Cello Secrets

With each technique carefully explained and illustrated, this book serves as an accessible resource for all cello players, from talented teenagers to college students, to conservatory professionals. It guides advanced students through technical maintenance and performance preparation, helping them beyond what is often covered in lessons.

is an cello active soloist, chamber player and teacher. He has performed and given masterclasses throughout the United States, Canada, Italy and Germany. Dr. Hodges received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in cello performance from the Eastman School of Music, where he was the teaching assistant for Marcy Rosen, and his Doctorate in Music Arts in cello performance from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Dr. Hodges has taught at Mercer University, the University of North Carolina Greensboro, Spring Arbor University and Albion College. He is currently Associate Professor of Cello and Coordinator of Chamber Music at Boise State University. Brian is principal cello of the Boise Baroque Chamber Orchestra and regularly performs with Classical volution: Boise, which has been featured at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival and live on Radio Boise.

1. Intonation Introduction Secret 1: How to Play in Tune Secret 2: Finger Patterns Secret 3: Fingerboard Mapping Secret 4: No Fixing Secret 5: Sevcík'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