Many people are spending their free time this summer at the beach. I am spending my free time memorizing songs on my cello. As I mentioned in last week's post, I have a new teacher now. I chose her originally because she's an accomplished cellist, because she's been teaching for a long time, and because she is available for weekly lessons. She also uses the Suzuki method, but up until two weeks ago, I didn't really know what that meant, and I didn't care. I just needed a new teacher.
Now I know what the Suzuki method is, and I am a firm believer. For me, Suzuki's emphasis on memorization through listening and repetition really works. Ever since I started playing the cello a year ago, I've surrounded myself with cello music, but I'd never made myself memorize any songs. Now I'm memorizing at least one song a week, and usually two. The emphasis on memorization motivates me to practice every day, and the more I practice, the more confident I am, and the more I love the cello.
I also appreciate Suzuki's gradual introduction of new skills. This week, I am learning a song called Lightly Row. Lightly Row features tunneling, which means keeping my fingers on one string while playing a note on another string with the bow. It's not easy. Ideally, by Wednesday, I should sound like this, minus the vibrato. Vibrato is that wiggly thing he's doing with his fingers. I haven't learned how to do that yet, but I will soon enough, especially if I keep practicing every day.
I'll have to wait a little while though, because it's only 8:00 in the morning, and as much as I've grown to appreciate the Suzuki method over the past few weeks, I'm sure that my landlord, who lives upstairs, is probably hearing French Folk Song and Lightly Row in his nightmares.
Now I know what the Suzuki method is, and I am a firm believer. For me, Suzuki's emphasis on memorization through listening and repetition really works. Ever since I started playing the cello a year ago, I've surrounded myself with cello music, but I'd never made myself memorize any songs. Now I'm memorizing at least one song a week, and usually two. The emphasis on memorization motivates me to practice every day, and the more I practice, the more confident I am, and the more I love the cello.
I also appreciate Suzuki's gradual introduction of new skills. This week, I am learning a song called Lightly Row. Lightly Row features tunneling, which means keeping my fingers on one string while playing a note on another string with the bow. It's not easy. Ideally, by Wednesday, I should sound like this, minus the vibrato. Vibrato is that wiggly thing he's doing with his fingers. I haven't learned how to do that yet, but I will soon enough, especially if I keep practicing every day.
I'll have to wait a little while though, because it's only 8:00 in the morning, and as much as I've grown to appreciate the Suzuki method over the past few weeks, I'm sure that my landlord, who lives upstairs, is probably hearing French Folk Song and Lightly Row in his nightmares.
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