Tuesday, December 1, 2009

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.

5 comments:

Rulik said...

Hi, i have recently started to take cello lessons.. i have about 4 or 5 classes only, but my teacher gave me the Dotzauer etude 1 already...so i guess i'll be following you with eagerness.. Best Regards,Raul from Mexico

Mike Lunapiena said...

Cool!

I'd definitely love to hear your thoughts about them as you go through them.

Please keep in mind that my videos are not finished products & I am doing these without guidance from a teacher (though I have completed college for music).

Anyway, best of luck to you in your studies!

-Mike

Rulik said...

Hi mike, i have started my own blog exclusevely for cello and violin (my other one includes ballet, falconry and lots of stuff) but i was so inspired by you that i decided to do the same, tough i have a private teacher (once per week lessons), and have very few lesson so far. I'll copy most of your "methode" but i guess i'll take longer for each study to accomplish as i have had only about five formal lessons before my teacher gave me this study.
the link for my music blog is:

http://ochocuerdas.blogspot.com/

and is written in both english and spanish (Have mentioned you already)

Claudia said...

I have a Dotzauer book I've been using just for studies for my exam, but this has inspired me to learn the other studies progressively too. Love your work!

Mike Lunapiena said...

Raul - Great to hear, and thanks for mentioning me in your blog!

I've added your blog to my list on the side of my page & will definitely be following along. Good luck!

I wish so much that I had a cello teacher right now, but I don't have money...

Best of luck to you with your studies!