teacher Archives

A Tribute to William Pleeth – by Hannah Roberts

I found Pleeth to be continuously imaginative and creative in his thought process when teaching. One defining characteristic was his innate and unaffected gift of creating powerful connections, using imagery from all areas of life to illuminate aspects of cello playing and music making. This was often accompanied by exquisite demonstrations given on his cello with seemingly effortless ease, while standing. Much of what I learnt from him strongly underpins my own values as a cellist, musician and teacher. He had studied with Julius Klengel, so he often recommended Klengel or Goltermann works as a combination of etude and concert piece. I studied with him at the Yehudi Menuhin school between the ages of nine and eighteen, where I was also fortunate to have weekly lessons with the late Jennifer [...]

By Hannah Roberts|2024-07-08T12:45:16-04:00January 15th, 2021|Categories: Artists|Tags: teacher, William Pleeth, Hannah Roberts, Tributes, Teaching Methods|

Objects — by Arnold Steinhardt

Last summer I was once again a participant in the Marlboro Music Festival. As always, the school generously provided my wife, Dorothea, and me with a house off campus. This time we were given the former home of David Soyer, the cellist of our Guarneri String Quartet for thirty-seven of its forty-five-year existence. Dave passed away in 2010, his wife, Janet, in 2011. I knew Dave and Janet’s house rather well, a charming, rustic old place set in the woods, and I looked forward to staying in it. When people asked me whether I wouldn’t feel funny living in their house now that they were gone, I laughed and said no at first without really thinking much about it. But then I began to wonder whether Dave and Janet would [...]

By Arnold Steinhardt|2018-03-18T18:30:07-04:00March 4th, 2014|Categories: Interpersonal Relationships|Tags: David Soyer, memory-inducing objects, Arnold, musical world, career, Guarneri String Quartet, obituary, cello, Steinhardt, Peter Wiley, cellobello, beauty of phrasing, remembrance, students, In the Key of Strawberry, Spoleto, teacher, incisiveness, string quartet, intelligence, Italy, posters, Jacqueline du Pré, memories, Marlboro Music Festival|

New York Chamber Music Festival: Tribute to János Starker

A Tribute to Legendary Cellist János Starker (1924 - 2013) Performances by: Rafael Figueroa - Principal Cellist, Metropolitan Opera Elmira Darvarova - Former Concertmaster, Metropolitan Opera The New York Chamber Music Festival is cordially inviting you to the JANOS STARKER TRIBUTE CONCERT on October 3 at 7 P.M., presented by the New York Chamber Music Festival at the Hungarian Consulate in New York (223 E. 52nd St.). Legendary cellist János Starker was one of the world’s greatest performers, teachers and recording artists, with an incomparable legacy and impact. The New York Chamber Music Festival, of which János Starker was Vice-President, is deeply mourning his passing. Please join us for a tribute, in the presence of Starker family members. Admission is free.

By Blogmaster|2018-03-18T04:27:28-04:00September 10th, 2013|Categories: Performance|Tags: performance, New York Chamber Music Festival, performer, concert, tribute, legend, festival, inspiration, free admission, Janos Starker, Hungarian Consulate, cello, invitation, teacher, New York|

Reminder: Memorial for Janos Starker at Indiana University this Sunday, September 22

All invited to the Janos Starker Memorial at Indiana University, Sunday, Sept. 22. A message from Janos Starker’s daughter, Gwen Preucil; I am writing to let you all know that there will be a memorial for my father at Indiana University on Sunday, September 22nd at 4 pm at the Musical Arts Center in Bloomington, Indiana. […]

By Blogmaster|2013-09-10T11:57:08-04:00September 10th, 2013|Categories: Performance|Tags: Indiana, expression, Janos, Janos Starker Memorial, legacy, Starker, legend, musician, virtuoso, Memorial, cello, soloist, Musical Arts Center, cellobello, Bloomington, Preucil, teacher, Indiana University, survivor, confidence, Remembering Janos Starker, artist, cellist, Hungarian Cellist, elegance, Gwen, performer|

Remembering János Starker: July 5, 1924-April 28, 2013

“What is the role of music in society?… Music is one of the essentials in human existence, almost identical with eating, sleeping, making love, the basic functions that keep a human being alive. Music simply, is one of the blessings and joys of civilized human existence.” – János Starker View Janos Starker performances and interviews at https://cellobello.org/legacy/starker-the-teacher ------------------ János Starker Tributes From Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi: The passing of my dear mentor and inspiration, János Starker, is indeed profoundly sad news, even though we have been expecting this at any moment. It is a great honour for me to write about him, and it causes so many wonderful memories to flood my mind. The only thing I can say at this moment is that he was not only a truly incredible cellist, musician, artist, [...]

Exploring Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony — by Jonathan Pegis

Here in just a few measures is an excerpt that has confused, befuddled, and downright scared more cellists than just about any other excerpt (please click image to enlarge): The theme from the second movement of Beethoven's fifth, along with the first two variations, shows up on the vast majority of cello audition lists. I thought it would be educational to spend some time exploring this theme, and future blogs will explore the first and second variations. To begin with, this excerpt is one of a handful that I have coached for many years where I am actually LESS confident than I used to be. Why? Because every teacher, every coach, and every conductor has had radically different ideas about all the different aspects of this theme. Temp, color, dynamic, [...]

By Jonathan Pegis|2017-07-15T05:12:25-04:00October 19th, 2012|Categories: Auditions, In the Practice Room, Orchestra, Performance, Repertoire|Tags: education, teacher, Audition, Excerpts, pressure, Teaching, coaching, nerves, inflection, mistakes, dynamics, release, orchestral excerpts, orchestra, recording, Beethoven, accents, Preparation, singing, bow speed, blog, control, sustain, Rhythm, bow changes, Symphony, vibrato, technical challenges, phrasing, legato, cello, variations, practicing, markings, cellobello, confidence|

A Cellist in Kabul (Part 1) — by Avery Waite

On September 4th, I packed up my things, hopped in a taxi and drove to JFK airport. My destination, Kabul. My job, the new cello teacher at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music. When I first heard about the opportunity to teach in Kabul, I knew deep down that I had no choice but to go. Something drew me to it. I applied for the job without really thinking it through completely. But when I was actually offered the position, I had to really take a step back and give it some serious thought. In fact, it took me almost three months to fully accept the decision I had made to go. Some days I would be thrilled and excited, and other days I would be scared out of my [...]