A Month of Classes and 100 Days of Cello

Today marks the 100th day of Cello, really a little less than 100 days, as there's been a day here and there when the cello didn't get touched, but I only deducted days of ownership for vacations and sick time. I don't have a video prepared for this milestone as I've been practicing instead on pieces for my chamber music class.

This week started some of the first tests for my college courses. My Psych test was online, I scored 92 on that and did equally as well on the open book test for Human Growth & Development. The scary thing was that 1/3 of the class for Human Growth & Development made a D or an F. The test was incredibly easy, what a sorry statement for today's youth.

Boring stats:
T 9/4 - Scales up to 3 flats and 3 sharps, bow exercises (S&B) Chamber Music Class
W/R/F 9/5 - 9/7 - Broken D String - didn't practice
S 9/8 - S&B, read chamber music assignment: Piano Trio Movements of Simple Character by Old Masters by Hockner/Mlynarczyk
U 9/9 - Schroeder 21, S&B
M 9/10 - S&B
T 9/11 - Chamber music Class
W 9/12 - Swan, S&B, Cello part for Telemann Sonata for 2 Violins & Piano
R 9/13 - Swan, Read Minuet from Haydn Op 3 #5, Minuet from Op 1 #1
F 9/14 - Swan, Trio, S&B
S 9/15 - Review M1, 2, 3, 4, 6, S&B, Schroeder 21/22, Klengel pg 7
U 9/16 - Bowing exercises, Schroeder 23 - just a few measures
M 9/17 - Weiner 1-4c, Thumb exercises, Trill exercises, Swan, Bow exercises
T 9/18 - Bow exercises, Chamber music class, work on Canon
W 9/19 - Bow exercises, work on Canon
R 9/20 - Day off
F 9/21 - Schroeder 23 - another attempt, a few more measures, Scale exercises up to 3 flats and sharps, Telemann

So Far So Good

At last, finally got to play a little chamber music tonight. The new strings behaved and stayed in tune (even if I didn't) Managed to sight read cold a few notes which seemed to impress the folks from last year.

I'll get to play the infamous Pachebel. That's just fine for me -- it will be a good exercise for long bows, shaping phrases, and following the first violin. Also, the teacher wants the notes to swell and fade. So far I have two other pieces to work on -- a simple piano trio and a Telemann Sonata.

Brute Force Memorization and New Strings

New cello strings arrived. I was happy to replace the terrible "D" string that I had picked up locally. As I removed the "G" string, I noticed that it was unwinding at the top -- probably was the next to go. Biggest improvement is in the new "C" & "G" strings. It's much easier now to hear the ringing tones. Who knows, maybe my intonation will improve now.

Music History Classes have over twenty pieces of medieval music to memorize. I've decided to burn CDs with each piece repeating for thirty minutes and play a few of these per day until I know which is which.

Piano class introduced the pedal yesterday. I've never used a pedal before. Teacher says I'm stomping the pedal too hard.

2nd chamber music class tonight, hopefully, the strings will hold their tuning.

Sleep, Strings and Back to School Too

Thanks for the string advice. I drove yesterday to my local music store and got a spare "D" while I await my customized tele-order courtesy of G's "Ellen". My regional cello friend also uses the Larson A & D and the Helio/Spiro C & G combo.

Yesterday was my first day of classes starting with keyboard at 8am, then Music History I, Psychology and Human Growth & Development. Adding an online Music History II, and Chamber Music gives me a full-time student load this semester.

I had to take two social sciences to fulfill BA requirements as my CLEP scores from 22 years ago were just a tad too old. CLEP transcripts only go back 20 years.

I was so tired, I went to bed at 5:30 pm and slept until 7 am. I don't do well on less than 7 hours of sleep and I had had two nights running at 5-6 hrs between a late night air flight, pre-class excitement, and early morning classes.

Had work today and so spent this evening on my online Music History of the Western World, part II besides trying to find the cheapest textbooks or e-books available online for my various courses.

Luckily I don't have to be at class until 9 am tomorrow.

Ka-Bang, Thus Ends My Chamber Music Session

First day back in town. Took the cello for its first night out at chamber music class. Teacher gave me a nice easy piece to sight read. Played about eight measures and Ka-Bang... the D string broke.
Aargh! Hope this isn't an omen!

Any recommendations on what type of strings I should buy?
Is it necessary to buy two sets?