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VIDEOS are organized into 3 categories, and you can watch them here or at youtube.com/@CelloRefinery. There are also many SHORTS with quick tips on the Cello Refinery youtube channel, and those are not listed here. Materials, like pdfs of highlighted exercises, can be downloaded from links on this page or the drop-down menus under Video Library. Most of the videos have info that is valuable for all levels - even things that seem basic are stepping-stones to advanced technique. Videos are added often, and if you have suggestions for something you'd like to see, please send a comment from the "Contact Me" page.
General Cello Refinery
Cello set up - how and why to tilt your cello
How to sit at the cello (and what to sit on)
How to practice Simple Shifts
Target practice: exercises to improve accuracy & great intonation
Improve your practice skills: backwards practicing
Bow hold for pizzicato: how to go back and forth quickly from arco to pizz.
How to read tenor clef
Harmonics & tuning - Basic harmonics & tuning without a tuner! PDF of exercises
Pizzicato on the Cello - some tips to improve both your dexterity and tone in pizzicato
Muscle Memory & the Beginning Cellist - how do you develop consistency?
Specialty Pizzicato - some fun & different ways to use pizzicato
Tilt Your Cello - it's easier to get around the instrument if you tilt for different strings
Bow/Right Arm Refinery
Bow set up - how and why to tilt your stick
String Crossing 101 - Discover the secrets of smooth and consistent string crossings. Pdf download
Improve Your Bow - I approach the bow stroke with a 3-part method. This is not just for beginners - everyone can develop a great, connected bow stroke. Pdf download
Improve Your Bow - Part 2 of the 3-part bow stroke. Watch Part 1 first! Pdf download
Improve Your Bow - Part 3 of the 3-part bow stroke. No written exercises for this one.
Bow Series #1: the detaché stroke
Bow Series #2: bow distribution - varying the amount of bow you use. Pdf download
Bow Series #3: basic ways to make loud and soft sounds on the cello
Bow Series #4: bow distribution - varying speeds of the bow. Pdf download
String Crossings: Bach Suite #1: two examples from the G major Prelude that use wrist for string crossings. Pdf download
How to Hold a Cello Bow
Bow Series #5: Long-short-short bow stroke for energy. Pdf download
Spiccato Bow Stroke: basics for starting the bouncing bow stroke
Left Hand & Arm Refinery
Universal Arpeggio Fingering - A pattern for 3-octave arpeggios that uses the same fingerings in all keys. PDF download
Smooth Shifts - Refine your shifting technique with lots of details about shifting to 4th position. Part 1. PDF of exercises
Tilt your fingers!
Vibrato Series - video #1, Vibrato Fundamentals 1. Goes with ebook "Cello Chops, Vibrato Fundamentals"
Vibrato Series - video #2, Vibrato Fundamentals 2. Goes with ebook "Cello Chops, Vibrato Fundamentals"
Vibrato Series - video #3, Vibrato Fundamentals 3. Goes with ebook "Cello Chops, Vibrato Fundamentals"
Vibrato Series - video #5, Advanced Vibrato, part 1. This continues from the previous video. Pdf download
Vibrato Series - video #4, Developing Vibrato. This overlaps a bit with the end of video #3, but also presents new info.
Vibrato Series - video #6, Advanced Vibrato, part 2 (final) Pdf download
Smooth Shifts part 2, exploring shifts that change fingers. PDF of exercises
Popped Shifts - Sometimes you want to kind of "punch" your shift and land with pizzazz on a note. I call these "popped" shifts.
Wrong-Way Shifts - Play smoother scales with this somewhat complicated shifting method.
Smooth String Crossing with Left Hand - Your left hand is as important as the bow when it comes to string crossings. Pdf of exercises
Universal Scale Fingering - This is a system for intermediate & advanced players that uses the same fingering pattern for all major scales. PDF download
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