Yay! Cello Memes!

 

New Things

I love this picture.

It's my favorite color and my favorite instrument all wrapped into one.
I also love art. Art of all kinds...though art that involves cellos is always a winner with me.
I really like retro modern anything (including the amazing folk stuff), pop art (mainly Roy Lichtenstein), anything Boticelli ever painted, Monet....this list could take me all day. Music and art are both things that I have a very wide-reaching love affair with.

Today was a pretty good day! I had a job interview, and I think (knock on wood!) that it went very well. I had to sight-sing, conduct, play cello (I hit them with a double-whammy of the prelude to the 1st Bach cello suite AND Julie-O), write an essay, and answer a lot of questions. It was by far, the most interesting interview I've ever had.

I really hope I get the job! It seems like a very nice school district.

Also, I stopped at one of those Amish-run grocery stores where they sell factory 2nds and damaged boxes or other foods that companies don't want to sell anymore. It's amazing how much money you can save on a box of cereal that only has a dent in it. I think it's important to support smaller businesses like that anyway.

I like their portion sizes better, too. For example, instead of buying a six-pack of those 12oz. Coke bottles, I can buy them individually. 3 FOR $1.00!!!! Now you tell ME where you can find a better deal than that? Sunset Outlet in Lebanon, PA...you're awesome. Everyone should go shop there. Their deli is amazing.

Have a good day!

Online Help For People Learning The Cello At Home #1

 

Lesson #1-Dude, Where's My Cello?

 

• Renting a cello
• Go to your local music store and ask about rental options. The last thing you want to do is invest money into buying a cello and then realize that playing it just isn't for you.
• What size do you need? Most adults use a 4/4 cello, also known as a full-size. If you happen to be a super short adult, a 3/4 size might be a better option.
• Ask questions about the rental: Is there insurance coverage? What does it cover? It is a rent-to-own or does only a percentage of what you're paying go towards the purchase price?
• E-mail a private cello teacher and ask if they recommend a certain brand. This is a good option if you are thinking about renting a cello from the internet and won't be able to try it before you buy it.
• Make sure everything that's supposed to be there, is there! Your rental should include the cello, a case, a bow, a cake of rosin, and you might want to ask if they can throw in a rockstop as well. If you are planning on playing somewhere that doesn't have carpet, it is a lifesaver!
• You can rent a cello completely online without ever leaving the couch. Here are some recommended companies that have good track records of renting quality instruments:
• Southwest Strings
•  Johnson String Instruments
• Music & Arts
   

Product Review: L'Oreal True Match Naturale Mineral Makeup and Concealer

DO buy True Match Naturale Mineral Makeup and Concealer

Why? I will tell you why.

This makeup is truly amazing.

The week of my senior cello recital, I received the gift of two huge zits on my forehead.

I ran to Rite Aid and purchased this concealer and mineral foundation, praying for a miracle!

I've tried a lot of different concealers and foundations over the years, and none of them have ever actually covered up my skin problems...they highlighted them!

This concealer covers ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. Make sure you get a good match to your skin tone. I actually had a few of my friends ask me how I had gotten clear skin overnight!

It saved me from looking like a teenage cellist and made me look like an adult cellist. Considering I was 28 when I did the recital...thank goodness!!!

This makeup is so great, because it's also very light. It really feels like you're wearing nothing at all. Before trying this, I had never used a concealer that wasn't liquid. I can't believe how much I was missing out! 

Liquid + powder = not compatible. 

Mineral powder + mineral powder = VERY compatible. They blend right into each other. Amazing.

Wash your face. Moisturize. Use the concealer (which is a mineral concealer) where you need it. You won't need to use a lot. Buff the mineral foundation all over your face. Look in the mirror. Be amazed! 

Thanks for reading this.

Please comment if this review helped you!

Why I Love The Chiropractor

I love my chiropractor.

