Name: Logan

Grade: 8th

Level: Avant/Chamber

Instrument: Cello

 

How long have you been playing?

1-2 yrs

 

What sparked your interest in playing this instrument?

I never played an instrument before, but when I saw it, it took me away because playing my cello is like a vacation away from my stressful life.

 

What is your favorite musical piece that you've played?

St. Paul's Suite, Op. 29, No. 2 - Mvt. 4 "Finale - Dargason: Allegro" - Gustav Holst

 

What type of music do you most like to play and why?

Pieces with a lot of rhythm really capture me because I can really feel it inside of me compared to other pieces.

 

What is giving/gave you the most trouble while learning, and what advice would you give to others having similar difficulties?

I think the most troubling aspect of learning on the instrument is using your fingers. It took me until my 8th grade year to start to learn how to use my fingers properly, and I still struggle with it because it feels different. What I will say to others is that new things will feel different and weird, but that does not mean you shouldn't do it.

 

Any words of wisdom or encouragement for your peers?

Keep doing what you love even if others laugh at you for it. If you like something and others make fun of you or discriminate against you for that, ignore them because they don't know what you know and feel for this thing, so why should they judge?

 

Name: Tomaso

Grade: 8th

Level: Avant

Instrument: Cello

 

How long have you been playing?

3-4 yrs

 

What sparked your interest in playing this instrument?

The cello looks really cool.

 

What is your favorite musical piece that you've played?

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

 

What type of music do you most like to play and why?

I like playing classical the most because there is more variety in rhythm and notes featuring my instrument.

 

What is giving/gave you the most trouble while learning, and what advice would you give to others having similar difficulties?

One of the hardest things for me was playing faster tempos. I would advise playing scales using a metronome and speeding up to get better.

 

Any words of wisdom or encouragement for your peers?

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. -Wayne Gretzky, Michael Scott,” - Tomaso