Brilliant insight Caroline, this is really helpful and often missed by other teachers. I’m 68 and started 10 years ago, its only now that I’m able to play consistently and confidently ❤
THANK YOU for addressing my specific challenges as new cello learner! I switched from a 4/4 to a 3/4 size and I remain challenged with learning extensions. Your specific workarounds will greatly allow me to engage the cello MORE effectively!!❤❤❤
I previously was getting into keyboard/piano and had to really get serious about finding ways to extend the 4 fingers and thumb so that i could cover at least one octave (Cto C) ie. As you say, it is a little difficult to start off with but by manipulating the fingers a few times every day for around about 5 minutes at a time you'll find that within a week or less the difference is amazing It is quite suprising to find that flexibility and how easily it is to continue on a daily basis. Thanks for your help with this and other examples of how to improve my learning and playing
Thank you. A year and a half playing and I'm already freely using the 1-2 and 3-4 extensions pretty nicely without having been told how. However, your explanation of the technique is very helpful in understanding the mechanics of what I'm doing and how to do it better. 💖🌹
thank you for this. I just started the extensions this week. I am okay with the back but was quite frustrated with my forward extension. This video helped a lot. I will be jumping into your course to review your lesson on that.
I am learning the Sonata in E minor from vivaldi and was looking for tips for extension. What a coincidence to hear this piece playing in the background 😅 Very nice video, thank you Carolyn 🥰
My teacher taught me to play with pronated fingers. When it comes time for an extension, he taught vertical fingers like in this video. Well, that would require effort to stay in tune after twisting the hand and was a hassle switching back and forth so I decided to stay pronated. For back extensions, it's an easy backward stretch with the index finger and the other fingers stay in place! A forward extension, I plant the index finger and move the rest of the fingers up a 1/2 step. Easy stretch ... hmmm too easy as I'm often a bit sharp thinking I have to stretch full out. My teacher kept correcting me until I had him try it. He tried a simple piece then played increasingly harder passages until he quit, thought a moment, then said 'I'll let you play that way.". : )
You are correct. Twisting of the hand is not the proper motion for a forward extension. You simply bring the elbow forward to help the hand reach the extension.
@@cellodiscovery Thank you for your reply! The twisting that I was referring to was the turning of the hand from pronated position to a vertical finger position when an extension is required. After turning the hand from pronated to vertical, the fingers need to be repositioned to play in tune. I find it much simpler, as a pronated finger player, to stay pronated for extensions, that is not to switch back and forth between pronated and vertical. (For me, reach is not an issue for extending while in pronated position.)
In another one of your videos you show us some stretching / warm up exercises - I have used them everyday ever since I saw them a few months ago . . . thanks so much for your helpful and down to earth tricks, Carolyn!
78 years of age here and in the middle of my second year playing after retiring from double bass. I guess that's why I'm coping fairly well with the extensions. Enjoyed your comment Mr Burridge!
It looks like on the back of the neck is between the index and middle finger and the pad of the thumb is center of the neck ? im a electric bassist and I'd like to learn cello. I'm used to fretted and fretless bass , when I playing the fretless it seems like pronating the hand is more natural.
Hi there - Use the same method in the higher positions as you would in the lower positions. Get that left arm forward and slide the thumb a little more towards the A string side of the neck. You won't be able to extend properly in 4th position if you don't do those two things. Hope that helps!
@@philnewton3096 - I am aware. I no longer do background music throughout the lessons. I guess I need to do another video of me playing the Vivaldi. :)
You give some incredible tips, and I want to watch more of your videos however, the music playing in the background is so distracting. I did watch one video where the music stopped once you got past your subscribing.. don’t mean to be critical just letting you know.
Thank you for the feedback. That is an older video and I no longer have the music playing throughout the newer videos. If you'd like to hear the extension video without music in the background, please send me an email at: info@cellodiscovery.com and I'll send you a link to hear it minus the music. :)
I think we need to recognize that extensions are really not a comfortable thing to do for the left hand, especially for those with smaller hands. An alternative is just to make the shift in position, if especially it also helps to eliminate any string crossings for the next few notes (by staying in the new position).
Great video very heloful
With your tips I feel more confident to spent time with my cello. Thanks
Brilliant insight Caroline, this is really helpful and often missed by other teachers. I’m 68 and started 10 years ago, its only now that I’m able to play consistently and confidently ❤
Thank you, Shay!
I played violin for years. This is super helpful. Thanks so much❤
Thank you, very helpful for a passage I’m currently having some difficulty with.
THANK YOU for addressing my specific challenges as new cello learner! I switched from a 4/4 to a 3/4 size and I remain challenged with learning extensions. Your specific workarounds will greatly allow me to engage the cello MORE effectively!!❤❤❤
You are welcome, Margaret!
