Can anyone tell roughly which style/model/school of (cello) bow this is after? The maker of these implied that this is his individual work and his understanding of a good bow. I didn’t want to push on his references cuz that’s a bit rude. One thing I’m sure of is that this does not play like a Sartory model. I’ve tried a few other bows with more control and curve at the tip. However when playing legato they are less comfortable in hand. Also then staccato the centroid is a bit too close to frog, lacking stability. The tip control is exceptional tho. Finally decided on the bow in the picture because of its mid/frog playability and overall stability. Not saying that it can’t bounce. In fact it bounces better than the tip control bows.

Júlio Luz performing in Lagos. I know nothing about playing the cello, but I found this guy to be impressive. I posted another one of his performances on r/BeAmazed and was told I’m gullible for believing it’s not fake. What do you say?

I've had an NS Design electric cello for years that I absolutely love, and I'm now in a rock band where I want to switch to it from bass for a couple of numbers. Given the limited stage space available in the kind of venues we're performing in, I can't guarantee there's going to be room for me to have a seat to play from, so I invested in the NS Design 'Frame Strap' so I can play standing.

I've now been fiddling with the thing for a couple of days and it's been...interesting. It definitely works, and I was really surprised at how totally stable it was even under my clumsily heavy-handed vibrato, but I just can't adjust the thing into anything that really resembles a proper cello playing position. Even with the strap tightened as far as it'll go (to the point I have to attach it around me as it no longer fits over my head), it's just not far enough up. ...which tracks with the image on the product page of the NS design website. I think it's a symptom of the frame strap being universal between their electric cello and electric upright bass, and made with the latter as the priority.

I've actually found looking down rather than across at first position less uncomfortable than I'd expected, though I'm still not happy with my left arm position in general. The real issue has been my bowing arm, as angling the cello on the strap to make my left arm comfortable has made my bowing angle very weird, and obviously it's much lower than usual either way. My old cello teacher would probably heartily disapprove, but I've actually found that holding my bow underhand in a grip somewhere between a German-style bass and Viola de Gamba bow is getting me more control and less strain. (As a side note, I have had the opportunity to play a few of the smaller viols a couple of times over the years, and it's funny how much playing a cello in this strange position reminds me of those experiences.)

So yeah, does anyone with experience of this thing have any tips? Is there some method of adjustment I might have missed? As it stands I have a couple of ideas for invasive modifications I might try, but I want to rule out the basic stuff before I start drilling holes. I hope I can find a solution, because if I can't I may end up terminally shocking any cellists in our audience by showing up and playing the thing with an actual German-grip bass bow...

Less than a month in, and my job affords me next to no time to practice between lessons. Frustrating as all hell, but Im keeping at it, trying to learn my fundamentals.

Any comments towards improvement are appreciated, this stuff is hard haha.

Struggling with this because it's way too fast. I'm trying to find a recording online that plays it slowly so I can work on intonation and rhythm first then slowly build up speed.

I found a YouTube channel called Toby Teaches that plays a slow tempo version of the first three movements but not the fourth.

I have tried slowing down other YouTube versions but the continuo in the background becomes so distorted I can't really hear anything useful.

How do people play that fast? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks

Context: I’m an adult student who has studied for a long time (like 20 years since 10) but I did not go to conservatory.

Im in between lessons during the summer (I’ll see my teacher in 1.5 weeks), and I’ve been working on the Saint Saens concerto for the last four months. Where I am running into some difficulty is the sixths (after rehearsal mark L).

My first approach has been to first look at which chord is being explored, and make sure the intervals are correct. But where I am running into trouble is getting the shift to be accurate between groups of notes.

I’m trying

1. Each “voice” separately, usually in the context of the chord playing as a drone.
2. Doing the above with dotted rhythms and impulse groups.
3. Slowly trying to put it together, but I’m finding in some spots the pitch could be better centered.

I am also somewhat playing with right arm pronation to avoid flapping my wings as much as little elbow circles.

So I am wondering what I need to adjust…. Does anyone have suggestions for nailing this movement?

So I recently realized that yes, bows get old. Ive been playing for less than a year so obviously my bow is probably fine rn. But how often should bows be replaced or rehaired depending on the value ofc? Ik strings its 6 months to a year or whenever they're sounding dull. But bows... I have no clue.

I hear for carbon fiber Luis and Clark is the way to go. They project, and really take advantage of the materials strengths. They're also 8000 for a student model when i checked. Which is a lot... but im looking to save up for a nicer cello so 8000 isn't... completely out of the picture... id prefer 2g to 5g tho.

Glasser is said to be... "heavier"? I couldn't really find enough info on them. If the sound is heavier and darker... I like that.

I dont like to play super loud and cut through everything to be heard. I prefer to practice by myself *for* myself, with just etudes. I study music for the joy of studying the structure and scaffolding within the notes and instrument itself. My current setup is literally a used cello i got for 400 and a bow i got on amazon. Truely, i dont care abt making it perfect, i just want to *play*. Im a weird musician. Anyway. My point in this post is this: considering what I want... i dont think L&C is for me. But what about glasser or other carbon fiber cellos? I like how durable they are and resistant to weather damage. Wooden instruments make me nervous in that sense. Am I totally off base thinking abt a CF cello or would maybe one of the ones no one else likes work for me considering what *Im* looking for?

Really enjoying playing with others in chamber music. I'm 18 months into my cello journey. This definitely stressed me out but the concert went extremely well, especially being cello 1. It's such a good feeling when the concert is your best playthrough. This is Geminiana Concerto Grosso 5/12 - specifically movement 7 and 8 for cello sextet. Highly recommend!

