Paul Katz with Rob Mayes.

  • Playing louder is only one way to be heard (and the cello has its limits).
  • Airy sounds diffuse the tone, so the cello’s sound will get lost amid the sound of the other instruments.
  • Playing with more core in the sound (i.e. a less airy sound) is critical to “cutting through” the group sound.
  • Vibrato can enliven overtones and can further help with projection.

cellowisdom

When players engage more with the core of their sound, with the goal of separating the voices (rather than blending), individual lines can be better heard in the group texture. Paul Katz