Play Better Cello

And yet...lately...you are not sounding good, and you are not feeling inspired to play anything. Every time you go to connect with your instrument it just falls flat and you end up disappointed.

Listen...I totally understand.

There was a time when I was at home all day with a toddler on one hip and my beautiful autumn colored cello was in the stand across the room...and I felt an overwhelming sadness within... Like I was missing a part of myself and I couldn't quite figure out how to get it back. 

If you are wanting to find your musical voice and reconnect with the joy of playing music that you love, I can help. You can be playing all the time, growing and sounding more beautiful than you ever thought you could. 

Finding this deep musical connection will bring you happiness and integrity, and it will make you feel alive once again...

When she first joined my program, Patricia  S., (Pooh) was playing cello pieces from Suzuki Book 2 and some bass lines in a band, but she didn't really think of herself as a cellist. 🤷‍♀️

After taking the Total Cello Immersion Program, with weekly classes, monthly one-on-ones, guest speakers and an online course to follow at her own pace, she now performs solo cello gigs at street fairs and coffee shops and plays confidently for friends and family.  🎉

Here's what Pooh recently said:

"Marcie has coached me from a wanna-be-cellist to someone with the confidence to accept solo cello gigs! It takes a lot of work but it IS possible. PLEASE if you are interested in committing to your cello journey, wherever you are, get in contact with Marcie and check out the many different learning programs she has. 

You will not be disappointed." 💃

I sat on an upside down milk crate, weaving magical phrases on my cello that swirled up into the warm evening air. I had been playing solo Bach for about three hours straight, and my fingers were beginning to tire. I hoped that I would be able to pay my rent with the quarters and the dollars that I had collected.

Across the street and beneath the cherry blossoms, a man stood, captivated by the magic of the music. 

I was working on a master's degree at Manhattan School of Music by day and working the streets at night to pay my rent. I dragged my cello out there to Christopher Street a lot, and though I certainly loved playing, I definitely felt a lot of shame about playing on the streets. 

I thought it somehow meant that I wasn't any good at what I did. I thought if I could just learn to play perfectly, then maybe I could break into the high brow performing world of classical music and get off the streets. 

To finally dress in black velvet and perform on well lit stages for sold out audiences. That was my dream.

After completing the Bach, I took a breath and a few swigs of coffee that was laced with blackberry brandy. And then I launched into the opening theme of the Stamitz Viola Concerto.

I played that Stamitz brilliantly, ornamenting the melody with rich chordal harmonies, and adding lightning fast scales and arpeggios to the ends of phrases that had never been there before.

I looked up mid-phrase to see that my sophisticated music loving guy was still there, smiling and swaying to the beat in the moonlight.

I realized then that I had told a fantastic story on my cello, and that my story had touched someone.

My arms were exhausted. And my brain was foggy from exertion.

But I felt really good. Satisfied. Content.

On that warm night, in the heart of the greatest city in the world, for the first time, I knew that I had done something spectacular. 

And it had nothing to do with where I was playing, or for whom. 

I smiled and collected my money…

I know that there are lots of you cellists out there that aren’t playing as you would like to be. Maybe you are wondering if you will ever be good enough to be recognized as a serious cellist, or if anyone will ever feel touched by your music. Maybe you just aren't playing the music that you dream of playing...

But here’s what I learned from playing on the streets of New York City: When you actually show up, play your heart out and share your music with the world, that’s the magic right there. Sharing who you are in that moment...with whoever is listening. 

It doesn’t matter where you play, or who you play for. 

If you just find the confidence to tell your story, as you are in that moment, the people will listen.

And you will reach them.

The orchestra was forging full speed ahead on Mozart’s Magic Flute, but I was just faking it from my 6th chair cello seat. How the heck could everyone play so fast? And why did I suck so bad? 🤦‍♀️

I thought I was just slow. 

Born that way. 

Never to play fast on my cello. 

Ever. 🐢

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That sounds kind of funny now, but at the time, I yearned to be able to conquer fast runs and flourishes on my cello. 

I thought if I could do that, I would be such a cool 12 year old cellist… 👧

My brother had a ton of agility and speed in his piano playing. I so admired that.

Well, guess what? 

It turns out, speed is something that you can develop. 🏃‍♀️‍➡️

You have to work on it daily but...you can actually learn to play fast.

Who knew? 🤷‍♀️

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So get this - Now I can tackle fast passages. I’ve got some speed, strength and agility in my cello playing. 🎖️

I can dance through sixteenth note passages in my Bach Suites that used to totally trip me up… 💃

And I can fly with abandon through jazz tunes like Black Orpheus and Blue Bossa… 🪂
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Playing fast is super fun and freeing…and now…well…I’m a really cool over 60 year old cellist... 😎
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How did I gain this skill?  🔥

Really it was kind of a mistake. I decided to take my cello with me onto the streets of NYC and play in all kinds of musical groups from different countries…and also in jazz groups…and there were no charts. 🤨

I had to figure out the theory behind the music to make up my own parts. And I started to play scales and arpeggios in order to learn how to do that. 🎵

And also, very importantly, I added dotted rhythms to my practice. 

​Practicing scales with dotted rhythms and also sixteenth note musical passages in dotted rhythms has helped me more than anything else to find speed in my playing. 🏃‍♀️‍➡️

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If you are someone who wants to be able to fly on your cello…maybe you feel like everyone else is fast, but you just can’t play fast… I get it! 🎺

Check out this Cello 911 video that I made for you guys.​
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https://youtu.be/HmUUzwJTeZM

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It’s a basic method but it’s not easy. 

You can learn it and apply it to any sixteenth note passage to develop your speed.

In this video, I am using dotted rhythms in a two octave C scale.

Play along with me, and then, add dotted rhythms to your practice for just five minutes a day…I'm telling you, it’s going to change your playing and show you how to play fast.

Let me know how it goes.

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And I thought I was just slow... 🩷💚💜

-Marcie 🌹

-the Cello Guru 🧘‍♀️

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PS: If you want to work with me to finally understand how to practice better daily to ultimately raise your level with cutting edge techniques from neuroscience, shoot me an e-mail and we'll talk...Total Cello Immersion is my 6 Month  Program for happening adult cellists that are ready  to go all in and Play Better Cello.  (mar@thecelloguru.com)

• In the Total Cello Immersion Program, you will find a supportive community of like minded peers to support you, and you will get expert cello instruction regularly.  

• You will learn the skill of performing through weekly studio class participation so that you can play for others with confidence.

•  In the online video courses,  you will be working through instructional videos of both classical Suzuki pieces and pop and jazz improvisation repertoire. 

• Our  Cello Guru Concept videos will help you to  move through constant musical growth with daily inspiration, expertise and confidence.  

• By the end of the 6 month program, you will be a happier, healthier, more musical and more expressive cellist who understands the value of your own personal cello playing in the world and exactly what steps to take every day to stay in musical transformation.