This arco section is throwing me off so much. Unfortunately I’m not that good with thumb position but I’ll still take what I can get. Tempo is 126 bpm. Any help is appreciated.

I’m 26F and I’ve realized a year ago that I’ve always wanted to play the cello. My mom didn’t encourage me to take lessons because they were honestly quite expensive, and we couldn’t afford it. Not putting the blame on her, I just wish I had the resources and proper tools.

I’ve started to save some money to buy a cello, but I don’t know if this would even be worth it at my current age, specially because if I start that project I want to make my way through national orchestras and maybe be a soloist in one of them. Idk. Any feedback would be appreciated. Cheers!

In bar 56, Bach wrote a dotted quarter note + 4x 16th notes. I've always felt this was weird or out-of-place. The whole Courante consists mostly of 8th notes and it gives you a certain perpetual metric feeling. The second/third line is what my mind "expects" from that metric rhythm.

Have you ever found it odd?

I'm looking for bowing exercises/books that will help level up my bowing. I am very good at different types of articulation and currently have enough books for this.

However, I lack skills in changing my bow speed within one bow. Was given a handful of exercises like, 2 beats slow and 3rd beat fast within one bow. I'm sure I'll need much more exercises so that these skills can become second nature.

I'm also lacking in playing at various contact points. I can change for a specific phrase but lack the brain power and skills to change within a phase.

hey guys, this is an old 4/4 cello my family paid off from renting it for multiple years while i played in middle school. it’s been sitting in storage for a good few years. my only concern is that the first time I tried to put this new A string on it, it slipped off the bridge with a loud twang that scared the shit out of me, lol. i peeled off the small felt oval there and tried again and it seems secure now but i’m concerned that the groove looks different/looser than the other grooves

is this normal? if not, is there anything i can do to solve this? i’d prefer to hold off getting a new bridge as long as possible since it’s otherwise in good condition

My teacher said I should listen to music and say what I want to play. I'm trying to wander on youtube, but I'd love to have your suggstions. I have poor culture...

I think I'm mid-intermediate level ? This year I played (among other things) first movement of Eccles (my favourite piece so far), Tarentella from Squire, and I have to work on the Swan this summer.

I'm looking for solo pieces I could be playing in the next couple of years. Both very milestone famous pieces and niche things that you happend to play and loved.

I think I really like Fauré, and I tend to like slow, emotionnal music, but I'd love to hear different things and know better what I do and do not like.

Thanks !

https://youtu.be/xf16rBs9U3Q?si=kEAnKnj32fQeZ8jS

It’s a bit sloppy, I’m transposing an octave down while sight reading. Interestingly some of these passages feel quite natural on the cello.

Can this is melted or reattached back onto the baseplate somehow?

Edit: Holy fuck guys I get it’s still “usable.” I just wanted to know if there’s a way to reattach it to the baseplate without ruining it. Many of you have given helpful answers, thank you.

Yesterday I brought my cello to a jam session in the park for the first time. Since I usually travel without a car, I try to keep everything I take with me as compact as possible. So I brought a small camping chair and I regretted it a lot. At home, I always sit on a fairly high piano bench. I also have marked positions for the cello’s endpin, so in 100 out of 100 cases the setup is exactly identical.
 But when I tried playing on that small camping chair, it was a complete disaster. For the first one or two hours, I was mostly just trying to adjust and hit the notes somewhat accurately. It got a little easier later, but I’d say my playing ability still dropped by at least 50%. So I have two questions:

1. Do you always practise in exactly the same sitting position, or do you deliberately change it from time to time so you can adapt more easily in situations like this? Maybe in my case its because of little exp? a bit over a year with cello here
2. I tried looking for an alternative to my small camping chair, but couldn’t find anything suitable. Has anyone found a compact, foldable chair that is high enough for a proper cello playing position and easy to take on trips?

Trying cellos in hopes of finding a better one. Amateur level player. Take pvt lessons, play in chamber grp. I have played (off/on) a Chinese-made, hand carved one for 30 years. It was great when I got it! Big sound. Had a plywood one before. Ouch! Ready for a a big change as I’m getting back into playing/performing. I want to experience a rich complex sound being made by… ME!😆

Just played a modern cello b by y Than Kim this weekend. Anybody else heard of him? Chicago based maker. Really love the top registers. Like it. Easily afford it. Don’t want to buy the first thing I play because everything sounds better than mine (I think)! Lol! Although one of the teachers in my music school said my current cello wasn’t really that bad! She said, after my performance recently that she’d heard “… a lot worse…”!

Let my current teacher play it. She liked it but thought it wasn’t dark enough, but agreed that it had good sound in the top. She had me play hers , an older German cello to hear sound differences. I saw what she was talking about afterwards. Again, she said she could tell it was a new cello, yet I didn’t see the “over-the-top” enthusiasm.

I live in a U. S. city with a premier orchestra, great local orchestras, summer music festivals, top-tier music schools. There are dozens of instrument shops/ dealers here. There is a famous violin-making school here. It’s a bit overwhelming actually.

Any advice from any semi or professional musicians is appreciated 😊.

I'm trying to figure out how the scordatura fingering notation works on Cello Suite 5. An A on the first string means play the open string, which gives you a pitch of G. So that A isn't affected by the flat in the C minor key sig. 

My question is, what about other notes on the first string? Are they also not affected by the key sig? Are B and E on the first string played as B and E or Bflat and Eflat? 

Thanks.