#bachcellosuite

Practicing chords on #violoncellodaspalla To make chords sing, it is necessary to minimize the amount of bow used on the bass notes to allow more bow for the melody notes to sing. Often string players spend too much bow on the bass, leaving very little bow for the melody. This is due, at least in part, to slow careful practice and diligent tuning of the bass notes. To train the optimal bow allocation I practice as follows: 1) exaggerate the desired bow allocation by playing the bass notes super slow and with very little bow. Increase the bow speed after the break to the melody notes. 2) Now the bass notes are clear and focused and the melody notes have plenty of bow to sing. This also heightens the sense of counterpoint as the bass and melody notes have slightly different timbre as a result of the differing bow speeds. Additionally, the chord break is much easier lower in the bow where the hair is more flexible than in the middle. Ideally the break will occur near the natural balance point or center of mass of the bow. #happypracticing ! #cellopractice #bachcellosuites #bachcellosuite #bachcello #jsbach #cellolesson #cellomaster #cellomasterclass #celloclass #cellolove #beautifulmusic #sarabande #suite6 #violoncello #baroquecello #baroquemusiclovers #celloist #cellistoworld #cellobration #unusualinstruments #classicaliscool #ifitaintbaroquedontfixit #violoncelle (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/COnCN2FAASY/?igshid=ea4trkdahkgt

-- Alexander Chen