- left-hand technique
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TEACHING
improvisation for classical musicians
Videos on Left Hand and Arm Technique
The Left Hand: Using Weight and Balance I
The left hand can so easily become tight and even cramped while playing. The urge to grab and to squeeze, especially when we are mentally tense, seems to be built deeply into human beings. We can't play with good facility if the left hand is tight. The solution? Use arm weight, balance, and good finger articulation.
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Segment 2: The "Level Palm," Pulling the Elbow Back, and Using the "Falling Forearm" Here I discuss more fully the idea of a "level palm," also mentioned in the original video, this time referencing Gerhard Mantel's book Cello Technique, where I first learned the concept. Mantel's suggestion to pull the elbow back is and play with the left fingers more parallel to the string is explored, and I also describe how I use what I call the "falling forearm" to get left-arm weight on the fingerboard.
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Segment 3: The "Hanging" Arm and the "Floating" Arm Many cellists and cello teachers recommend "hanging" the left arm from the fingerboard. This works well, and I explain a common pitfall I've observed in less-experienced cellists trying to use this approach. I also discuss how and why I sometimes "float" my left arm.
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