Posted on May 20, 2008 by Akemi Tanimura in - Hints for Tough Spots in the Cello Repertoire
I like to have my students practice Bach by experimenting with different groups of notes that fit together musically. This helps them to decide where the phrases lie and what notes should be brought out. It also helps with deciding where to take time and with choosing bowings.
For example: In the Allemande of the 1st suite, the student can try many different combinations of notes at the very beginning to find the groups that he likes best. The first group could be GABC, GABCBAG, GABCBAGF, or GABCBAGFE. Which group the student chooses would determine where the next group starts, what bowings should be used to clearly define the group, and what patterns and sequences are brought out later.
Students should be free to experiment and find the groupings they like best. They should try all the possibilities before deciding. Later when they play without stopping at the end of each group, they should still phrase in a way that shows the groups of notes that belong together.