Cello Secrets: Over 100 Performance Strategies for the Advanced Cellist(Music Secrets for the Advanced Musician)

Cello Secrets explains over 100 of the most helpful insider tricks cellists use to master the instrument. With each technique carefully explained and illustrated, the book serves as an accessible textbook for all advanced cello players, from talented teenagers to college students, to conservatory pre-professionals. This book guides advanced students through technical maintenance and performance preparation, helping them beyond what can be covered in lessons. Co-written by Brian Hodges and Jo Nardolillo, these tips grow from extensive study of the art of high-level teaching with many of today's leading pedagogues, and have been developed into strategies, tricks, and techniques that are taught in masterclasses and seminars around the country. The book provides: Insightful InformationDemystifying Cello TechniqueTroubleshootingPractical tips and adviceExperienced professionals talking from their own career Cello Secrets organizes these ideas into a single book, and will have great value for private teachers and as a textbook in cello pedagogy courses. Professionals and skilled amateurs can use the text as a guidebook in improving their own skills.

Table of Contents:
1. Intonation Introduction Secret 1: How to Play in Tune Secret 2: Finger Patterns Secret 3: Fingerboard Mapping Secret 4: No Fixing Secret 5: Ševcík's Paradox Secret 6: Which Intonation? Secret 7: Using Overtones Secret 8: Using a Tuner Secret 9: Tuning Fifths Secret 10: Tuning Octaves 2. The Left Hand Introduction Secret 11: Don’t Slap the Puppy Secret 12: Maximum Velocity 1 (Take it easy) Secret 13: Maximum Velocity 2 (Bursts) Secret 14: The Right Fingerings by Pattern Secret 15: The Right Fingerings by Color Secret 16: Clear False Harmonics Secret 17: Extensions Secret 18: Small Hand Technique Secret 19: Coordinating the Bow and Fingers 3. Shifting and Playing High Introduction Secret 23: Zen and the Art of Shifting Secret 24: The Right Shift Secret 25: Shifting to High Positions Secret 26: Using the Bow to Help Shifting Secret 27: The Best Shift May Be No Shift 4. Vibrato Introduction Secret 28: Know Your Vibrato Secret 29: Get Control of Your Vibrato Secret 30: Achieving Continuous Vibrato Secret 31: Vibrato Tricks for the Fourth Finger Secret 32: Electroshock Vibrato Secret 33: Shimmer Vibrato Secret 34: Vibrato Sculpture 5. Tone and the Bow Introduction Secret 35: Know Your Bow Hold Secret 36: The Bow as a Lever Secret 37: Default Setting Secret 38: Gravity is Your Friend Secret 39: The Culprits Secret 40: The Formula for Your Optimum Sound Secret 41: Playing into the Curve Secret 42: How to Make your Bow Longer Secret 43: Pop & Float Secret 44: Mastering Spiccato Secret 45: Sizzling Sautillé Secret 46: Flying Bow Strokes Secret 47: Fabulous Flautando Secret 48: Tremolo Secret 49: Using the Left Hand to Improve Tone Secret 50: The Law of Inertia Secret 51: Don’t be a Slave to Your Bow 6. Practice Strategies Introduction Secret 52: Now Practice Secret 53: Practice Concentrate Secret 54: Never Pay Rent Again Secret 55: Divide and Conquer Secret 56: Skeletons Secret 57: When Slow Practice Isn’t Enough Part 1. AddaNote Secret 58: When Slow Practice Isn’t Enough Part 2. Looping Secret 59: When Slow Practice Isn’t Enough Part 3. Burst Practice Secret 60: When Slow Practice Isn’t Enough Part 4. Rhythms Secret 61: When Slow Practice Isn’t Enough Part 5. Notching Secret 62: Improving Your Technique in Just 15 Minutes a Day Secret 63: Using Etudes to Prepare Repertoire Secret 64: Journaling Secret 65: Building Your Practice Haven Secret 66: Team Practice Secret 67: Your Best Friend, the Metronome 7. Artistry Strategies Introduction Secret 68: Start from the Music Secret 69: Learning Polyphonic Bach Secret 70: It’s All Opera Secret 71: Playing Powerful Chords Secret 72: Masterful Passagework through Lyrical Preparation Secret 73: Shaping the Phrase in Fast Detaché Secret 74: The Climax Secret 75: Cultivating Your Unique Voice Secret 76: Choosing the Right Edition 8. Performance Strategies Introduction Secret 77: Stage Makeup Secret 78: Practice Performing Secret 79: Firewalls Secret 80: Overcoming Stage Fright Secret 81: Connecting with the Audience 9. Chamber Music Strategies Introduction Secret 82: Groups Who Play Together Stay Together Secret 83: Successful Rehearsals When No One is in Charge Secret 84: Playing Blind Secret 85: Keeping the Score Secret 86: No Barriers 10. Orchestra Strategies Introduction Secret 87: Sharing a Part Secret 88: Being a Team Player Secret 89: Sitting Principal Secret 90: Preparing Orchestra Music Secret 91: Faking Secret 92: Building Your Orchestral Library Secret 93: Mastering Audition Excerpts Secret 94: Playing the Auditions Game Bonus Secret 95: Mirroring Further Reading

About the Author :
Brian Hodges is an active cello soloist, chamber player and teacher.He has performed and given masterclasses throughout the United States, Canada, Italy and Germany. He is currently associate professor of cello and coordinator of chamber music at Boise State University. Dr. Hodges is principal cello of the Boise Baroque Chamber Orchestra and regularly performs with Classical Revolution: Boise. Jo Nardolillo is a violinst who has performed as a concerto soloist, recitalist, concertmaster, chamber musician and orchestra member throughout the United States and in Europe. Dr. Nardolillo has taught at a number of prestigious institutions, including the Eastman School of Music, the Hochstein School of Music, and the Levine School of Music.

Review :
While the art of musical interpretation often seems highly subjective, almost every other aspect of instrumental playing—technique, body mechanics, performance psychology—can be analyzed, discussed, and clarified. Cello Secrets provides a valuable resource to the cello community. Eliminating myths and perceived technical mysteries allows each of us to move closer to transcending the cello and fully achieving our artistic aims. Cello Secrets manages to take on the complex and rich world of cello playing and present a concise, whimsical and engaging travel guide, navigating its entirety. Filled with useful insights, the book addresses the myriad principles of cello playing with clear insights and methods to improve anyone’s playing and pedagogical skills. This book is an outstanding resource for advanced students and professionals. It can be either a great tool for students or a great tool for professionals and more advanced players to achieve and maintain good practice habits. The strategies are good for all instrumentalists, but the cello information is specific, clearly explained, and truly valuable.