Cello Pedagogy and Cello Technique
Welcome to CelloProfessor.com! I am glad you found my site!
My name is Jamie Fiste. I am Associate Professor of Cello at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, MI. The reason I am creating this web site is because I am fascinated by cello technique and cello pedagogy. Although I teach at the college level, I always maintain a private studio outside the University where I teach cellists of all different ages. I am always eager to take beginners. I am also fascinated by tension problems in cellists. I am always looking for ways to release tension and teach a technique that looks fluid and tension free. This web site is a compilation of my thoughts on the subject.
On this site you will find articles, videos (I am continually adding videos), and recommended resources on cello pedagogy and cello technique. Whether you are a public school teacher, a cello student, or a cello teacher with a private studio, my hope is that you will find my site to be a useful resource for teaching and playing the cello.
My sincere desire is to help equip cello teachers. Because of this I decided to make all of the information on this site free. You can print out any article and copy it as much as you want. I only require that you do not duplicate any of these pages on another web site (Google doesn't like duplicate content).
One person that I truly desire to help is the public school teacher. I have in mind the band teacher who finds him or herself teaching strings. I also have in mind the violinist who also is teaching cello in the public schools and would like more information. At one time, before the myriad of education requirements, education majors had many more hours of training on secondary instruments. Today, the tech classes at the university level barely cover the basics and leave our public school teachers without enough training on secondary instruments. This web site is designed to help fill in the gaps. I hope to give you resources to aid you in your endeavor.
While I advocate a certain approach to cello technique, I am by no means claiming to have the last word on cello technique or attempting to convince everyone to play the way I do. Rather, my aim is to stimulate thought on cello technique and to help all of us to understand how we should be using our bodies in an efficient and tension free manner.
This web site is very new and will be continually expanded as I come up with more ideas and information that I think will help. So check back periodically for updates.
So I hope you enjoy this site and find it useful. Let me know what you think!
- Jamie
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Completed pages on CelloProfessor.com
It's all about the joints! The Key to a Tension Free Cello Technique.VIDEO!
This article examines the motions necessary to play the cello with particular attention paid to the pivot joints and the active and passive motions. I have found that tension usually shows itself in the muscles around the pivot joints. Understanding how our arms and hands move give us concrete ways to practice being loose and free of tension. Learn to play the cello without tension!
Basic Principles of Cello TechniqueVIDEOS!
This page looks at general principles of cello technique. They are particularly useful in preventing overuse injuries in instrumentalists.
Proper Sitting Position when Playing the CelloVIDEO!
This explores what is an anatomically healthy sitting position while playing the cello. Proper sitting position can free our muscles to play the cello instead of holding up an out of balance upper body.
Left Hand and Arm Technique on the Cello: Slanted or Square?VIDEO!
This article looks at the different schools of thought on left hand and arm technique. It provides a rationale for hand rotation instead of prescribing a fixed position for the left hand.
Position of the Left Thumb in Cello Technique
I believe that the most anatomically natural position of the thumb is across from the first finger. This article gives instruction on how to apply this concept to playing the cello.
Right Hand and Arm Position on the Cello
This article is about basic bow technique. As with the left hand, we can avoid a fixed position and develop a technique that adapts to the situation.
How to Vibrato on the Cello: Analysis of TechniqueVIDEO!
This article looks at where exactly the vibrato motion originates. Some teach it from the wrist and others teach it from the forearm. I believe it should primarily come from the shoulder.
How to Teach Even Finger Spacing to Beginning Cellists VIDEO!
Playing with even finger spacing is a common problem with beginning cellists. This article provides possible solutions to this problem, including left hand pronation and teaching second finger after first finger.
Teaching Vibrato to Beginning CellistsVIDEO!
This gives a sequence for teaching vibrato to cellists. It helps the cellist to feel the motion primarily from the shoulder. It gradually adds the bow and pushing down the finger on a string. I have had success with this vibrato exercise with my students.
Action Studies for Beginning Cello
The term "action study" was coined by famous violin pedagogue Paul Rolland. Action studies are exercises on or off the instrument that focus on a particular motion. These are my action studies that I use for my students.
Sequence for Teaching Beginning Cello
This is the schedule I use when teaching beginning cello. I think this will be useful especially for public school orchestra teachers. The main idea of this schedule is to separate the different techniques and work on them individually. After the student has become comfortable with them separately, he or she reassembles them. The student can focus on one technique at a time in the beginning.
Cello technique for the public school teacher who is a violinist VIDEO!
This article and videos provide a basic summary of left and right hand position on the cello with a violinist in mind. Common issues that violinists encounter when playing the cello are addressed.
Sautille bow stroke on the cello VIDEO!
This article and video look at the sautille bow stroke. The video includes an analysis of technique and exercises.
Louré/Portato Bow Stroke on the Cello VIDEO!
The portato bow stroke is a combination between staccato and legato. This article and video define and explain the technique involved in louré.
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