How did I end up needing one? I had spent a few years in a folding chair, in front of a computer, with a monitor that was above my eye level.
Yes...I had been looking up with my neck in a terrible position with no postural support for my back. Awesome! Do me a favor: go out and spend good money on a cushioned and supportive chair for your job. Make sure it keeps you eye level with your computer monitor. If you're looking up or down at your screen, your neck will not be happy about it later!

You know what else I was doing? Sleeping with three pillows under my head. Something like this:

It's funny. I had never thought about how I sleep...ever. I can't believe I kept my neck in that position for so many hours.

I started getting terrible headaches with vision disturbances. The kind of headaches that make it feel like your head is in a vice. All the pressure was coming from the back of my head where it meets my neck. I began to get very worried. The only thing that seemed to help was to lie down, which took the pressure off my neck. I thought maybe my head had ballooned up, because it felt so heavy, like my neck couldn't support it.

I'm not sure why I even decided to go to the chiropractor in the first place, but I'm glad I did. My C2 vertebra (the second vertebra in my neck) is out of place from my neck being in an awkward position for so long. (3-ish years?)

I now go every 3-4 weeks for an adjustment and electrode stimulation therapy. I do stretching and strengthening exercises at home. I sleep on a neck aligning pillow and it's great.

Also, if I do get any pain, I use BioFreeze to quickly combat it. It's like IcyHot, but alot more powerful. I haven't had a headache in quite awhile.

I don't have health insurance to cover chiropractic, but if you tell the office about your situation, you can usually become a cash paying customer. It costs about $40 a visit. I think it's worth every penny. As my chiropractor always says, too many people are used to popping pills when something ails them. It's time to look at alternative treatments for pain and other ailments.


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Thanks for reading!

Product Review: Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes

DO buy Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes

Why? I will tell you why.

 

I liked the packaging of these, as I am a fan of anything green. That is initially why I picked these up in the first place. (I also like to buy anything that's new)

I made sure to have a full face of makeup before trying these...lotion, concealer, foundation, blush, eyeshadow in a ridiculously bright blue shade, eyeliner, mascara, and anything else you can think of.

PROS:

• The wipes are relatively moist, so I didn't feel like I was raking a paper towel across my face.
• Even after scrubbing them on my eyes, there was absolutely no irritation.
• They have a nice, clean scent.
• I only paid about 3 or 4 bucks for them. (they were on sale)
• These DID take off all of the makeup I had on, and with relatively little effort. I love these to take off my face before bedtime.

CONS:

•  The package they come in doesn't stay closed very well. This can lead to the wipes drying out. I had to transfer them into a Tupperware container.
•  There was a slight feeling of "something left behind" when my face dried. Not much, but just a little.
• These wipes do not have a textured side, which is a bummer. I always thought those little raised bumps cleaned a bit better. Yes, Simple also makes exfoliating wipes, but they are not marketed towards sensitive skin like these are.
• I wish they were bigger! Maybe I just have an extra large face.

All in all, I do like these a lot. The brand "Simple" is exactly what they are. Simple, effective, and no extra ingredients to worry about. They're not expensive and they do their job. I love things that are simple.

Thanks for reading this!

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A Cello Tribute To Randy Marcantoni

 I've been out of the loop.

I had no idea that Randy had passed away.
He used to take lessons with me.
He was my favorite student.

Randy was primarily a bass guitar player, but he had a lot of interest in the cello.
I'm pretty sure he wanted to learn it so he could play it on slower, more ballad-type songs with his band.
He definitely plucked it like a jazz bass. We were always working on that, ha ha ha.

I remember how excited he was to be sitting on the same stage as Yo-Yo Ma at the Zoellner Arts Center.
I think he got to meet him, too.
I sat all the way in the back, but we met-up during intermission.
He looked so nice in that tuxedo.

At one lesson, he came in with the bass line to "Yesterday" by The Beatles all written out.
He had learned it and written in down by ear.
I recorded it.
You can hear his voice at the end.

