Comments for The Stark Raving Cello Blog http://emilywright.net the mostly cello, sometimes raving, on-line home of cellist Emily Wright Mon, 14 May 2012 22:54:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on rainy day by Gerry Wright http://emilywright.net/2012/05/rainy-day/#comment-4754 Gerry Wright Mon, 14 May 2012 22:54:34 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1338#comment-4754 Look for a rainbow. Look for a rainbow.

]]> Comment on rainy day by gottagopractice http://emilywright.net/2012/05/rainy-day/#comment-4753 gottagopractice Mon, 14 May 2012 21:57:11 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1338#comment-4753 Have you hugged your cello today? Have you hugged your cello today?

]]> Comment on nice hat. by grant http://emilywright.net/2012/04/nice-hat/#comment-4697 grant Wed, 09 May 2012 12:28:20 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1316#comment-4697 Hello Emily, Your doing fine, and I reiterate my posting from an earlier time. If someone is insulting or (de-constructivly) criticising you. Your likely doing something right. All the best! Hello Emily,

Your doing fine, and I reiterate my posting from an earlier time. If someone is insulting or (de-constructivly) criticising you. Your likely doing something right.

All the best!

]]> Comment on half-life by Chris in Brazil http://emilywright.net/2012/05/half-life/#comment-4694 Chris in Brazil Tue, 08 May 2012 18:53:20 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1331#comment-4694 Dear Emily, don´t feel for a minute under any pressure to feed the blog. Do what feels right to you. Write when you feel like it. Be assured that everything you write is being ready with care and kindness, at least on my part, even if you write not very often. What I admire and appreciate even more than your advice or lessons on cello playing is your honest, humble, often funny views of life, your life, your joys, your weaknesses, and your often astounding insights into what makes life so great. This why I have your blog in my RSS feeder. Cheers, e um abraço, as we say here in Brazil. Chris. PS: The film clip is wonderful, brings tears to one´s eyes. Have to see that whole movie again. Dear Emily,
don´t feel for a minute under any pressure to feed the blog. Do what feels right to you. Write when you feel like it. Be assured that everything you write is being ready with care and kindness, at least on my part, even if you write not very often.
What I admire and appreciate even more than your advice or lessons on cello playing is your honest, humble, often funny views of life, your life, your joys, your weaknesses, and your often astounding insights into what makes life so great. This why I have your blog in my RSS feeder.
Cheers, e um abraço, as we say here in Brazil.
Chris.
PS: The film clip is wonderful, brings tears to one´s eyes. Have to see that whole movie again.

]]> Comment on idle chatter by Mike Lunapiena http://emilywright.net/2012/04/idle-chatter/#comment-4526 Mike Lunapiena Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:47:44 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1265#comment-4526 I'll happily donate to your kickstarter & repost on fb/twitter/etc., so please share the link once you're at that stage I’ll happily donate to your kickstarter & repost on fb/twitter/etc., so please share the link once you’re at that stage

]]> Comment on summertime by Mike Lunapiena http://emilywright.net/2012/03/summertime/#comment-4525 Mike Lunapiena Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:46:03 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1251#comment-4525 Summit Music Festival is great - particularly if you're a cellist - http://www.summitmusicfestival.org/ Summit Music Festival is great – particularly if you’re a cellist – http://www.summitmusicfestival.org/

]]> Comment on nice hat. by Anna Langley http://emilywright.net/2012/04/nice-hat/#comment-4516 Anna Langley Tue, 17 Apr 2012 08:27:27 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1316#comment-4516 Dear Emily, you have my greatest respect, one flawed and aspiring human being to another. If one's esteem is dependent on being flawless personally and professionally, then your esteem is at best brittle. If one's respect for others works on the same basis, then continual disappointment is the inevitable consequence. I love people's flaws and quirks, and I'm trying to learn to love my own. Maybe you're not sailing high on the top of the profession, but for what it's worth, you're a person and a musician I'd love to work with, because of your honesty and integrity. For that, you're a star in my eyes! Anna Dear Emily, you have my greatest respect, one flawed and aspiring human being to another. If one’s esteem is dependent on being flawless personally and professionally, then your esteem is at best brittle. If one’s respect for others works on the same basis, then continual disappointment is the inevitable consequence. I love people’s flaws and quirks, and I’m trying to learn to love my own. Maybe you’re not sailing high on the top of the profession, but for what it’s worth, you’re a person and a musician I’d love to work with, because of your honesty and integrity. For that, you’re a star in my eyes!
Anna

