Hi there. I was just practicing for half hour and felt my right upper arm aching after, and found this video. Just started cello in my 40s, 5 lessons now. Thank you for the videos
Thanks! I just started playing a few weeks ago (at 31) and I'm already feeling the burn so it's good the get out early and do my best to avoid it! Thanks for the advice!
Super helpful, i have a competition with my class tmr and me and my stand partner have been dealing with the same issue with our shoulders hurting a ton near the end of the song, thank you for the help!
Thank you! I suffer from sholder pain myself too, and it developed over the years. Never really bothered me until I started playing cello, especially at the tip in A and D strings (Dotzauer etude 6 for example is PAAAAINFUL for me). Great tips
Sold both my cellos. Have had four rotator cuff surgeries on my right shoulder. The trouble was not cello related. Shoulder is better. Ordered an electric today because the price is lower than a wooden one. Will be watching this again when I receive the eCello and probably often for a while.
Thank you Billy! As a computer person who sits at a desk for long hours as well as playing the cello this is really important to me. Also, I just wanted to pass along some feedback that your speaking voice in the videos is much lower than when the Cello is being played. I always have to listen with headphones on or turn the volume up and down. I would recommend running the audio through some compression to bring the low decibel speaking audio up and the loud decibel Cello audio down. **Edit** I thought about it and I understand why you wouldn't want to compress the Cello sound where it loses the dynamics of the playing so, maybe just compress the vocal audio so it's louder. :)
This is my major issue at two months in. It is the rounding of the shoulder position (I think in the expectation of the eventual reach out to up bow the D and A strings) that makes me, in effect, create a pinching in the “front” part of the shoulder muscle. The pinching rockets up my tension level as I reach for full arm extension to reach the bow tip. I’m going to try reducing the length of upward travel of my bow stroke to see if this “wrist-to-shoulder” movement modification relieves the stress point.
Was playing since I was 9, with long breaks in between (40 now). From what I notice, the shoulder hurts mainly when I'm not sitting with my back straight, for example leaning a bit forward, be it to look better at the notes, or simply as a bad habit. Keeping my back straight does better, at least for now, then your recommendations here.
i am doing papillon by faure, normally when playing i usually play near the tip to middle of the bow to get the light sound. my arm will start to hurt because of where i need to play which is primarley on the a string. Though i might have figured out how to fix that which is by tilting the cello at an angle. I also have another problem also which is my left hand when playing it. I have the piece between 90-100 bpm and my left hand muscel (not the hand but the mucsel that controlles the hand and fingers) and sometimes my shouldier start to hurt. how do i fix that while maintaing a fast speed
Hi there. I was just practicing for half hour and felt my right upper arm aching after, and found this video. Just started cello in my 40s, 5 lessons now. Thank you for the videos
My pleasure, and congrats on starting your cello journey!
Great reminder! Thanks for the tips!
My pleasure!
Thanks! I just started playing a few weeks ago (at 31) and I'm already feeling the burn so it's good the get out early and do my best to avoid it! Thanks for the advice!
My pleasure! And congrats on starting your cello journey!
Thank you for the excellent tips!
My pleasure!
Super helpful, i have a competition with my class tmr and me and my stand partner have been dealing with the same issue with our shoulders hurting a ton near the end of the song, thank you for the help!
My pleasure! Thanks for your comment!
Thank you! I suffer from sholder pain myself too, and it developed over the years. Never really bothered me until I started playing cello, especially at the tip in A and D strings (Dotzauer etude 6 for example is PAAAAINFUL for me). Great tips
Thanks so much, and thanks for your comment!
Sold both my cellos. Have had four rotator cuff surgeries on my right shoulder. The trouble was not cello related. Shoulder is better. Ordered an electric today because the price is lower than a wooden one. Will be watching this again when I receive the eCello and probably often for a while.
Thank you! This could be the possible cause for my shoulder pain, hopefully with your advice it’ll ease off.
Your videos are very helpful. I study classical piano - intermediate level, and want to try cello. Do you happen to offer private online lessons?
Thank you Billy! As a computer person who sits at a desk for long hours as well as playing the cello this is really important to me. Also, I just wanted to pass along some feedback that your speaking voice in the videos is much lower than when the Cello is being played. I always have to listen with headphones on or turn the volume up and down. I would recommend running the audio through some compression to bring the low decibel speaking audio up and the loud decibel Cello audio down. **Edit** I thought about it and I understand why you wouldn't want to compress the Cello sound where it loses the dynamics of the playing so, maybe just compress the vocal audio so it's louder. :)
Hi! Thanks so much for your message and I'll look into the audio levels. I'm glad you found the video helpful!
This is my major issue at two months in. It is the rounding of the shoulder position (I think in the expectation of the eventual reach out to up bow the D and A strings) that makes me, in effect, create a pinching in the “front” part of the shoulder muscle. The pinching rockets up my tension level as I reach for full arm extension to reach the bow tip. I’m going to try reducing the length of upward travel of my bow stroke to see if this “wrist-to-shoulder” movement modification relieves the stress point.
Thank you for the advice, it will be definitely helpful !
My pleasure!
Was playing since I was 9, with long breaks in between (40 now). From what I notice, the shoulder hurts mainly when I'm not sitting with my back straight, for example leaning a bit forward, be it to look better at the notes, or simply as a bad habit. Keeping my back straight does better, at least for now, then your recommendations here.
i am doing papillon by faure, normally when playing i usually play near the tip to middle of the bow to get the light sound. my arm will start to hurt because of where i need to play which is primarley on the a string. Though i might have figured out how to fix that which is by tilting the cello at an angle. I also have another problem also which is my left hand when playing it. I have the piece between 90-100 bpm and my left hand muscel (not the hand but the mucsel that controlles the hand and fingers) and sometimes my shouldier start to hurt. how do i fix that while maintaing a fast speed