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It occurred to me as I was making some porridge (at some ungodly hour this morning) that preparing for a concert is not too dissimilar to this process… preparing the oats with the right balance of water, bringing to the ultimate temperature and consistency, adding some flavour, and enjoying the results. What do you think?

A beautiful new offering from @julian.lloydwebber to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Casals. It’s full of quotes all in one place. A real gem! ‘My cello is a demanding tyrant.’ ‘My cello is my oldest friend, my dearest friend.’ And this from Paul Tortelier, ‘The music that came out of his cello was the ideal. His sonority was unique. How can I express it? I somehow associate it with a fruit. It had a quality that was mild and yet with a touch of lemon. It was like a mixture of all the best fruits: juicy, yet not too sweet. I’m sorry to make a gastronomic comparison, but it is, I suppose, as good as any other. Casals’s sonority was really undefinable; it was something quite spiritual. It so fitted the music that the sonority didn’t seem important in itself.’ #cello #music #casals #anniversary

Inspired by a recent visit to Cremona, I couldn’t resist purchasing this book from the museum shop. There is still so much mystery surrounding the great maker, not least where he studied and who with. However, what we do know is that Stradivari was one of the great innovators who moved with the times and helped makers and cellists evolve into what we have become today. “They (Stradivari’s smaller pattern) stand alone in representing the exact dimensions necessary for the production of a standard tone which combines the maximum power with the utmost refinement of quality, leaving nothing to be desired: bright, full and crisp, yet free from any suspicion of either nasal or metallic tendency.” #cello #stradivari #cremona #hill #makers #cellists

It was apparently during the fifteenth century that luthiers invented the ‘anima’ fitted between the front and back plates of stringed instruments. It’s a sensitive process finding the soul of the instrument. Giving the post a little move can make such a big difference and offer a whole new palette of colour.#cello #anima #soul #soundpost #stradivarius #cremona

Here’s my fun @prakticello toy on holiday. So great to be able to travel without having to buy an extra seat and to practice from time to time even on holiday. Helps to keep things going for when I get home for concerts. Finding the sun in amongst the depths of winter makes a world of difference. #holiday #prakticello #toy #music #sunshine #recharge

Even when I’m on the road, I take a daily dose of exercises and etudes with me. Here are some usual suspects including Popper & Cossmann along with perhaps lesser known Tortelier exercises. #cello #music #exercises #rituals #routines

Preparing Rachmaninov Sonata for some concerts coming up. Rarely get to see this view and observe what’s happening with the bow and sounding point. There’s quite a lot more to explore closer to the bridge! #rachmaninov #cello #piano #sonata #bow

I just cleaned my fingerboard with an antiseptic wipe. Yuk! Time for a fresh start… #cello #fingerboard #music #dirt #freshstart

How does your musical heritage affect the way that you teach? I just wrote the first essay for my Masters Degree in Pedagogy @esta_uk. It really got me thinking about my formative years, tracing influences back over the last 100 years (longer than I’ve been alive- just to be clear!). All roads seem to lead to Casals. I had fun exploring various works written by disciples of his including Diran Alexanian, Maurice Eisenberg, J. MA Corredor, David Blum, Vivien Mackie and Steven Doane. Themes around left hand technique, Vibrato, Expressive Intonation, Posture, the Importance of the Bow, and Interpretation emerged. Here’s a reflection from Casals himself, captured by Corredor: “I have spent my life meditating on the instrument and the works written for it, and, no doubt, I could say endless things on the subject…what is written remains frozen, petrified, whereas my technique is always on the move. And since technique for me is a means and not an end, it naturally follows the lines of my own experiments and evolution.” #essay #mastersdegree #technique #evolution #cello #casals #heritage #teach

Toni also got to enjoy some breakfast at the dining table this morning! I’ve been meaning to post for a while here, and will be sure to get back on track soon. My masters course on cello pedagogy and teaching is well under way, and I’ll be posting some thoughts and discoveries along the way. #music #cello #teaching #pedagogy #masters #course #thoughts #discoveries @esta_uk

Before and After shots during an Alexander Technique session with Henry George @esta_uk yesterday. I was amazed to see and feel the difference after 45 minutes. We talked about lengthening and widening, exploring the space in my lower back, width in the shoulder blades and opening up my awareness. The aim was to be aimless and to let things happen simply by letting go. Imagine rather than do. Breathe. Today we will be integrating the playing as well. #cello #music #posture #alexandertechnique

There’s nothing quite like practicing outdoors with a @prakticello on holiday. The sea air, sun rising, sounds of nature at work, beautiful view of boats waiting to be sailed, colour everywhere, different shades of blue, rising tide… #music #cello #nature #holiday #cornwall