]]> Comment on nice hat. by mark http://emilywright.net/2012/04/nice-hat/#comment-4511 mark Mon, 16 Apr 2012 23:35:44 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1316#comment-4511 Emily, you are truly a good person. I perpetually fight the urge to respond to asshattery with the stereotypical "kill it with fire" outrage--except of course when I'm being the asshat, always assuming I'll have a saving-throw courtesy my own moral indignation. The irony is that in being indignant more often than not launches me well off any moral high-ground I may or may not have been precariously perched upon. You, at the very least, seem to have developed a sense of presences as to your own personal contact with or altitude over the moral high-ground, and are willing change accordingly. So thanks for sharing. Emily, you are truly a good person. I perpetually fight the urge to respond to asshattery with the stereotypical “kill it with fire” outrage–except of course when I’m being the asshat, always assuming I’ll have a saving-throw courtesy my own moral indignation. The irony is that in being indignant more often than not launches me well off any moral high-ground I may or may not have been precariously perched upon. You, at the very least, seem to have developed a sense of presences as to your own personal contact with or altitude over the moral high-ground, and are willing change accordingly. So thanks for sharing.

]]> Comment on nice hat. by jay http://emilywright.net/2012/04/nice-hat/#comment-4510 jay Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:02:00 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1316#comment-4510 That's one of the reason why the classical world is slowly dying out... You do get a lot of pompous people in the classical world... No offense to the non-pompous, classical people out there.... I know a violist who gave me great advice on how to get over performance anxiety. He said just know that no matter how well you do, someone will always criticize your performance or think that you stink. If you have Yo Yo Ma giving a performance, someone will say how he played flat on such and such note. And you can see it done routinely in YouTube video comments where someone feels the need to say how someone was flat at time 1:34... Now do you get that sort of criticism in any other musical genre??? Some, but not to that degree..... Insecurities of people exhibiting itself in a superiority complex.... One of the reasons why the number of guitarists is increasing, in comparison, is because it's a more accepting crowd... That’s one of the reason why the classical world is slowly dying out… You do get a lot of pompous people in the classical world… No offense to the non-pompous, classical people out there…. I know a violist who gave me great advice on how to get over performance anxiety. He said just know that no matter how well you do, someone will always criticize your performance or think that you stink. If you have Yo Yo Ma giving a performance, someone will say how he played flat on such and such note. And you can see it done routinely in YouTube video comments where someone feels the need to say how someone was flat at time 1:34… Now do you get that sort of criticism in any other musical genre??? Some, but not to that degree….. Insecurities of people exhibiting itself in a superiority complex….

One of the reasons why the number of guitarists is increasing, in comparison, is because it’s a more accepting crowd…

]]> Comment on introducing practice guides! by Michael T http://emilywright.net/2012/02/introducing-practice-guides/#comment-4508 Michael T Mon, 16 Apr 2012 20:27:58 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1224#comment-4508 When I said "without the guilt that comes with ..", I was NOT referring to your book, which was a good use of funds. I was referring to just being a book junkie in general. When I said “without the guilt that comes with ..”, I was NOT referring to your book, which was a good use of funds. I was referring to just being a book junkie in general.

