We spent some time working through a rhythm exercise in Kummer #50. The rhythm is
1 & rest-2 3-4 (tied) 5 & 6 &
The goal was not to repeat any mistakes. After a mistake, I had to find a way to simplify the measure. Instead of plowing through, we tried to pysch ourselves around the trouble spot. First, if we got to the fifth beat correctly, we just said “5” and didn’t play. This made sure I got the first few beats. Then we added a single half note for 5 & 6 &, then eventually did the whole thing. Once this was done, we did the measure twice to burn it in.
The other part of the lesson was making sure I was extending instead of shifting on the Scherzo.
The trickiest part was learning the bowing technique necessary for this piece. He showed me the arm shape and pronation necessary. This was the so called “dog petting exercise”. I need to learn to feel that rebounding feeling as my hand comes off the imaginary dog. First, I have to do it with longer lengths and gradually shorten them. The goal is not to do this fast but short.
New Pieces – Kummer #53.
Cello Practice Smackdown 
Dog petting exercise needs a video. Sounds interesting…
Local statutes prohibit animal abuse.
Like you’re petting a dog with the heel of your hand. To be honest, I’ve never pet a dog quite like that. But It’s to get that “rebound-ey” feeling.
You’ve played that particular piece – do you remember much about how you bowed it?
I remember not a thing about how I bowed it, so I shot a quick clip of how I would bow it now. Take a peek, and please esssssplain where the dog is supposed to be…
🙂
I’ll be playing it tomorrow to see if I’m petting the dog! I’ve never heard of that term either but I like the imagery.
Upon rereading Michael’s description, I don’t think it means that the bowing itself is like petting a dog. I think the idea of patting a dog’s head gives that bounce at the end of the movement as the hand touches the dog and switches from the downward to upward movement. If you take that bounce idea and apply it to the horizontal movement of the bow, there’s the image of the bow bouncing (controlled, of course) back and forth between two static objects at the beginning and end of the short bow stroke. Interesting.
My teacher actually moved me away from the cello once and wrapped a yoga elastic band around my forearm, then had me move the arm back and forth to feel resistance and return. It was an interesting exercise, and really helped me understand where the power was coming from (namely, the muscles in my back).
The elastic thing might also be a cool video to see. I keep hearing how the power comes from my back, yet I spend too much time trying to deliver power from my biceps or triceps. I have this same problem in Aikido, too. The power is supposed to come from your hips and back.
I also wonder if the dribbling motion of a basketball is also a model for this rebounding effect.