Let's Start at the Very Beginning...

I took Sophie to her second cello lesson today and had one of my own. I already really like the teacher, Kathleen. She is starting Sophie back at the beginning with "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," and has catchy ways of teaching the different sections of the tune which the former teacher did not use with Sophie. For example, to teach the movement of the bow from the D-string to the A-string, Kathleen taught Sophie a little song (which is actually just the first part of "Twinkle"):

Daddy's in the kitchen (on the D-string, then stop and "roll" the bow...)
doing all the dishes (on the A-string )
Daddy's in the kitchen (back to the D-string)

Sophie made up her own ditty to use this week which amused her teacher and me:

Daddy's watching baseball
cheering for the Rockies
Daddy's watching baseball

Anyway, previously I thought Sophie's transition between strings was kind of sloppy and her bowing wasn't straight. I appreciate Kathleen's attention to the little, but essential details right from the start.

Sophie's bow grip has come back to her, and she actually has excellent form. She just needs to keep practicing to build up more strength in her hand which is getting fatigued very quickly.

Speaking of fatigue, I had a half hour lesson right after Sophie and the muscles started complaining almost immediately. I brought my cello, but forgot my end-pin at home (Duh!). Happily, Kathleen has two cellos and loaned me one of hers for the lesson. I bought a book from her with exercises to improve thumb position. Some of the tunes actually parallel what Sophie will be learning in her Suzuki book so that I can play with her, just up in the stratosphere! I'm not sure what Kathleen's educational background is, other than being certified as a Suzuki instructor, but she is advanced enough to teach me, yet not so driven that I would be required to practice two hours a day (which just wouldn't happen.) Hopefully I can be a good example to Sophie and renew my enjoyment in playing cello.