So here, for your listening pleasure, is that very performance, with Randy on the bass part and me playing the melody. Thank you, iPhone, for having the ability to record amazing things like these.
Yesterday by The Beatles

The last text I received from him reads, "More improvement, one less drug to take. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is Love. 1 Corinth 13:13."

Rest in peace, my friend. 
You are missed.

Product Review: Bobelock Cello Case #2000

DO buy the Bobelock Cello Case #2002, as long as you can handle the smell!

(Yes, this is my actual cello case...before it got all scuffed from beating it into walls)

Why? I will tell you why.

I love this case. Everyone else loves this case. (mostly because it's yellow)
If you ever want to get people to notice you, walk around town with one of these babies.
I guarantee you will get at least 5 people who tell you what a cool case you have.
The most common comment? "That is QUITE a case you have there!"
My response? "Thanks..."


Anyway...
When I received the case in the mail, it came in a huge box.
I was super excited and tore right into it.


PROS:
The case looked great and had been well-packaged.
The latches close nicely and don't leave any gaps. (they also LOCK)
It's very light!
No wheels, nice!!! (I hate when my cello decides to roll away by itself)
It seems to protect my cello well for being a more lightweight case.
It's the perfect canvas for some vinyl graphics. (coming soon)
The interior is a nice blue velvet.
Two bow holders.
The carrying handle on the side of the case is very sturdy and will probably last a long time.


I switched out the Bobelock shoulder straps with the Bam case straps that have the hardcore mountain climbing caribiners on them.
Ever since I saw a friend's case hit the floor because the stupid latch on his strap didn't lock like this one does, I will never use another shoulder strap again unless it's the one below.
http://www.lindawest.com/Bam_cello_case_shoulder_straps_p/bamstraps.htm

CONS:
But wait...what the heck is that smell?!?!?!

This case is a real stinker.
Yes, I know that plastic or fiberglass or glue or whatever else this case might be made of has an odor to it, especially when new...but c'mon. It reeked.

I thought maybe it just needed time to air out.
I left the case open for days on end.
I Febreezed it.
I tried moth balls.
I used some kind of sachet that smelled like lavender.
I bought one of those cans of scent that is supposed to suck the smell out of a smoky car.

Nothing worked...

It even made my cello smell weird.
It became embarrassing to go to orchestra rehearsal.
I swore that everyone could smell my funky case and now my cello too.

Also, there is no real music pocket in the case. *shrug* I'm so used to always carrying my music in a separate bag, it's not really a big deal.



I never did find a solution to that smell. It faded over time. I've had this case for about 3 years, and I can still smell it faintly. I guess that's part of its charm :)


I love this case!



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Some Cello Pictures I've Collected

Program Notes: Bach Cello Suite No. 2 Prelude, Schumann Fantasiestucke, and Summer Julie-O

I thought I would post the program notes from my senior recital, in the hopes that someone might be able to use them for reference purposes. Enjoy!

Robert Schumann- Fantasiestücke, Op. 73

Robert Schumann was born on June 8, 1810 in Zwickau, Germany. He did not begin his studies in music at an early age, but instead studied law at the University of Leipzig. It was not until he was 20 years old that he began to study music with the noted piano teacher, Friedrich Wieck. Schumann eventually married Wieck's daughter, Clara, who was a piano prodigy. He was not adept at the piano due to a weakness in one of his hands, so it was Clara that performed many of his piano works. Schumann was also the founder and editor of his own musical magazine called Neue Zeitsfchrift für Musik, which is still in existence today as a leading journal of contemporary issues in music. His love for literature is apparent in his music, as many of Schumann's compositions bring characters or scenery from his favorite books and poems to life.

Written in 1849, it is believed that Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 was written by Schumann as an “amateur” piece, as he hoped to gain more fame and more money by writing chamber pieces that were playable by multiple instrumentalists. Fantasiestücke, Op. 73 has parts that make it playable by the cello, clarinet, and also the violin.

