CelloBello

presents the

2024 Teacher Training Seminar

While participants are encouraged to attend live, each class will be video recorded so that attendees with scheduling conflicts can still have access to the course content for their enrolled classes. This video archive will be available to them through the end of August 2024. 

Our OpenMic Night is back this year for those fully-enrolled in the seminar. OpenMic Night aims to bring the spirit of the Teacher Training Seminar into a more interactive form, opening opportunities for participants to present and share insights of their own. We hope this forum will spark conversations through collaborative learning and uncovering new ideas for all. This is a great opportunity to get more personal with the faculty and seminar peers- beverages & questions encouraged!

**These bonus sessions are exclusive to those enrolled in the bundled course package.

CelloBello Teacher Training Seminar Schedule – 2024 

Saturday, July 20th

**Welcome Meeting**: Introductions and Overview of the Seminar (2:00-3:00pm EDT)

Introductions and overview of the seminar and a chance for dialogue.

Richard Aaron: "The Rationale Behind the Aaron Approach: Choosing Fingerings & Bowings, and Insight on Scale Methods and Etudes” (4:00-5:15pm EDT)

In this session, Richard Aaron will discuss the logic he uses in assigning fingerings and bowings, and why they are significant for each student. He will also address his approach to scales and etudes, and how he determines what methods and approaches would be best for each student.

Sunday, July 21st

Horacio Contreras: "The Voice as Our Ally: Using Singing as a Tool to Cultivate Musicianship in Cello Lessons” (2:00-3:15pm EDT)

In this session we will explore the benefits of singing for the development of musicianship skills in cellists. We will explore strategies to cultivate singing and a melodic imagination for students at beginning, intermediate and advanced levels.

Sandra Halleran: "What's so Important about Suzuki Book 1?” (4:00-5:15pm EDT)

Learn about the teaching points of each piece in Suzuki Book 1 and how to build a strong foundation for your students. We'll discuss setting up beginners, and will trace important foundational concepts from piece to piece.  

Monday, July 22nd

Ken Kubota: "Is That a Guitar? Chordal Cello for Suzuki Accompaniments and Non-Classical Styles'' (2:00-3:15pm EDT)

This course offers a unique approach to cello accompaniment for early Suzuki repertoire, focusing on mastering movable and fixed hand positions to create lush, plucked harmonies. Participants will learn to seamlessly integrate these chordal techniques into Suzuki repertoire, providing supportive and engaging accompaniments for young students. Additionally, the course will explore non-classical styles such as folk, jazz, and pop, empowering cellists to adapt their playing to diverse musical genres. 

Erin Breene: "Chasing Your Best Cello Sound—An Exploration of Sound Creation Through Use of Weight, Resistance, and Vibrato" (4:00-5:15pm EDT)

This session will explore how natural arm weight, vibrato, and shifting technique all work together to help students find their best cello sound. We will also discuss how the mind/body connection can impact a player’s relationship with their instrument. We’ll explore how all these techniques come together to bring the music to life, helping unleash the true artist that is inside all of us!

Tuesday, July 23rd

Paul Katz: "Essential Study—Priorities for Early Teaching" (2:00-3:15pm EDT)

The first five or six years are the most important pedagogically in the career of a young cellist. As such, there is a responsibility to establish healthy habits and a solid technical base while minimizing any bad habits that might impede a student’s progress. In this course, Paul Katz delves into foundational principles pertaining to right hand, left hand, musical expression, and creativity that are essential for all young cellists.

Kee-Hyun Kim: "On Expression” (4:00-5:15pm EDT)

How we create and inflect our sound is integral to how we create music, as well as define our own unique sense of personal expression. In this session we will explore how we create layers of expression, with our bow as well as with our left hand. 

Wednesday, July 24th 

Robert Mayes and Alan DiPesa: "Shop Talk with Carriage House Violins” (2:00-3:15pm EDT)

Join us for a presentation and conversation between Robert Mayes, Director of Sales, and Alan DiPesa, Head of CH’s Boston Workshop, on various topics including instrument selection, sales, and maintenance.

Mike Block: "How to Use Improvisation in Technical Practice” (4:00-5:15pm EDT)

Standard Western Classical technique practice is often associated with stressful feelings of eternal inadequacy, stemming from a "Right-Wrong" mindset. We get into trouble when relying on eye-hand coordination of reading sheet music, but stop hearing the notes in our head. Improvisation can help us tap into our body's own intelligence by developing our ear-hand coordination to help us nail passages and shifts that might take hours of practice if they were part of a composed piece. It all connects to a scientific study about skill-building. The question is, when trying to get better at throwing a ball into a bucket 4 feet away, how should you practice?

Thursday, July 25th

Madeleine Golz: "Off to a Good Start: Setting Up a Beginner with a Healthy and Happy Foundation" (2:00-3:15pm EDT)

A class offering practical guidance on how to set up a new cellist with a healthy technical foundation, a love of learning and an appreciation for the great gift of music!

Jisoo Ok: "Play Better Faster: Unlock the Power of Effective Practice” (4:00-5:15pm EDT)

Practice is essential for every musician and accounts for the majority of our time we spend. Contrary to popular belief, lengthy and monotonous practice sessions can actually slow down rather than accelerate progress. In this workshop, I'll share valuable insights and provide actionable tips so you can help your students Play Better Faster! 

Open Mic Night: Presentations by TTS Participants (that means YOU!) (8:00-9:00pm EST)

Friday, July 26th

Jeffrey Zeigler: "Finding Your Path and Your Own Voice in an Ever-changing Field” (2:00-3:15pm EDT)

The field of music is in a constant stage of evolution, yet the conservatory curriculum has only made subtle changes in the last half century. How does one develop the right tools while finding their own unique path forward into an uncertain future?

Sandra Halleran: "Ways to Pile it On! Supplements to the Suzuki Books” (4:00-5:15pm EDT)

Learn which books to incorporate into your teaching along with the Suzuki books to ensure your students are well-rounded and prepared to play anything! We'll discuss supplemental materials at every level. 

Saturday, July 27th

David Ying: "Vibrato, a Moving Experience” (2:00-3:15pm EDT)

In this class, David Ying will discuss the physical movements that create motion in sound, analyzing how these components fuel the emotiveness of the music.

**Closing Discussion and Final Q&A featuring Paul Katz & others (4:00-5:00pm EDT)

Final Q&A and discussion with teachers and participants