Posted on June 1, 2008 by Anthony Bergen in Shifts - Left Hand/Arm
One of the most common errors that I see in shifting technique is a failure to release the string during the shift. With the exception of certain expressive glissando shifts, the string should not be held down to the fingerboard while moving from position to position. This does not mean that the hand should jump in the air either. The finger should remain in contact with the string, but lightly, as though it is ice-skating over the top of the string. If the string is not released, the friction created between the finger and string will slow the hand down and often prevent the hand from moving smoothly.
Initially I have my students practice this very slowly and deliberately on one small easy shift, for example 2nd finger D on the A string up a whole step to 2nd finger E. In four deliberate movements, the student plays the first note, completely releases the pressure on the finger to allow the string to come off the fingerboard, moves to the new position, and then presses the string down again. Have the student practice this way on many different shifts (different notes and different finger combinations), before allowing them to combine the 4 steps into one fluid movement. For any student who has spent his entire cello playing career shifting without releasing, it will likely take many repetitions of these simple exercises before the new shifting technique becomes habit.