Really fine presentation. Clearly done, pleasant to watch, very workable, easy to take in and remember. Thanks for mentioning that it takes longer than a week or a month to really get a handle on these things. I’ll be forwarding to my students.
Really helpful finger exercises and reminders to avoid excessive tension in the LH - made a big difference to my (beginner) playing all ready! Thank you!
I'm really glad I ran across your videos! Thank you! There's a lot of cello instruction on UA-cam but yours have a lot of really great content. I turn 50 this year and just took up cello a few weeks ago. One thing I'm confused on is where exactly to place the fingers on the neck. I'm using the Hal-Leonard Essential Elements for Strings book practicing A,B,C#,D on the A string and D,E,F#,G on the D string. But, I'm not sure if I'm getting the right sound. Looking at this video, it looks like when you're playing these notes your 4th finger is low on the neck, almost at the top of the cello body.
Try playing your 4th finger on the A string (the note D) with your open D (your bow will be on two strings). If you are in the right place, the two Ds should match.
Hola Abigail. gracias por tus excelentes videos. Hace bastante tiempo que toco el Cello y tengo un problema que no consigo resolver: cuando toco la combinación 1-2-4 mi mano izquierda se bloquea. Solo ocurre con esa combinación. El resto vá perfectamente, 1-3-4/ 1-2-3-4, incluso 4-2-1 vá bien. Pero cuando hago 1-2-4 no se relaja la mano y no puedo tocar con velocidad. Si puedes ayúdame por favor. Muchas gracias.
Your instructional videos are simply the best! Could you please write the name of the book and author? I have looked around for it and can't find it. Thank you very much!
Stamina, coordination, accuracy, efficiency, fingers as units and as individuals. I haven't finished watching, but I'm assuming you do this with separate bows, eventually. Nice presentation.
I feel difficult pressing the G and C strings with my 4th finger. My pinky finger is not powerful enough so that I always make terrible sound. I don't have this problem when pressing the A and D strings. What should I do to improve this?
Ms Abigail, how can I improove my fingers spacing? My second and third fingers are too close to each other! and my hand is very small... i have a lot od dificulties to play chords with extensions please give-me some light! I love your didatic.... thank you and sorry if i have made a lot of english mistakes, its not my native language... Thanks!
Having never seen you play, my guess would be that you need to tip your hand back slightly so it is not completely perpendicular to the fingerboard. The back of your hand should be tilted up toward the ceiling a bit. This usually allows the fingers to spread apart a more. Hope that makes sense.
Pedro, unfortunately I really have no idea how to advise you. Does your hand actually cramp up when you try that combination, or is it just awkward? If it's painful, I'd suggest being very careful, not forcing it, and maybe consulting a doctor. If it's just awkward, I'd suggest lots of slow practice and patience. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
I know this is an old comment but for anyone else experiencing the same issue you could check out cellobello's 2 videos about eliminating left hand tension. The student in the videos is doing a similar finger pattern and they discuss how to relax the hand to stop it from cramping: ua-cam.com/video/OINlplcoZag/v-deo.html
It is rare to find someone who has the exceptional ability to really transfer her musical and technical knowledge. You are one in a million.
Really fine presentation. Clearly done, pleasant to watch, very workable, easy to take in and remember. Thanks for mentioning that it takes longer than a week or a month to really get a handle on these things. I’ll be forwarding to my students.
Really helpful finger exercises and reminders to avoid excessive tension in the LH - made a big difference to my (beginner) playing all ready! Thank you!
Thank you for completing what is typically half the exercise.
Your videos are extremely helpful. They are much appreciated. Thank you 🙏
I'm really glad I ran across your videos! Thank you! There's a lot of cello instruction on UA-cam but yours have a lot of really great content. I turn 50 this year and just took up cello a few weeks ago. One thing I'm confused on is where exactly to place the fingers on the neck. I'm using the Hal-Leonard Essential Elements for Strings book practicing A,B,C#,D on the A string and D,E,F#,G on the D string. But, I'm not sure if I'm getting the right sound. Looking at this video, it looks like when you're playing these notes your 4th finger is low on the neck, almost at the top of the cello body.
Try playing your 4th finger on the A string (the note D) with your open D (your bow will be on two strings). If you are in the right place, the two Ds should match.
Abigail McHugh-Grifa Thank you so much! (now you know how new I am to this lol)
Muchas gracias Abigail. No tengo ningún dolor, solo es torpe. Estudiaré muy despacio como me dices.
Hola Abigail. gracias por tus excelentes videos. Hace bastante tiempo que toco el Cello y tengo un problema que no consigo resolver: cuando toco la combinación 1-2-4 mi mano izquierda se bloquea. Solo ocurre con esa combinación. El resto vá perfectamente, 1-3-4/ 1-2-3-4, incluso 4-2-1 vá bien. Pero cuando hago 1-2-4 no se relaja la mano y no puedo tocar con velocidad. Si puedes ayúdame por favor. Muchas gracias.
Your instructional videos are simply the best!
Could you please write the name of the book and author? I have looked around for it and can't find it. Thank you very much!
Good job Abigail!
Appreciate your videos so much, thanks.
vale, muy practicos tus videos....Muchas Gracias...!!!
Hey my cello teacher taught me that too!! :D You remind me of her. Almost exactly like her...
thank you very much!! you are great!
Stamina, coordination, accuracy, efficiency, fingers as units and as individuals.
I haven't finished watching, but I'm assuming you do this with separate bows, eventually.
Nice presentation.
very useful, thank you!
I feel difficult pressing the G and C strings with my 4th finger. My pinky finger is not powerful enough so that I always make terrible sound. I don't have this problem when pressing the A and D strings. What should I do to improve this?
Ms Abigail, how can I improove my fingers spacing? My second and third fingers are too close to each other! and my hand is very small... i have a lot od dificulties to play chords with extensions please give-me some light! I love your didatic.... thank you and sorry if i have made a lot of english mistakes, its not my native language... Thanks!
Having never seen you play, my guess would be that you need to tip your hand back slightly so it is not completely perpendicular to the fingerboard. The back of your hand should be tilted up toward the ceiling a bit. This usually allows the fingers to spread apart a more. Hope that makes sense.
Wow this was really useful!
muito bom
Pedro, unfortunately I really have no idea how to advise you. Does your hand actually cramp up when you try that combination, or is it just awkward? If it's painful, I'd suggest being very careful, not forcing it, and maybe consulting a doctor. If it's just awkward, I'd suggest lots of slow practice and patience. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
1434 makes my hand go crazy cramp :(
I know this is an old comment but for anyone else experiencing the same issue you could check out cellobello's 2 videos about eliminating left hand tension. The student in the videos is doing a similar finger pattern and they discuss how to relax the hand to stop it from cramping: ua-cam.com/video/OINlplcoZag/v-deo.html
I think anyone who's taken private lessons knows this lol