I previously was getting into keyboard/piano and had to really get serious about finding ways to extend the 4 fingers and thumb so that i could cover at least one octave (Cto C) ie. As you say, it is a little difficult to start off with but by manipulating the fingers a few times every day for around about 5 minutes at a time you'll find that within a week or less the difference is amazing It is quite suprising to find that flexibility and how easily it is to continue on a daily basis. Thanks for your help with this and other examples of how to improve my learning and playing
Great help, thanks a lot. Especially with the pivot-position of the second finger.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you. A year and a half playing and I'm already freely using the 1-2 and 3-4 extensions pretty nicely without having been told how. However, your explanation of the technique is very helpful in understanding the mechanics of what I'm doing and how to do it better.
💖🌹
Carolyn u r so right. I sound pretty good in 1st pos but as soon as I stretch to E and bk it all goes to pieces...so frustrating.
Very helpful, thank you so much Caroline!
Thank you that was helpful
thank you for this. I just started the extensions this week. I am okay with the back but was quite frustrated with my forward extension. This video helped a lot. I will be jumping into your course to review your lesson on that.
I am learning the Sonata in E minor from vivaldi and was looking for tips for extension. What a coincidence to hear this piece playing in the background 😅
Very nice video, thank you Carolyn 🥰
My teacher taught me to play with pronated fingers. When it comes time for an extension, he taught vertical fingers like in this video. Well, that would require effort to stay in tune after twisting the hand and was a hassle switching back and forth so I decided to stay pronated. For back extensions, it's an easy backward stretch with the index finger and the other fingers stay in place! A forward extension, I plant the index finger and move the rest of the fingers up a 1/2 step. Easy stretch ... hmmm too easy as I'm often a bit sharp thinking I have to stretch full out.
My teacher kept correcting me until I had him try it. He tried a simple piece then played increasingly harder passages until he quit, thought a moment, then said 'I'll let you play that way.". : )
You are correct. Twisting of the hand is not the proper motion for a forward extension. You simply bring the elbow forward to help the hand reach the extension.
@@cellodiscovery Thank you for your reply! The twisting that I was referring to was the turning of the hand from pronated position to a vertical finger position when an extension is required. After turning the hand from pronated to vertical, the fingers need to be repositioned to play in tune. I find it much simpler, as a pronated finger player, to stay pronated for extensions, that is not to switch back and forth between pronated and vertical. (For me, reach is not an issue for extending while in pronated position.)
Always amazing 🎉....
In another one of your videos you show us some stretching / warm up exercises - I have used them everyday ever since I saw them a few months ago . . . thanks so much for your helpful and down to earth tricks, Carolyn!
You are welcome! Thank you, David!
This video was amazing,helped me alot
Glad to hear. Thank you!
Very very helpful!
Caroline, this is wonderful, thank you!♥️🎻
This is very helpful! Thank you. (I started at 40, now I’m 82 and I tend to gradually slip into poor habits.)
78 years of age here and in the middle of my second year playing after retiring from double bass. I guess that's why I'm coping fairly well with the extensions. Enjoyed your comment Mr Burridge!
Thanks Carolyn. This is very helpful 🔥
You are welcome, Ana!
Thank you for share so much cello tips:)
Nosch - you are welcome. :)
It looks like on the back of the neck is between the index and middle finger and the pad of the thumb is center of the neck ?
im a electric bassist and I'd like to learn cello. I'm used to fretted and fretless bass , when I playing the fretless it seems like pronating the hand is more natural.
When u mentioned switching from violin to cello, I felt called out 😂
I'm struggling at 4th position extensions, any tips?
Hi there - Use the same method in the higher positions as you would in the lower positions. Get that left arm forward and slide the thumb a little more towards the A string side of the neck. You won't be able to extend properly in 4th position if you don't do those two things. Hope that helps!
may i ask about the background music?
Sure - it's the Allegro from the Vivaldi Sonata #5.
I'd like to comprehend your verbal description and Vivaldi but cannot do both at the same side.
@@philnewton3096 - I am aware. I no longer do background music throughout the lessons. I guess I need to do another video of me playing the Vivaldi. :)
You give some incredible tips, and I want to watch more of your videos however, the music playing in the background is so distracting. I did watch one video where the music stopped once you got past your subscribing.. don’t mean to be critical just letting you know.
Thank you for the feedback. That is an older video and I no longer have the music playing throughout the newer videos. If you'd like to hear the extension video without music in the background, please send me an email at: info@cellodiscovery.com and I'll send you a link to hear it minus the music. :)
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expository instruction .
best Teaching methods
참, 고맙습니다.
I think we need to recognize that extensions are really not a comfortable thing to do for the left hand, especially for those with smaller hands. An alternative is just to make the shift in position, if especially it also helps to eliminate any string crossings for the next few notes (by staying in the new position).
💀 1rst-4th is my extension 💀
I'm already on a ⅞ths so thank you so much for encouraging healthy hand to cello size
I mean cmon can you blame them 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂Lol
Haha! At least someone caught that. ;)