Shifting

What kinds of exercises do you all do to practice shifting accurately?

Donna

There is a book my teacher recommends called, "Position Pieces for Cello". by Rick Mooney. I got mine from sheetmusicplus.com. There are several books available. The books have songs in differet positions and checks you by including an open along with the fingered note to self check your accuracy.
Bob

Thanks, Bob. I actually had that book up in my attic and recently got it down to look at again. When I first bought it (about a year ago) I couldn`t really make much sense of it because I didn`t really know much about the different positions at that time. I just started working with the book this past week and see that it can be very helpful now that I`m familiar with where the notes and positions are located.

Donna

Glad that helped. I recently got back into playing the cello after many years away from it and intonation was a real problem especially when shifting into a different position. In addition to the book I find that sliding into that note I am looking for until it sounds right to my ear helps. After awhile you can slide faster to make it less noticable. You can also make it harder to hear by lightly touching the string and sliding.
Next time you listen to a professional player see if you can notice them sliding into the next note. It is mostly by feel and your ear and practice is the only way.
Bob

Dont give up!!
I nearly stoped the cello coz I was so frustrated with shifting but now ive just done my grade 8 (which involves so much sliding its not funny)
It just becomes automatic and you dont even think about it
Good Luck!!!

Try the book "Daily Exercise" by Louis Feiullard". It`s almost a `cellist`s Bible!

Has Dotzauer written any studies for Shifting??