Just a few cello questions?

Question

I am a good cello player.  I am a freshman who plays at about a 12th grade level.  Anyway, I just need some tips and answers.

*I am not very good at playing fast sixteenth notes.  I seem to not be able to go the speed that I need to go.  Is there a trick I can use to improve my sixteenth notes, other than practice?
*My conductor told me that my vibrato was too fast, how can I slow it down? 
* How come I am more unsure of playing A on the D string or G on the C string then playing E on the A string?  I seem to not be able to hit those notes as well as E on the A string.
*Are there tricks to strengthening my 4th finger?  Or is it just practice?

del_icious_manager · Accepted Answer

16th notes: nothing except practice will improve this. You need to seek-out some cellos studies which concentrate on this sort of work. Try starting slowly and then, little by little, speeding up. Your body needs to 'learn' the technique first.

Vibrato: I was always taught to start practising vibrato VERY SLOWLY on long notes (at least a bow-length), then to vary the vibrato according to the needs of the music. It sounds like you need to do this.

Hitting notes: again, ity's about your body 'learning' how all these positions feel. Try first-finger exercises, shifting from first position up to fourth and back again. Keep doing it a bit every day until things start to feel a bit more natural.

4th finger: everyone has this problem. Yet again, it's practice. However, practising 'trill'-like exercises between your third and fourth (and second-fourth) fingers everyday will help build strength and stamina.

All of the above can be BORING but are essential. Unfortunately, there are no short cuts to avoid practice.

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Just a few cello questions?

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