It's Memorial Day in the USA.

It's is Memorial Day and I thought I'd share a couple timely videos with you today. (Click here if they don't show up in your blog reader.)

Though my political views have flexed over the years, I can still say I deeply respect and fear the devotion to freedom that American soldiers have shown me. I will gladly defend what they have given me, a opportunity to have human rights and fight for them around the world.

Their sacrifice for freedom makes ridiculously epic (and epically ridiculous?) music videos like this one by The Piano Guys feel totally trivial yet poignant.

But then again, there aren't many countries in the world that would give you a chance at playing cello/piano on a beach or in the middle of a lush green meadow like these guys do. 

Freedom allows me (and you!) to have a chance at music. Their sacrifice allows music education to thrive and spread. It also allows people like Beyonce Knowles to stand on a stage with HUGE hair and sing about it at a nationally televised parade event. Again epically ridiculous AND ridiculously epic.

10 Time-Saving Practice Tips for Cello (or any instrument)

We all have days when we need to make our practice really count more than other days. You may be racing the clock and have to pick up the kids from school, need to make dinner, respond to all those emails... The list goes on and on.

Believe me I've heard it all and know my own list of excuses like the back of my bow hold. Here are a few tips and tricks I've learned from my own practice sessions.  (Now, to follow my own advice...) ;)

1. Write down your top 3 goals. Seriously, get a pencil and write down specific and measurable goals for just this one practice session. Do you want to play through that though spot 10 times "successfully?" Zone in on that Ab major scale? Master that one booger of a shift? Write it down. 
2. Set an alarm. You'll be able to devote more focus and less worry. How much time do you have to dedicate to practice today? 10 minutes? 20 minutes? 30 minutes? 45? By setting an alarm, you'll be eliminating the distraction of feeling the need to check your clock (or your phone - which seeing those notifications could derail the whole practice session!) 
3. Warm up & stretch out. This ensures that our body is really ready to get to work. Go through scales. Play slow open strings while really focusing on the way it feels to play your instrument today. Some of my students have even reported that it helps to walk around their block. 
4. Take a deep breath. Really sense the air filling your lungs and release all the excess tension and stress you've built up (probably due to a lack of time!) Rest easy that you've carved out and made the following amount of time sacred. Leave worry outside of this period of time. Let yourself worry about it once you're done practicing.
5. Turn off all ringers/beeps and distractions. There is no such thing as a facebook emerency. Twitter can wait. So can your emails. I've even been known to totally turn off my phone and computer, so there's no chance of an easy and quick way out of practicing.
6. Use your pencil! You guys! If you don't write it down, your brain feels responsible for retaining that information. Every time! If you're always missing that one shift, notate it. If you forget that it's a 2nd finger, not 3rd finger during that one measure, notate it. If you forget the bowings, NOTATE IT! Writing it down takes less time than you think and it truly helps. 
7. Take a break & check in with yourself. When you "get into the zone," sometimes we forget to ask our hands how they're doing. Are you curling your toes? Is your back straight? Take another deep breath. Take a sip of water. Do you need to go to the bathroom? Need a granola bar? Check in with yourself and give yourself the gift of space.
8. SLOW first. This is a tough one, especially if we feel our practice time is running out. But everything you play during a power-practice session should be played slowly at first and mindfully always. Take my word for it: the slower, the better. You can always play it fast later. 
9. Set your timer. Pick a phrase that needs a medium amount of work. Set your timer to 2-5 minutes. Repeat the designated phrase as many times as you can until the time runs out. Most of my students are always shocked by how many times they can play it!
10. Cool down & stretch. This is a great way to ramp down from an intense practice session. It gets our mind adjusted to the outside world again. Prepare yourself to encounter all those emails. Relish in the notion that you really did accomplish something productive today. Did you reach the goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the practice session? I think you'll be surprised.

Do you have any other time-saving practice tips to share? Any personal experiences with the ones I've already listed?

Happy Practicing!

Blast from the Past! (Bach Solo Cello + Modern Dance)

I was just trolling the internets and discovered this little beauty. Haven't gotten a chance to watch it all the way through yet, but I have fond memories preparing this piece with Karin Stevens. If you can't see the video above, click here. 

Current Cello Lesson Availability

If this is your first time to my website. Welcome. I play the cello. I also teach the cello. I love my job and all my students. It's not the easiest, but it is the most fulfilling job I've had. I get to be witness to truly beautiful change and growth in my students. This is a priceless seat that I'm honored to fill.

Unfortunately, this Spring I've had to say goodbye to a few students. Goodbyes are always bittersweet for me as a teacher, but I rest easy knowing that new beautiful students are on their way! Here are my current calendar openings as of today.

Seattle Cello Lesson Availability

Mondays - 1-2:30pm, 5-5:30pm

Tuesdays - 2-3pm, 3:30-4pm, 4:30-5:30, 6-6:30pm

Wednesdays - 1-2:15pm

Tacoma Cello Lesson Availability

Thursdays just opened up! I'm free as a bird from 1-7:30pm. 

These openings can go really quickly, so shoot me an email if you'd be interested! Let's start the conversation!

5 Viola Jokes Every Cellist Should Know

Poor violas.

They are the butt of most orchestra jokes and jeering. But there is a little truth to the jokes. And though I don't subscribe to most generalizations, viola jokes are hilarious. Here are my top 5 favorites...

#1

Why do people tremble with fear when someone comes into a bank carrying a violin case?

They think he's carrying a machine gun and might be about to use it.

Why do people tremble with fear when someone comes into a bank carrying a viola case?

They think he's carrying a viola and might use it.

#2

Why is viola called "bratsche" in Germany?

Because that's the sound it makes when you sit down on it.

#3

Conductor: "Start three measures before the da capo." 

Principal violist: "Hold on! We don't have measure numbers."

#4

A violist and a 'cellist were standing on a sinking ship. "Help!" cried the 'cellist, "I can't swim!" 

"Don't worry," said the violist, "just fake it."

#5

An American orchestra had just arrived in Europe for a two-week tour. One hour before the first concert, the conductor became very ill and was unable to conduct, and the orchestra suddenly had to find a substitute. The orchestra manager asked everyone in the orchestra whether they could step in and conduct, and the only person who was willing was the last chair violist.

The manager was very nervous about this. "We can't audition you," he said.

"No problem," replied the violist.

"There's no time to rehearse. You'll have to do the concert cold."

"I know. It'll be all right."

The violist conducted the concert and it was a smashing success. Since the conductor remained ill for the duration of the tour, the violist conducted all of the concerts, getting rave reviews and standing ovations at each one.

At the next rehearsal, the conductor had recovered, and the violist took his place at the back of the viola section. As he sat down, his stand partner asked him "Where've you been for the last two weeks?"

  :-)

And just in case you think I absolutely hate violas, I don't.

Here's a TEDtalk given by Jennifer Strum. She calls the viola the "middle child of the string instruments." Through a mixture of talk and performance, she offers a compelling meditation on the viola's capacity for emotion-- and for making beautiful music... It's pretty fascinating!