Cello/Play Smart from the Start

CELLO / PLAY SMART FROM THE START: A Handbook for Advancing Virtuosity, II Intermediate to Advanced zeroes in on properly mastering the skills and understanding that they are essential for intermediate and advanced cellists to play beautifully, including specific know-how for string crossing, shifting, vibrato, pizzicato, harmonics, thumb positions, playing double stops and chords, and more. Building on the lessons learned in I Beginner, Ms. Kalfayan’s method is based on more than 20 years of performance and teaching experience. The Cello Play Smart from the Start Handbook II enables cellists to synergize the kinesthetic, cognitive, visual, and auditory elements necessary for the harmonious interplay of cello, bow, and body that advanced, professional musicianship requires. 

CELLO / PLAY SMART FROM THE START: A Handbook for Advancing Virtuosity,

 II Intermediate to Advanced features:

• Original, skill-building exercises for advancing higher-level play.
• Easy-to-follow instruction and demonstration videos that render 

higher-level skills understandable.


• Makes greater speed, dexterity, and ease of motion more accessible.
• More than 200 recommendations for fine-tuning advanced play and attaining virtuosity.
• The kinesthetic, cognitive, visual, and auditory elements that excellence requires
• Insights for interpreting music and achieving greater musicality.
• Repertoire recommendations that build intermediate and advanced skills.

CELLO / PLAY SMART FROM THE START: A HANDBOOK FOR ADVANCING VIRTUOSITY, II INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED : Chapter I Building Skills and Moving Forward: String Crossing; String Crossing Exercise; Pizzicato; Playing Extensions with the Left Hand; Left-Hand Finger Placement with Whole-Step and Half-Step Measurements for the Extended Position  Chapter II Approaching Technical Mastery: Learning How to Shift; Portamento Shifts; Learning Vibrato; Playing in the Thumb Position; Thumb Position Exercises Chapter III Advanced Expertise: Golden Rules for Proper Cello Playing; Practice Suggestions; Double Stops; Exercises for Advanced Skills; Playing Chords; Chapter IV Harmonics: How Harmonics Are Notated Harmonics and Where They Are Located on the Stings Chapter V Fine-Tuning Virtuosity: Fine-Tuning Left-Hand Technique and Musicality; Fine-Tuning Right-Hand Technique and Musicality; More Tools for Building Musicality; Interpretation and Musicality; Suggested Books, Studies, and Pieces.