]]> Comment on nice hat. by Shana Norton http://emilywright.net/2012/04/nice-hat/#comment-4507 Shana Norton Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:01:36 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1316#comment-4507 Well said. I tip my nicest hat to you! You will be quoted at our dinner table tonight & hailed as a hero. Now, back to my own messy, harpy humanity. Cheers ~ Well said. I tip my nicest hat to you! You will be quoted at our dinner table tonight & hailed as a hero. Now, back to my own messy, harpy humanity.
Cheers ~

]]> Comment on nice hat. by ed r http://emilywright.net/2012/04/nice-hat/#comment-4506 ed r Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:59:22 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1316#comment-4506 I don't think you're weird. I don’t think you’re weird.

]]> Comment on summertime by Nancy http://emilywright.net/2012/03/summertime/#comment-4502 Nancy Mon, 16 Apr 2012 09:57:58 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1251#comment-4502 Just finished 4 days of cello heaven at the SCOR Atlanta camp. SCOR is the string experience for adults, all levels from true beginner to advanced are welcome at the Rochester camp which runs from July 10-14 this summer. Orchestra, chamber music groups with coaching, technique instruction, and an incredible opportunity to live and learn with adult musicians. We eat and sleep at a minimum. Mostly play and share ideas and music in a welcoming environment! I learned so much in Atlanta- going to Rochester as well! Check it out at www.stringcamp.com. Just finished 4 days of cello heaven at the SCOR Atlanta camp. SCOR is the string experience for adults, all levels from true beginner to advanced are welcome at the Rochester camp which runs from July 10-14 this summer. Orchestra, chamber music groups with coaching, technique instruction, and an incredible opportunity to live and learn with adult musicians. We eat and sleep at a minimum. Mostly play and share ideas and music in a welcoming environment! I learned so much in Atlanta- going to Rochester as well! Check it out at http://www.stringcamp.com.

]]> Comment on better late than never by Jim http://emilywright.net/2012/04/better-late-than-never/#comment-4497 Jim Mon, 16 Apr 2012 01:38:10 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1296#comment-4497 Videos are a great supplement to the manual. I went through that chapter of the manual a few months ago (I remember the karate-chop analogy) and the video makes it even more helpful. --jim Videos are a great supplement to the manual. I went through that chapter of the manual a few months ago (I remember the karate-chop analogy) and the video makes it even more helpful.

–jim

]]> Comment on better late than never by Dave http://emilywright.net/2012/04/better-late-than-never/#comment-4476 Dave Fri, 13 Apr 2012 03:07:31 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1296#comment-4476 Hey Emily - thanks for adding these videos, they're a great complement to the book. I have a photography comment, for future books/videos: your camera for this video, and for the book, seems to have been set to auto white balance, which means the camera makes a whole lot of guesses about the environment and tries to adjust colour accordingly. Unfortunately, even very high-end cameras are _really_bad_ at this! Page 10 of the book illustrates this - the colour of your wall appears to change between pictures :) You can work around this by using white balance presets on our camera (or custom balance if you're feeling fancy). There's lots of info online - here's a page that's got a more coherent explanation than mine: http://digital-photography-school.com/introduction-to-white-balance Now I'm off to practice shifting... --dave Hey Emily – thanks for adding these videos, they’re a great complement to the book. I have a photography comment, for future books/videos: your camera for this video, and for the book, seems to have been set to auto white balance, which means the camera makes a whole lot of guesses about the environment and tries to adjust colour accordingly. Unfortunately, even very high-end cameras are _really_bad_ at this! Page 10 of the book illustrates this – the colour of your wall appears to change between pictures :) You can work around this by using white balance presets on our camera (or custom balance if you’re feeling fancy). There’s lots of info online – here’s a page that’s got a more coherent explanation than mine:
http://digital-photography-school.com/introduction-to-white-balance

Now I’m off to practice shifting…

–dave

]]> Comment on introducing practice guides! by Michael T http://emilywright.net/2012/02/introducing-practice-guides/#comment-4474 Michael T Wed, 11 Apr 2012 20:24:18 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1224#comment-4474 Hi Emily! This is a great idea. Sorry so long to catch up. I've been off the cello radar lately because my gremlins un-edit my book while I sleep at night. The stupid book generates mistakes faster than I can fix them. I'm going to be buying your practice guide for La Cinq on Friday (that's when my 'Slush Fund' account gets refreshed automatically). It's really a fantastic way to sell your instructional ideas, since it's below the price point of fast food or a crappy snack. Instead I can feed my mind, and without the guilt that comes with buying a $20-$30 book. Hi Emily!

