I started playing the cello about 3 1/2 years ago. I had wanted to play the cello since I was in elementary school. My parents had me play the violin instead. They said it was easier to transport (true, but I really wanted to play the cello!) I played the violin for about 3 years but quit to concentrate on the piano.
In August 2003 I got laid off from a startup, and decided that I had run out of excuses for why I couldn't start playing the cello. "I don't have time to practice." "I travel too much to be able to play." "I don't have a cello." "I don't have a teacher." "I'll suck when I start playing." Well, I rented a cello, found a teacher, and found that as an adult I have an entirely different approach and a lot more patience and appreciation for the journey. I did suck when I started playing, but when I started I didn't care!
After I had been playing for a few months I joined a local community orchestra (no auditions - very key!) I probably had no business playing with a group at that point in time, but I figured that I would just play what I could. That really worked. I'm still playing with this orchestra and it's been really fun, especially as my playing has improved.
I joined the orchestra because my real goal was to play chamber music, and after a year or so, one of the violists approached me and asked if I would join their group. They were in dire need of another cellist. Hooray!!! I've really enjoyed this group - we simply read through music. I've been playing either the piano or cello depending on who is there from week to week. We've had all sorts of configurations - piano trio, piano quartet, piano quintet, string trio, string quartet, string quintet - a great way to explore a variety of music. The other cellist is my standmate from orchestra, and since he's been playing for a looong time he keeps me from getting too lost if we're doubling on a part. It's also been a good benchmark for me to measure my improvement. I remember the first time that I was able to play loudly enough to match the volume of our first violinist!
A few months ago another member of the orchestra asked me to join their group. It was really eye opening to play with a group that occasionally does gigs in the area. Instead of just playing through music and moving on to the next piece, this group spends time rehearsing everything we are playing (as well as having fun).
As I look back on the past few years, I am grateful that I took the plunge to start playing. It has been really rewarding to play and I look forward to every single practice or playing session. I miss my cello when I am travelling. As an adult student I am much more demanding of my teacher than I was as a kid taking piano lessons (and I had an excellent piano teacher when I was young- and I studied piano all through college and graduate school). I'm not as afraid to tell my teacher where I am having problems and what I think needs to improve and to get his help to help me change what I'm doing to play better. As a kid I was terrified of how badly I might play during a piano lesson. Now I still don't like to play badly during a lesson, but I'm much more willing to find out what I can start to change about my playing in order to make it better.
1 comment:
Hi CelloGeek. Welcome to the world of celloblogging. As a late-starter myself, I am fascinated with the impressions of others who are on a similar journey. Their inspiration and support have carried me through several low points in my own studies.
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