The Dotzauer Challenge Introduction

This is in response to: http://celloetudes.tumblr.com/

I loved the idea of what he's doing, because I love working on Etudes (and technique in general) & I love memorizing, so introducing some structure to these activities is great & beneficial to me, because it forces me to focus on one thing for an extended period of time!

I'm doing it slightly differently than his Popper Project though ... I'm memorizing 1 Etude a week (after all, this is Dotzauer, not Popper we're talking about), I'm not limiting myself to 45 minutes a day & I have come up with a rubric to grade myself each week. I am also recording a video of me playing each memorized Etude at the end of the week.

I've already gone through week one.

Youtube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocS227zehQ0
Grade: D
Specific Comments: Open A string very clunky, Bow distribution not always correct, Contact point should be reconsidered at times. Left hand fingers could use improvement in the areas of staying in alignment & moving as a unit.

Rubric:
F - Failed to memorize notes and bowings within one week.
D - Notes and bowings are memorized, and piece is performed completely through without any stops or wrong notes (multiple attempts are acceptable).
C - Notes and bowings are memorized, and piece is performed completely through without any stops or wrong notes (multiple attempts are acceptable). Correct Bow Distribution is present.
B - Notes and bowings are memorized, and piece is performed completely through without any stops or wrong notes (multiple attempts are acceptable). Correct Bow Distribution and Articulation & Dynamics are present.
A - Notes and bowings are memorized, and piece is performed completely through without any stops or wrong notes on First Try. Correct Bow Distribution and Articulation & Dynamics are present.