Etudes can be more melodic than pure technical exercises and this helps you get closer to what you’d actually play in a piece. 
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Etudes can also be called “Studies” and they are important for helping you practice technical exercises in the context of something a little more like music. Some Etudes are even performed in concerts!
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Today, let’s focus on Etude No. 2 “Exercise on the Legato” from 40 Melodic and Progressive Etudes, Op. 31, by the cellist Sebastian Lee. Legato refers to notes that are smooth and connected. Lee helps teach legato by using slurs of eight notes at a time.

Here’s a sneak peek of Lee’s Etude No. 2, Op. 31. The exercises that follow will help you learn and master this etude. The entire etude is after the exercises (See Step Seven.)

You can get to know the notes Lee used in this etude by playing the short exercises below. For more work, or to learn 2nd, 3rd, and 4th positions from the beginning, see the “Recommended Position Methods” below. Cello positions aren’t hard to learn! You just need to learn where to put your hand and remember how to get there.

Using Position Methods to learn shifting on the cello can help you develop the physical skill of sliding, work on muscle memory, and make playing positions in repertoire seem easy!

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Cello Positions Used

More Positions Used

Once you have learned 2nd, 3rd, and 4th position, there are many etudes you can play to get better at shifting. This etude works on shifting into different positions while also playing smooth legato bowing.  These free cello exercises help you play across strings in positions.

By playing the shifts in a variety of ways, including changing slur patterns and rhythms, and using shorter sections of the measure, you can learn the shift more thoroughly.

More Cello Shifting

Cello shifting is only part of learning this etude. Next, start to work on the slurs by playing Measures 1-16 with only 4 notes to a bow. Then, use staccato (stopping the bow sharply on the string for each note) to help you divide the bow up into 8 even sections. This helps you fit all 8 notes in a bow that Lee has you learning. Staccato is a great method for learning to play long slurs.

Cello Bowing Technique

These shifts have you going back and forth from fourth position to harmonic A on the A string. While this is awkward, make sure you use 3rd finger, as it is generally agreed that this is the easiest finger to use when going back and forth from harmonic A. Watch out for the rhythm in the last measure of each exercise below; make sure you play the quarter note so that it is twice as long as the eighth notes!

Slur Shifting Practice

These exercises help you learn the most complicated part of the etude. Start in fourth position on the D string, play the easy pattern (1414), and then practice shifting back and forth one half step before continuing with the pattern in each new position.

Learning the Trickiest Part!

In measures 25-32, Lee has you start in fourth position, play a pattern across strings, move back one half step, and play a similar pattern. You can shift back or extend back for the half-step changes, however it might help to extend first so you can learn how far back to move (it’s harder to go too far if your hand is stretching!)

More Cello Extensions

The cello exercise below still simplifies Lee’s etude but helps you get closer to what he wrote. By the end of practicing the “Putting it Back Together” exercise below, you should be ready to tackle measures 25-32 in the Lee Etude.

Fluency

These exercises help you work on the cello positions and string crossing patterns at the end of the etude. Using open strings to learn string crossing can take away the distraction of the left hand and let you focus on balancing your bow across the strings. Feel for a relaxed right hand and arm as you cross strings and work toward getting the smoothest sound possible when you play.

Smoother Bowing

As you play, focus on shifting correctly, playing even notes inside each slur, and keeping your bow hand relaxed for the smoothest sound possible.

Tip: If you still find yourself running out of bow, try moving the bow on the string down toward the bridge, about 1/2-1 inch. The string has more tension closer to the bridge and your bow will naturally go a little slower as it plays closer to the bridge.

Exercises and etudes can help you master the entire cello. I love how efficient exercises and etudes are; they have a huge impact on the rest of my practice. If you have any questions, leave a comment in the form below!

Have fun playing!

-Cassia Harvey