Saw an ad by the elevator. Inquired.
It was free and the instructor speaks English and lives in my apartment complex.
I'll go back next week, paying. And I'll buy an inexpensive cello in the meantime.
How far will this go? Let's find out.
Good for you! I can hear a cello student somewhere in my building.
Quote from: KevinP on July 17, 2024, 03:58:56 AMSaw an ad by the elevator. Inquired.
It was free and the instructor speaks English and lives in my apartment complex.
I'll go back next week, paying. And I'll buy an inexpensive cello in the meantime.
How far will this go? Let's find out.
Excellent! You might think of renting one for a while though first. No idea how much it costs to rent one. If you haven't already, you might want to ask your instructor for some advice regarding that/where to rent or buy one, etc. :)
PD
p.s. Now start working on that cello concerto!
Quote from: Pohjolas Daughter on July 17, 2024, 06:46:52 AMExcellent! You might think of renting one for a while though first. No idea how much it costs to rent one. If you haven't already, you might want to ask your instructor for some advice regarding that/where to rent or buy one, etc. :)
PD
p.s. Now start working on that cello concerto!
I tried the cello a couple years after switching from percussion to the oboe, thinking, " I taught myself the oboe after all, how hard could this be? "
Too hard as it turned out...
Good luck to you! 8)
Quote from: Pohjolas Daughter on July 17, 2024, 06:46:52 AMNow start working on that cello concerto!
Gotta learn to walk before you can run.
Quote from: Karl Henning on July 17, 2024, 11:08:35 AMGotta learn to walk before you can run.
I was just joking. :)
Ever trying to get a laugh,
PD
Quote from: Pohjolas Daughter on July 17, 2024, 11:57:57 AMI was just joking. :)
Ever trying to get a laugh,
PD
Oh, I did chuckle, though!
Quote from: Pohjolas Daughter on July 17, 2024, 06:46:52 AMExcellent! You might think of renting one for a while though first. No idea how much it costs to rent one. If you haven't already, you might want to ask your instructor for some advice regarding that/where to rent or buy one, etc. :)
PD
p.s. Now start working on that cello concerto!
When I learned the flute when I was young I rented.
My instructor said that renting instruments isn't common here (here = Korea). Another student of her is selling one for about US$250 so I'll grab that one.
Quote from: KevinP on July 17, 2024, 02:24:56 PMMy instructor said that renting instruments isn't common here (here = Korea). Another student of her is selling one for about US$250 so I'll grab that one.
Good price-point!
Quote from: LKB on July 17, 2024, 06:59:36 AMI tried the cello a couple years after switching from percussion to the oboe, thinking, " I taught myself the oboe after all, how hard could this be? "
Too hard as it turned out...
Good luck to you! 8)
Yeah, I'm self-taught on piano and guitar. A long time ago ('79, '80 or so), I tried the violin and also couldn't progress without a teacher. Bottom line, I didn't learn the violin.
Quote from: Karl Henning on July 17, 2024, 02:26:57 PMGood price-point!
Yeah, I can't go too wrong at that price. Even if this endevour doesn't take, I'd surely make most of that back by selling it.
Now I'm wondering how many owners this instrument has had.
Quote from: KevinP on July 17, 2024, 02:29:21 PMYeah, I can't go too wrong at that price. Even if this endevour doesn't take, I'd surely make most of that back by selling it.
Now I'm wondering how many owners this instrument has had.
$250 is a bargain for an instrument you can learn with - grats. 8)
Meanwhile, the thing I've dodged all my life can no longer be avoided. *sigh* Time to develop fluency in the accursed tenor clef.
Just adding my congrats and admiration to the crowd. My sister, who is in her 60s, decided to take up the cello a couple of years ago, and has a decent instrument (maybe in the $1K-$2K range?), a teacher, and a few friends with whom she can play chamber music. She's enjoying it a lot.
Hoping you find similar joy and satisfaction!
-Bruce
Quote from: KevinP on July 17, 2024, 03:41:10 PMMeanwhile, the thing I've dodged all my life can no longer be avoided. *sigh* Time to develop fluency in the accursed tenor clef.
It's a beautiful clef, learn to love it!*
Alternatively, play it as if it's bass clef, only one string higher. This, of course, is no help when you're high up the A string, where most tenor clef stuff is. But you'll learn those notes quick enough because they're so common
Luke (sometime cellist)
* Beautiful, see?
I'm trying. Found a flashcard website.
