео.html and yeah! I can hear it.

[@dbalatero]

I'm curious: Does your left hand feel stiff/tired when you play? Also do you find it hard to keep your thumb under the 2nd finger on the left hand?

[@matt-learns-cello]

Yup! I have a habit of keeping my hand and fingers perpendicular to the neck, which develops a lot of tension. I've been adjusting my posture since this video to encourage a more angled and relaxed approach.

[@dbalatero]

That is perfect, you want the hand to angle back towards the scroll.
You can actually do a little test - when your fingers are perpendicular, if you stretch with your index and pinky (as if you were doing an extended fingering), you'll notice the two fingers fight each other and hurt.
If your hand is angled back, you'll notice that the extended fingers stop fighting each other and actually share the same resources.

[@dbalatero]

The other thing to note is that when the hand is angled, the fingertips are more parallel with the floor. Because the string should be held down by natural back and arm weight (never hand squeezing), and gravity points down at the floor, you get a more direct and solid weight transfer into the fingertips.

[@DanielBrice7f58a6]

also, you're going for that late 90's early 00's Emo look, huh? 😏

[@matt-learns-cello]

Haha! The eternal struggle of wanting to grow my hair out, being too lazy to get it cut, and not liking the awkward stage...

[@cnrono]

This is pretty good! How long have you been playing for?

[@matt-learns-cello]

Thank you! I've been taking lessons consistently since March of 2023, and had taken lessons for maybe 1-2 years in 2016-2018.