Posted on May 28, 2008 by Eva Thomas in -
(This idea could really be posted in either the bow category or the left hand category, because it applies to both.)
I’m sure we’ve all had students who think that it is necessary to squeeze and push and press in all kinds of crazy ways to force a sound out of the cello. I like to tell these students that they should only touch the cello and bow in ways that they would want to be touched. This can be demonstrated to the student in any number of mildly painful ways.
-If the student is forcing the sound by pushing down too hard with the bow, I will usually press very firmly on the students arm with the palm of my hand and try to draw my hand along the student’s skin, which doesn’t move easily and is not comfortable if I am pressing hard enough.
-If the initial attack of a note is harsh and ugly because the bow is crashing down on the string from above, this can easily be demonstrated by crashing my hand down unto the student’s arm.
-If the left hand thumb is the problem, I will tightly squeeze the student’s forearm between one of my fingers and thumb.
-Or if the vibrating finger is pressing down mercilessly on the string, this can also be imitated on the arm.
Of course I wouldn’t recommend actually hurting your students, but a bit of brief, physical discomfort can demonstrate quite clearly that perhaps it is not necessary to be so rough on the cello. With little kids I often ask if they would want their parents to touch them the way they are touching the instrument. With teenagers I use a boyfriend or girlfriend situation as an example. This may be bordering on child abuse, but they really seem to get it.