When the bow is legato and slurring, the left-hand takes charge of the rhythm and must dictate it for clarity.
Teaching Notes for Popper Cello Étude No. 2 Join us here for our exploration of Popper #2. This is a more accessible study in that you may be able to try this even if some of the others seem over your head. We feel that this is a great study to come back to if […]
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Teaching Notes for Popper Cello Etude No. 7 We had a lot of fun exploring Popper 7. We found a lot to concentrate on in this study, particularly as it pertains to the difficulties of bow distribution and string crossings. It just goes to show how Katie’s very first cello teacher told her… Popper is
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Teaching Notes for Popper Cello Étude No. 9 Popper 9 is a beautiful but difficult study that explores double stops, particularly in thumb position. It is especially challenging because this study focuses our attention on making these difficult passages lyrically beautiful and singing. It’s one thing to master a certain aspect of technique in the
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Teaching Notes for Popper Cello Étude No. 10 Here is Ailbhe and Katie’s Popper 10 mash-up. We talk about lots of interesting things in this video, including finger anatomy, our personal history with this and lots of breaking-down nerd out action on string crossings and legato. Hope you enjoy!
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Teaching Notes for Popper Cello Étude No. 17 We enjoyed exploring this shorter study, Popper 17, which focuses on legato in double stops. Practising this study very slowly and focusing on the connections between the double stops is very important so that they work well at the final speed. An especially interesting technical aspect of
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Teaching Notes for Popper Cello Étude No. 20 This study is so satisfying to perform! It involves so many techniques all in the one place but sounds really beautiful. Legato shifting, legato string crossing without interrupting the line. Legato octaves and broken ones. The list goes on!
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Teaching Notes for Popper Cello Étude No. 21 Here is our live discussion of Popper’s 21st study. It was a fun one! This focuses on bow legato, bow distribution, string crossings and shifting often in thumb position. Can each shift and string crossing stay smooth so that it doesn’t effect the legato sound? Interesting to
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Teaching Notes for Popper Cello Étude No. 22 Popper 22 is a beautiful study. We have both really enjoyed learning this one. Check out the first five minutes of this video for HILARIOUS stories about the 17-year cicada plague in the US, which is reoccurring this year! Start at 05.05 to skip this…! Legato bowing
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Teaching Notes for Popper Cello Étude No. 23 Popper 23 was our final étude of the year. In this video, we reflect on all that has made this project an awesome challenge. This study offers many different technical challenges and approaches. Bow legato, string crossings, bow distribution, quick changes of bow speed, shifting, octaves, unusual stretches
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Teaching Notes for Popper Cello Étude No. 24 Christian Elliot (Irish Chamber Orchestra) came back for a second time with Popper 24, a beautiful and challenging study that explores a vast amount; thumb position, harmonics, developing the ear, string crossings, legato bowing and more.
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