My Cello Practice Essentials

Welcome to "All Things Cello" - my new at-home video series...

and facebook @rnarrowaycello

[kencarpenter]

Thank you Richard! This list made me feel good, as I have all of the same essentials scepter for the gauge! I also use a simple scrubby that you would have in the kitchen. A few swipes over the string and it really helps to clean the strings!

[kevinmcteague]

I consider a mirror to be essential. While I don't use it for my entire practice session, I will occasionally move my chair in front of the mirror to check bow angle and left hand/arm balance. Its essential for me because I split my day between modern cello and baroque cello.

[lesshiaman]

If you're traveling or live in a region with changing weather conditions particularly humidity changes, 2 reliable digital hygrometers (I use one outside case and one inside case) and a set of strettos, dampits or boveda humidity packs is essential to prevent fractures especially below 30% humidity. Ideally 40-70% humidity should be maintained. I always keep the cello in the case when I'm not playing as it's a safe, controlled environment. On the topic of keeping a cloth to wipe dust/rosin off the cello and strings, I keep a dedicated cloth to clean off rosin from fingerboard and strings and a separate cloth for wiping the cello varnish. You don't want to use a cloth with rosin dust to wipe the cello varnish.

[marjk]

I always drop and break my new rosin. Ugh. Recently I learned to melt the broken edges on the stovetop, (in disposable stuff like foil) and stick them back together, so that works if it just breaks in a few large pieces.

[MrWxerby]

I’ve been enjoying your videos! As we drag into year 2 of all this, I hope you continue, eg, perhaps tips on achieving a lovely rolling vibrato in different registers, bowing tips (including sinking into the string, or not, etc). Anyway, you know best. Thanks!

[carrieannkouri]

It would be such a privilege if you were my neighbor to hear you play.

[wazul]

Leatherwood rosin is great. Way better than the other ones I've had so far.

[CarlosLopez-rshd]

Hi Richard, nice to see you again!
Can wait to see the next one.
Hello from Chicago US 🇺🇸

[currylilley]

All good advice Richard. It's great that you also talked about your beautiful instrument and bow. Frank Ravatin is truly one of the finest makers of today.

[heatherhuang]

Hi Richard, this is Heather. My kids had your master classes at the end of last year at Suzuki cello camp. Really enjoy this video about essentials. We have wooden floor at home, so one essential would be end pin stopper. Hope to hear if you have anything to say about that. Thank you.

[sarahhanly]

I also keep Boveda in my case to control dryness and humidity. Great for where I live where it is dry from central heating in the winter and very humid in the summer. Thank you for such helpful information!

[isabellesylvoz]

Thank you very much it was very instructive. You are a very teacher!

[espomull]

Haha - the bow magically disappears and reappears in his right hand at 14:45!

[susupark]

Your video is one of my practice essential from now on 😊🎶🎶

[MsCellobass]

You should have a bow that matches to your cello and another one for backup.

[elifschitz]

I appreciate particularly your vocabulary and diction

[MsCellobass]

I got a hurcules of a stand - it may be like a conductors stand - really heavy duty!

[kevinchen]

Hi Richard. very good cello class. and Amazing sound. would you please let me know what kind MIC do you to used to record?

Kevin from CA. U. S. A

[lindabarcelo]

What ipad model or type do you use or recommend? I like to copy and enlarge my sheet music (especially when learning a new piece) so I can see an editor's printed tiny fingerings. I also like to put my music stand further away (more one side) rather than directly in front of me so enlarging the music helps me see those tiny printed 😮2s and 3s fingerings or when the lighting is not so great Also how do you change pages in a performance setting when using an ipad?

[nycrickster]

thanks for the info. Who was the Luthier that you got your gauge stick? thanks,