(Parallel fifths we forbid but tenor clef and ledger lines we allow. Grunblegrumble)
Tenor clef = fewer ledger lines though
You won't be encountering tenor clef for a while though, it's not needed until you're secure enough with the basics to start moving positions up the A string. By which point it's easy to learn, bit by bit
Quote from: Luke on July 18, 2024, 04:05:55 AMIt's a beautiful clef, learn to love it!*
Alternatively, play it as if it's bass clef, only one string higher. This, of course, is no help when you're high up the A string, where most tenor clef stuff is. But you'll learn those notes quick enough because they're so common
Luke (sometime cellist)
* Beautiful, see?
Prelude to
Tristan und Isolde, beautiful indeed.
re: tenor clef.
For someone with a degree in composition, I really should be more fluent in the clef. Since I'm now learning an instrument that uses it, I decided to finally learn it (as opposed to decipher it), even though I'm nowhere near the point where I need it for my cello playing.
I do see quite a bit of ledger lines here, but I think bassoon, trombone, etc. use them more.
Might be selling the cello in about a year because my sabbatical has just been approved, which will be spent in New Zealand starting a year from now.
My original plan was just to just keep it here, but my wife suggested selling it and getting a better one when I return. Won't argue with that.
Not a complaint because I'm having fun, but I'm surprised by how many things I've had to buy.
I mentioned USD250 for the cello, which included a bow and a bag.
But in addition, I've also bought:
* a mute (as I live in an apartment)
* rosin
* endpin stopper
* a chair
* a rug (Arguably I don't need the rug AND the endpin stopper, but the stopper is for learning posture, and the rug, like the mute, is for the neighbours)
* full-length mirror. Not essential but recommended from several different sources for beginners.
My instructor is talking about a 'concert' for me now (with other students). Being self-taught in piano and guitar, I never had to deal with this before. Even in college, I managed to test out of the piano classes (despite the prof dismissing my untrained technique) and lucked out of the exam in another class.
It is, however, an amazing motivator.
Good for you for sticking with it!
K
Oh good for you! Yes, playing in a concert performance does amazing things to make one practice! I hope we get to hear it. ;D
Quote from: KevinP on October 30, 2024, 09:09:22 PMMy instructor is talking about a 'concert' for me now (with other students). Being self-taught in piano and guitar, I never had to deal with this before. Even in college, I managed to test out of the piano classes (despite the prof dismissing my untrained technique) and lucked out of the exam in another class.
It is, however, an amazing motivator.
That's fantastic! Good luck!
Quote from: Florestan on October 31, 2024, 05:49:39 AMThat's fantastic! Good luck!
Wait, aren't we supposed to say "Break a leg"?
K
Quote from: KevinP on October 30, 2024, 09:09:22 PMIt is, however, an amazing motivator.
Please keep us informed about it.
Quote from: Kalevala on October 31, 2024, 05:52:56 AMWait, aren't we supposed to say "Break a leg"?
K
In this case, I'd rather say "Break a string!" ;)
Quote from: Kalevala on October 31, 2024, 05:52:56 AMWait, aren't we supposed to say "Break a leg"?
K
Is this the English (or American) version of "Hals- und Beinbruch"?
Quote from: prémont on October 31, 2024, 06:51:40 AMIs this the English (or American) version of "Hals- und Beinbruch"?
From what I found out via googling, yes.
K
@KevinP How are the lessons going?
K
On pause at the moment, but I've not given up.
I moved out of the apartment complex I was in (and where the teacher also lives), so it's much harder to arrange a time that works for both of us--a situation compounded by her just having delivered a baby.
Come September, I'll be on a sabbatical year in NZ. I'm certainly not bringing my cello with me, but I do plan to look into renting one and finding a teacher there once I get my living arrangements straightened out.
Quote from: KevinP on June 06, 2025, 03:16:58 PMOn pause at the moment, but I've not given up.
I moved out of the apartment complex I was in (and where the teacher also lives), so it's much harder to arrange a time that works for both of us--a situation compounded by her just having delivered a baby.
Come September, I'll be on a sabbatical year in NZ. I'm certainly not bringing my cello with me, but I do plan to look into renting one and finding a teacher there once I get my living arrangements straightened out.
I'm very sorry to hear about the loss of your teacher and not being able to bring your cello there. Hope that your new plans work out and that you enjoy your time in NZ [I believe that you have been there before--perhaps are from there?].
Best wishes and happy trails to you,
K
Thanks. Not from there, but I studied there and did a previous sabbatical there as well.
I'm an American who's lived in Korea since the end of the last millennium. I say NZ is my third home, but I so rarely go to the US anymore that NZ should probably be promoted to second.