Last night I was inspired by Cellodonna's comment on my previous post that she warms up with Mozart's Rondo Alla Turca (last movement of sonata no. 11 in A major kv331). I stopped midway through playing the Mozart sonata I warm up with to switch to the Rondo. I had to drag out the music for the Rondo because I only have bits and pieces of it memorized. Since I had my collection of Mozart piano sonatas out, I decided to play the next sonata KV332, No. 12 in F major, all of KV333 (my warmup sonata, No. 13 in B flat major), and KV283, No. 5 in G major. It's been a long time since I've played any Mozart sonata other than the one I warm up with and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I could feel the effect of the rhythm practice too, I was having a much easier time with the ornaments, and I even added extra ones and improvised for fun. My last piano teacher was really big on improvising within the context of the music - a common practice of the period - but I digress.
I figure that since I played Mozart last night I must be a teeny bit smarter! I've always wondered if listening to Mozart really does make a difference in kids' performance in other school subjects.
It's been so nice to be home and play the cello every day. I've continued to work on bowing straight - mixing in exercises to try to burn the feeling of the changes I've made in wrist position and bow angle into muscle memory. I've spent time playing through pieces, making them progressively harder, trying to concentrate on bowing straight, to see at what point I start losing it. Once I notice that I've lost control I step back and try to bow straight again with just simple rhythms and bowing patterns.
2 comments:
Glad to inspire! You are probably doing a lot more piano playing than I am. I said "warm up" but it's more of a "play through" of my favorites, and it doesn't really happen on a very regular basis. These days I devote my practice time to cello, and piano time to giving lessons. I spend more time playing beginner "ditties" and duets than I do Mozart. But I do enjoy the teaching.
Thank you for the anniversary wishes!
Thanks Cellodonna! I know what you mean about piano time; this week was unusual because I was home and could play the piano. I too am devoting most of my practice time to cello. Piano time these days is mostly with my chamber group when it doesn't make sense for me to play cello (we've been playing a lot of piano trios lately) or just reading through music for fun.
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