This is a great idea. Sorry so long to catch up. I’ve been off the cello radar lately because my gremlins un-edit my book while I sleep at night. The stupid book generates mistakes faster than I can fix them. I’m going to be buying your practice guide for La Cinq on Friday (that’s when my ‘Slush Fund’ account gets refreshed automatically). It’s really a fantastic way to sell your instructional ideas, since it’s below the price point of fast food or a crappy snack. Instead I can feed my mind, and without the guilt that comes with buying a $20-$30 book.

]]> Comment on idle chatter by Jesse http://emilywright.net/2012/04/idle-chatter/#comment-4326 Jesse Fri, 06 Apr 2012 21:07:00 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1265#comment-4326 You motivate me Emily. You motivate me Emily.

]]> Comment on idle chatter by Shirin Amini http://emilywright.net/2012/04/idle-chatter/#comment-4306 Shirin Amini Tue, 03 Apr 2012 05:51:42 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1265#comment-4306 Go babe! I'm keeping my eye on Kickstarter to see you. We're backing you all the way! Go babe! I’m keeping my eye on Kickstarter to see you. We’re backing you all the way!

]]> Comment on idle chatter by Jim http://emilywright.net/2012/04/idle-chatter/#comment-4305 Jim Tue, 03 Apr 2012 04:22:58 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1265#comment-4305 Your blog keeps me motivated as I gingerly return to playing the cello after putting it aside for decades. I had made a new year's resolution to get a teacher when a snowshoeing mishap landed me in knee surgery. Now I'm looking forward to resuming practice when they take the damn brace off my knee... and will go back to page one of your book. Your blog keeps me motivated as I gingerly return to playing the cello after putting it aside for decades. I had made a new year’s resolution to get a teacher when a snowshoeing mishap landed me in knee surgery. Now I’m looking forward to resuming practice when they take the damn brace off my knee… and will go back to page one of your book.

]]> Comment on idle chatter by Kat http://emilywright.net/2012/04/idle-chatter/#comment-4304 Kat Tue, 03 Apr 2012 02:53:50 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1265#comment-4304 Haaa. For a good second my cursor went for the *like* button. How pathetic. Dude. You make me want to kick my own ass. Your "failures" are as valuable and inspire me just much as the next person's successes. You have true grit. The thought of someday being even a little bit like you keeps me sawing away. Also, so like... where can we give you money for this project? Haaa. For a good second my cursor went for the *like* button. How pathetic.

Dude. You make me want to kick my own ass. Your “failures” are as valuable and inspire me just much as the next person’s successes.

You have true grit. The thought of someday being even a little bit like you keeps me sawing away.

Also, so like… where can we give you money for this project?

]]> Comment on idle chatter by emilywright http://emilywright.net/2012/04/idle-chatter/#comment-4301 emilywright Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:40:57 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1265#comment-4301 Sorry your google is broken. I've added a link for your benefit, and those who have not been as chronically attuned to HBO programming as I've been for far too long. :) Plus, if she had been a cellist, wouldn't she already be the Carrie Bradshaw of cello? Sorry your google is broken. I’ve added a link for your benefit, and those who have not been as chronically attuned to HBO programming as I’ve been for far too long. :)

Plus, if she had been a cellist, wouldn’t she already be the Carrie Bradshaw of cello?

]]> Comment on idle chatter by Terry http://emilywright.net/2012/04/idle-chatter/#comment-4300 Terry Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:37:10 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1265#comment-4300 Huh? Who's Carrie Bradshaw? She play cello? Huh? Who’s Carrie Bradshaw? She play cello?