Johann Sebastian Bach- Cello Suite No. 2: Prelude

Johann Sebastian Bach, one of the greatest composers of all time, was born on March 21, 1685 in Eisenach, Germany. He was a baroque composer who was not well-known in his time as a composer, but for playing the organ. He wrote over 1,000 works that spanned the entirety of musical genres, except for opera. His father was a town musician and gave Bach his early music lessons. After the death of both of his parents, he was adopted by his older brother Cristoph, a church organist who taught him most of his organ skills.

The Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello is at the top of every cellist’s repertoire list. This set of suites was composed sometime between 1717 and 1723, but the exact date is unknown. At this time in his life, Bach was a Kapellmeister to Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cöthen. Leopold was an amateur musician who played several instruments, so the fact that Bach wrote much chamber music during this time period is not out of the ordinary. Each of the six suites contains six smaller sections, each section named after a popular style of baroque dance, aside from the beginning prelude. Before the 1900’s, this magnificent work was rarely ever played. It took world-renowned cellist, Pablo Casals, to bring the suites into the public eye. He stumbled upon the music at a thrift shop, and then decided to study the suites, being the first person to record all six suites in 1925. Soon after this recording was released, the Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello rose to fame and are arguably the greatest works for solo cello ever written. The Cello Suite No. 2 is one of only two suites written in a minor key, the other being the fifth suite. The Prelude contains technical devices, as well as a vast array of emotional depth. It starts with a recurring theme right at the beginning, leads into a cadenza-esque section, and ends with powerful chords.

Mark Summer- Julie-O

Mark Summer is originally from Reseda, California and is one of the founding members of the Turtle Island String Quartet, a contemporary string quartet that is pioneering the performance and composition of new, modern music for the normally classical quartet of two violins, viola, and cello. After graduation from the Cleveland Institute of Music and winning a spot in the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Summer realized that he was longing for something new and exciting. He began to gig around, exploring alternative ways of creating music, as well as playing in his own group The West-End String Band. He visited San Francisco where he and David Balakrishnan, violinist, founded the Turtle Island String Quartet. Summer is well-known for incorporating extended techniques into his cello playing, like virtuosic jazz solos and percussion techniques normally reserved for other instruments. 

Product Review: Stridex Single-Step Acne Control Pads-2% Salicylic Acid

DON'T buy Stridex Single-Step Acne Control Pads-2% Salicylic Acid

Why? I will tell you why.

Unless you are Jermaine Jackson or the late, great Whitney Houston, these pads just have WAY too much salicylic acid in them for any normal person's face. The moment one of these touched my face, the skin became so tight and dry that I thought I had accidentally put on one of those peel-away cucumber-scented masks. I wanted to rip my own face off. That's probably not a good thing.

It says, "Do not leave pad on the skin for an extended period of time" on the back of the box. That scares me a little. It also ruined my plan to sleep with it directly on one of my zits. Knowing my luck, I would wake-up in the morning with a giant hole in my face.

Some questions you might have:

1. "Jess, do some people have VERY oily skin?"

 Yes, but this is STILL too much acid for you.

2. "Jess, what about my disgusting, cavernous zits? Won't this help?"

I am pretty sure that this will do the same thing to your zits as it did to mine...make them so dry that it flakes your skin off...which causes you to put on more moisturizer...which makes your face feel greasy again...it's a vicious cycle! These pads will suck the life right out of your face.

3. "Jess, is there another version of this product with less salicylic acid in it?"

Yes!!!

DO buy Stridex Single-Step Acne Control Pads- 1% or .5% Salicylic Acid

It's a proven fact that salicylic acid is the best treatment for blackheads, as it really gets into your pores and cleans them out. One thing you may not know though, is that if you are using a product that also contains alcohol, it is also irritating your pores. These Stridex pads are excellent and also alcohol-free.

*The blue box on the right is the same product, but with 1% salicylic acid in it. This would be the best bet for someone with very oily skin and lots of breakouts and blackheads.

*The green box on the right contains only .5% salicylic acid, and as it says on the box, is good for people with sensitive skin. I like this one the best, because I feel like it has just the right amount of acid for people with moderately dry or oily skin and occasional breakouts and blackheads. (Like ME!!!)

