Thumb Position

SKU: CF.BF126

ISBN 9781491150009. UPC: 680160907502. 9x12 inches.

Written by world renown pedagogue, Roland Vamos, this collection of double-stop exercises fill a void in the literature of technical exercises for cellists. These etudes feature a systematic series of fixed double-stops that enables the player to practice and master every possible combination of finger patterns across two strings without shifting. Mr. Vamos says of the book, The most important accomplishment is the development of a strong left handà These exercises, when practiced slowly and carefully, will help to develop a keen sense of pitch and intonation. Adapted for cello by Horacio Contreras, teacher, chamber musician, and recitalist.
When I first became familiar with Roland Vamos’ Exercises, I was impressed with itsclarity and effectiveness. The book focuses on a few important fundamentals of string playing,and it is accessible to students of every age. Moreover, its tonal organization in C major makesit simple and easy to understand. I recognized the potential this book could have for cellists,and after spending several months working on an adaptation, I witnessed its results in buildingand maintaining important fundamentals of technique.Mr. Vamos’ Exercises is comprised of simple patterns of double-stops in sevenpositions. There are two basic groups of variations: seven double-stop variations in differentcombined rhythms that develop finger coordination and independence of the left hand, andnine bowing variations that use détaché at the frog, middle and tip of the bow to work onstring crossings, coordination, and balance of the bow. The whole work provides training thatimproves intonation, sound, and ease of playing in all positions and all parts of the bow.In order to adapt Mr. Vamos’ book for cello, I needed to make some modifications tothe original. To address the different needs of the neck and the thumb positions, I chose to writetwo separate books. I kept the original ascending stepwise motion for subsequent variationsin Book I by following a diatonic scale on the top line of the patterns. However, I modifiedthe tonal framework to adjust to the more limited range of the cello. Therefore, unlike in Mr.Vamos’ book, variations in Book I do not ascend through the positions in a uniform pattern.I also switched the order of patterns to create a gradual increase in difficulty. In Book II, Iadded options that work on the fourth finger and an extended left hand frame, and at the end, Iincluded five sets of variations with different bowing alternatives.Mr. Vamos provides a number of specific instructions regarding left hand techniquein his exercises. For his original version, two fingers must remain down for almost the entireset of variations, providing a solid reference for the frame of the hand. In variations H and I,he instructs students to lift these fingers when they are not being used. In the case of thumbposition on cello, lifting the thumb could make the hand unstable; therefore, I suggested thatthe thumb remains down while the other fingers are lifted alternately in H and I. I have foundthis exercise quite useful to work on thumb independence and relaxing the thumb while usingother fingers.Mr. Vamos gives precise instructions for the bowing exercises as well. Following hisdirections, the exercises should be performed with a relaxed hand and flexible fingers. Thenotes should be consistently connected even when crossing strings. The bowing patterns shouldbe performed at the frog, the middle and the tip of the bow in every position.

SKU: CF.BF129

ISBN 9781491153321. UPC: 680160910823.

Cello Power is a series of books designed to be used to expand the cello student’s facilityand knowledge of the instrument. The books are structured to focus on the advancedmaterials that appear in our cello literature. Most important are the exercises and myfurther recommendations on how to work on them. The process is first to digest thefundamental of each and thereby to enable one to build a solid technique in preparationfor the difficult passagework ahead. An example are the double-stop excerpts, which arebroken down into two-string bow patterns to aid in intonation and to clarify the spacingfor the left hand.Books 1 and 2 are planned to fill the gap left vacant by lack of materials covering, ina progressive order, the transition from the introduction of the thumb position into astudent’s studies and the work on the much more difficult application of this informationinto studies by Popper, Grützmacher and Piatti. Of course, then there are the ensuingrepertoire demands of the concertos of Dvořák and Saint-Saëns and such like.Book 3 is aimed at developing a sure and secure technique and facility in the lower areaof the cello. This includes material to help make the fifth, sixth and seventh positions lessawkward for the student. The goal is to aid in the ability of the student to become moreable to apply this technical comfort to the attainment of a more nuanced and emotionallyfulfilling musical performance on the cello.
Cello Power is a series of five books designed to be used to expandthe cello student’s facility and knowledge of the instrument. Thebooks are structured to focus on the advanced materials thatappear in our cello literature. Most important are the exercisesand my further recommendations on how to work on them. Theprocess is first to digest the fundamental of each, and therebyto enable one to build a solid technique in preparation for thedifficult passagework ahead. An example are the double-stopexcerpts, which are broken down into two-string bow patterns toaid in intonation and to clarify the spacing for the left hand.Books 1 and 2 are planned to fill the gap left vacant by lack ofmaterials covering, in a progressive order, the transition from theintroduction of the thumb position into a student’s studies and thework on the much more difficult application of this informationinto studies by Popper, Grützmacher and Piatti. Of course, thenthere are the ensuing repertoire demands of concerti by Dvořák,Saint-Saëns and such like.Book 3 is aimed at developing a sure and secure technique andfacility in the neck area of the cello. This includes materials to helpmake the fifth, sixth and seventh position less awkward for thestudent. The goal is to aid in the ability of the student to becomemore able to apply this technical comfort to the attainment of amore nuanced and emotionally fulfilling musical performance onthe cello.