]]> Comment on summertime by emilywright http://emilywright.net/2012/03/summertime/#comment-4275 emilywright Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:01:09 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1251#comment-4275 Thank you! It should start humming with more activity in the next few weeks. Enjoy spring now on our way to a hopefully warm and wonderful summer. Thank you! It should start humming with more activity in the next few weeks. Enjoy spring now on our way to a hopefully warm and wonderful summer.

]]> Comment on what do you play for? by Guy http://emilywright.net/2012/02/what-do-you-play-for/#comment-4270 Guy Wed, 28 Mar 2012 05:39:08 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1175#comment-4270 I have been playing about 10 years now. I took up the instrument at 48, knowing that I would never be really good - as I define it. Meaning, to be able to play the repertoire I really want to play. However, I try to see it that, although I may not be good in absolute terms - the performance objective above - I can improve. So I can get better, relative to how I was last week/month/year. The problem is working full time and thus only having limited practice time, and thus, by the time I rack up the magical 10,000 hours, I'll be a senior citizen! As you can infer from this, my relationship with the instrument is not an entirely happy one. Frustration is never far away and satisfaction is infrequent. It's a bit like Macbeth's line; "I am in blood stepped so far, to go back were as tedious as go o'er" (or words to that effect). However, dealing with (and sometimes just outlasting) the frustration has been character building. I have a great teacher who has other adult pupils, and who is very good at picking repertoire that I will find reasonably interesting, and challenging enough to bring me along technically. And I can see that I'm getting better. So why do I play? I need an outlet like this in my life. It's necessary for me to believe that I can, one day, play in the Schubert C major Quintet. Learning this instrument is really like having a relationship with a person. Sometimes they give you the irrits, sometimes you can't get enough of them. However, it's really yourself that you're getting to grips with. I have been playing about 10 years now. I took up the instrument at 48, knowing that I would never be really good – as I define it. Meaning, to be able to play the repertoire I really want to play. However, I try to see it that, although I may not be good in absolute terms – the performance objective above – I can improve. So I can get better, relative to how I was last week/month/year. The problem is working full time and thus only having limited practice time, and thus, by the time I rack up the magical 10,000 hours, I’ll be a senior citizen!

As you can infer from this, my relationship with the instrument is not an entirely happy one. Frustration is never far away and satisfaction is infrequent. It’s a bit like Macbeth’s line; “I am in blood stepped so far, to go back were as tedious as go o’er” (or words to that effect). However, dealing with (and sometimes just outlasting) the frustration has been character building. I have a great teacher who has other adult pupils, and who is very good at picking repertoire that I will find reasonably interesting, and challenging enough to bring me along technically. And I can see that I’m getting better.

So why do I play? I need an outlet like this in my life. It’s necessary for me to believe that I can, one day, play in the Schubert C major Quintet. Learning this instrument is really like having a relationship with a person. Sometimes they give you the irrits, sometimes you can’t get enough of them. However, it’s really yourself that you’re getting to grips with.

]]> Comment on summertime by Alfred Hornung http://emilywright.net/2012/03/summertime/#comment-4268 Alfred Hornung Wed, 28 Mar 2012 04:59:40 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1251#comment-4268 What a wonderful, fresh and vibrant blog. It's heading into winter in Australia, where I live, and I'm just about wanting that big warm summertime back reading this. What a wonderful, fresh and vibrant blog. It’s heading into winter in Australia, where I live, and I’m just about wanting that big warm summertime back reading this.