*Do it in this order: Wash your face. Pat your face dry. Use a Stridex pad all over your face. Wait until dry. Moisturize!! (even if your face is usually oily, you HAVE to moisturize. It actually prevents the face from over-producing more oil!)

As a person who is constantly buying new products, as well as researching them online, I have always found honest product reviews to be very helpful.

Thanks for reading this.

Comment on this review if it helped you!

Things Every Cello Teacher Should Know

1. How to put tapes on a cello fingerboard

I really love those "First Frets" things, where all the tapes are incorporated into one tape. I know some people claim that they are not the correct size to fit all instruments, but so far I haven't had one problem. They save so much time, and there are a lot less things to peel off and possibly screw-up. 

2. How to teach vibrato

"Viva Vibrato" is a great series to help get a student started with vibrato. Check out this YouTube videos for additional ideas and tips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7emuiZn4Fog

3. How to adjust a bridge after a cello gets bumped

http://www.lindawest.com/Articles.asp?ID=108 

That is the best link with step-by-step instructions on how to do it. Good luck!

4. How to fix "buzzes"

I find that most buzzes come from the cruddy fine tuners. Usually, the washer that the screw actually screws into is loose and needs to be tightened, or the fine tuners are too close to each other.

Oddly enough, many students complain of buzzes with their instruments, and it turns out to be that they have buttons or zippers on their clothing that are making the sound. :)

5. How to teach alternative styles of cello playing

It's 2012. Most likely, you have students that have seen cellists playing on electric instruments in rock bands, fiddling, or even playing jazz. If you're a traditionalist who loves to teach the classics, it's time for a kick in the pants. Kids love popular music, and everything that might be "cool" about the cello. If you have the opportunity to take a class in alternative techniques, attend the ASTA Eclectic Strings Festival, or even just watch some YouTube videos and buy yourself a book...it will be worth it when you can satisfy your student's desire to be a cello rock star. You might find a rock star within yourself! Those Cecilio electric cellos (like the one below) are only about $299.99, and they really sound great for the price!

You can check them out here: http://www.kkmusicstore.com/strings-electric-cello-c-3_60.html

Sure, there are lots of other things a cello teacher should know, but these will suffice for today :) 

Thanks for reading this. 

Product Review: Herbal Essences Long-Term Relationship Shampoo/Conditioner

DON'T buy Herbal Essences Long-Term Relationship Shampoo or Conditioner.

Why? I will tell you why.

Seriously...it smells so good! I'd probably eat it if I didn't think I would start burping up soap bubbles. It's also pink, which makes any girl go (Lady) gaga for it. I bought both the shampoo and conditioner home with the hopes that it would turn my long, straight, black hair into the hair I see in all of their commercials. (or was that Garnier-something???) As a side note, my hair is fine to begin with. I just really like to try products I haven't tried before, in the hopes that one of them will make me look like Giselle Bundchen...so I can attract a man like Clive Owen. (*drool*)

Anyhow, I shampooed, conditioned...and ended-up like I always do...with wet hair that can't tell you a THING about how the product works :)

UNTIL....

...my hair dried. I WISH I had taken a picture of what I looked like, because it was horrendous. The bottom of my hair was all frizzy and dry looking, but the worst was what it did to my roots. I probably could have greased-up a Slip N' Slide with the amount of slimy, greasy residue that conditioner left on my roots. Mind you, I always rinse and rinse and rinse just to make sure there isn't any product left in my hair. UGH!!!!!

Needless to say, I had to go to work like that...and it wasn't pretty. I really should leave a hat there just in case. I threw that stuff away as soon as I got home. 

Moral of the story?

 Buy TRESemmé Anti-Breakage Shampoo and Conditioner.
 (or anything by TRESemmé really) It smells amazing. It makes your hair look and feel amazing. It doesn't leave any gunk in your hair. It's salon quality. It's French, so you KNOW it's good :)

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