Perspective from a cello teacher

Photo by Alberto Bigoni on Unsplash

I started this blog because I was telling a friend how I am the unlikely musician.

See the story here.

Fast forward to two years ago. I had to stop music lessons because my daughter had a medical condition return, and I wasn’t sure what to expect for the year. She’s ok, but at the time, I wasn’t sure. Then I started a second bachelor’s degree and wasn't sure how I could manage it all. But, boy did I miss the cello. I met a woman at my church who takes cello lessons and she also is an adult beginner, but two books ahead of me. She was commenting on how it made all the difference in the world that she started playing in a quartet. That peaked my interest, because I am also social. So, I decided not to go back to my other cello teacher, which was a very difficult decision. However, I wanted to try this new teacher out.

I tried this summer and he agreed to take me on as a student, which I thought was nice. It has been the perfect next step! Like my old teacher, he says many things that just stay with me.

“The bow is perfectly designed to be played, you just have to learn to hold it and it will do it’s job.” This struck a chord with me (hahaha) because I really am convinced we ALL are made to do something and when we get on board with that, we will do OUR job. Comforting.

“As a cellist, before a concert, I spend a lot of time sitting and getting my body to a rest point. When I play in the orchestra, everyone else is tuning up and busy. I just sit there and breathe and wait for my body to get heavy.”

I almost started bawling when he said this. I just had such a visual of the whole human race as an orchestra and how we are all different instruments. What I love is how I don’t have to be like everyone else. I enjoy that picture of all of us being in an orchestra and the oboe needs to be the oboe and the piano needs to be the piano and even the humble triangle, needs to just be the triangle! I never get tired of being reminded to not compare myself to someone else. This was such a good picture for me to think we are all different, but we work together and I just have to be me.

“If you will just let your hand lean, the heaviness of your hand is what gives the beautiful tone. Just lean.”

Cello teachers must be the most gracious and hospitable people on the planet. I have only had two, but how do they both say profound things and invite me to chill?? I love these people! Yes, I want to learn to just lean and let God do his job!. Apparently, it is more efficient to play that way—hand leaning and not just pushing and striving. That is a life picture, for sure.

I can relate to the cello—I work best a certain way. I have learned that I need a lot of still and quiet, which was confusing for many years because I am an extrovert. Learning to play the cello has probably added years to my life! I spend a lot of time trying to relax my body now and to be still so I can play!

For the record, it is uber humbling to be almost 50 and learning one of the harder instruments to play. However, I enjoy every moment. As an adult you are constantly interrupted and never get as much time as you want. My friend who recruited me ended up giving birth to preemie twins. She was already wondering about playing when she would have two little ones running around. I, myself don’t know if I will have to pause lessons for other life needs. I now KNOW I am a cellist. I am. It’s coming and I am improving all the time. I can’t believe it! I thought it would be too late. It’s not too late, it just looks different!

I do have goals. I have to get through book 2 of Suzuki and then I can switch and take Scottish Folk lessons. I want to just go low and slow and be PART of an ensemble. I also want to get to the point where I could do jam sessions. North Carolina is like a Mecca for folk music and I am ready to make a pilgrimage. I am trying to get my husband in my future band. He used to play violin, so I got him one from a friend last April. Oh, I have dreams!!

Recently, I listened to a cool podcast on writing and music. It talks about breaking the “try harder” cycle. I think a lot of us have that problem. Trying harder makes things sound worse. This was so helpful, because often in my lessons, I start falling apart, and I think it’s because I stop enjoying myself and start getting all tensed up. It doesn’t work for cello, for French, for writing and I don't think it works for life, either. If you want to listen, click here. It’s Ron Block, who is a banjo player and actually acted in the film, “O Brother, where art thou” He also talks about when you make a mistake, keep calm and just think and try to figure out what you did and work on that bit. I need to do that in my cello playing and my life, instead of falling apart or thinking I am a bad person because something didn’t work out.

I have asked this question before and I think it is a good one. If you had no fear, what would you be learning to do or play right now? In my case, I am shocked to find myself re-visiting these old dreams of playing cello and speaking French and little by little, both are working out. In between loads of laundry, walking the dog, and driving teenagers, strangely, I am progressing. Its FUN and brings joy to my other chores, for sure! What about you?