]]> Comment on summertime by Rachael http://emilywright.net/2012/03/summertime/#comment-4155 Rachael Sun, 11 Mar 2012 10:56:54 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1251#comment-4155 Emily! your blog is awesome. And it has a great name. You sound busy and happy, which is a difficult balance to strike. Maybe I should try lindy hopping....I too have a cello blog, I'm a cellist in London. I'm in a quartet that aranges its own stuff, and I started blogging about it. My blog is in its infancy but I thought you might want to check it out....www.strungout.me. I tweet under @strungoutblog and @ravenquartet. I'm going to try and be Rockstar Mcawesompants all year round. xxxxx Emily! your blog is awesome. And it has a great name. You sound busy and happy, which is a difficult balance to strike. Maybe I should try lindy hopping….I too have a cello blog, I’m a cellist in London. I’m in a quartet that aranges its own stuff, and I started blogging about it. My blog is in its infancy but I thought you might want to check it out….www.strungout.me. I tweet under @strungoutblog and @ravenquartet. I’m going to try and be Rockstar Mcawesompants all year round.

xxxxx

]]> Comment on summertime by Wendy http://emilywright.net/2012/03/summertime/#comment-4144 Wendy Sat, 10 Mar 2012 04:11:59 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1251#comment-4144 Two additional camps for adults that I know of, might appeal to us east-coast types: CelloSpeak in Bryn Mawr, PA - check them out at http://www.cellospeak.org. They have two options for week long camps. The other "Scor!" has a 3-4 day offering, they're located out of Rochester, NY - but they do a bunch of camps in NY, FL, TN, GA and MD...check them out at http://www.stringcamp.com. Both will do private lessons in addition to ensemble sessions. CelloSpeak does an entire cello orchestra!!! Wheeee!!!! Scor! has a "Cello Fiesta" the day before camp actually starts. Pack a sombrero! So much cello-happiness I can hardly contain myself!! How can I choose?! Two additional camps for adults that I know of, might appeal to us east-coast types: CelloSpeak in Bryn Mawr, PA – check them out at http://www.cellospeak.org. They have two options for week long camps. The other “Scor!” has a 3-4 day offering, they’re located out of Rochester, NY – but they do a bunch of camps in NY, FL, TN, GA and MD…check them out at http://www.stringcamp.com. Both will do private lessons in addition to ensemble sessions. CelloSpeak does an entire cello orchestra!!! Wheeee!!!! Scor! has a “Cello Fiesta” the day before camp actually starts. Pack a sombrero! So much cello-happiness I can hardly contain myself!! How can I choose?!

]]> Comment on summertime by gottagopractice http://emilywright.net/2012/03/summertime/#comment-4129 gottagopractice Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:58:12 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1251#comment-4129 I'm going to Summertrios this year, and the application deadline was March 1st. They still take apps for space-available with a $50 late fee. Another fine camp for adults I have attended in the past is SummerKeys in Maine. Instrument rather than chamber-centric. And the two Manhattan Quartet camps (WI and NY) are fun for advanced players. I’m going to Summertrios this year, and the application deadline was March 1st. They still take apps for space-available with a $50 late fee. Another fine camp for adults I have attended in the past is SummerKeys in Maine. Instrument rather than chamber-centric. And the two Manhattan Quartet camps (WI and NY) are fun for advanced players.

]]> Comment on summertime by Ed Rafalko http://emilywright.net/2012/03/summertime/#comment-4126 Ed Rafalko Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:24:47 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1251#comment-4126 I love the Aspen Music Festival. I haven't been since around 2002, but I was in Aspen several times during the Festival in the '60s and '70s. I didn't attend the school, just the performances. You will die if I don't tell you that the pot holders I use in my kitchen came from the Aspen Music Festival store. No need to thank me, it's what I do. ;) I love the Aspen Music Festival. I haven’t been since around 2002, but I was in Aspen several times during the Festival in the ’60s and ’70s. I didn’t attend the school, just the performances.
You will die if I don’t tell you that the pot holders I use in my kitchen came from the Aspen Music Festival store. No need to thank me, it’s what I do. ;)

]]> Comment on adding it up by Frans http://emilywright.net/2011/12/adding-it-up/#comment-4124 Frans Wed, 07 Mar 2012 13:14:30 +0000 http://emilywright.net/?p=1124#comment-4124 @Janis: http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-things-nobody-tells-you-about-being-poor_p1/ @Janis: http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-things-nobody-tells-you-about-being-poor_p1/

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