Sophie learns fast. She listens to the songs on CD, then she can play it on her Cello. By that I mean she can make the tune right, but not necessarily the right bowing strokes. "Mom, I want to figure out the next song!" That's what she likes to say most. And she always did, at least so far when the songs are not very complicated.
Once she insisted playing even after the shower. In her pajamas, she tried and tried the new song, but couldn't get it completely right. Even if she messed up at the last note, she would start from the very beginning.
"Sophie, just do the wrong part. You don't have to start again." It's already very late.
"No!"
"How about we try it tomorrow?"
She ignored me, which happened quite often when she's into her playing. So almost an hour later, she figured out the whole song and played perfectly right.
Then came the problem.
It's not fair to say she didn't try hard on the bow hold when she paid so much attention to get the notes right. Just as Sophie started to cruise along the songs in Book One, she was asked to slow down and do "Cello Stuff" right. Cello Stuff here means: loose relaxed bow hold, straight back, even shoulders, tucked cello hand thumb, curved cello fingers, raised elbow, playing in "pasta", the right place where the bow is supposed to land, and keeping "T" shape, the right angle of the bow and the string!
I felt that's too much to ask for a 4-year-old child. I assumed everything would fall into its right place when she's ready, or when she's bigger. But Dr. Blecha was very firm and clear about her expectations, even though I didn't understand her zealous attention to details until later on. "If the child learn incorrect bowings and fingerings, it's very difficult to undo the learning."
Now looking back, I felt so grateful that she didn't gave in. We got the right instrument, the right program, the amazing teacher, all we need is the right attitude.
So we decided to handle those "Cello Stuff" one at a time. This week, let's just do loose bow hold, and next, we made sure the shoulers were even and straight, the following week, tackle the elbow... bowing, posture, finger, tone, dynamics, rhythm... one at a time. Each time, she had only one thing to take care of, and she's more relaxed and less frustrated.
Every day we practise, every day, we take on new challenges.
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