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Free Cello Technique Lesson: Lee Etude No. 2, Op. 31

3/5/2018

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Etudes bridge the gap between exercises and pieces.

Etudes can be more melodic than pure technical exercises and this helps you get closer to what you’d actually play in a piece. 
​
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!
​
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.

Etude No. 2: Exercise on the Legato

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.)
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Step One: Learn the Positions that Lee Uses

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 shifting isn't hard! It's just a matter of learning where to put your hand and remembering how to get there. 

Free Lee Cello Etude Studies
Cello Positions Used

Cello Shifting Exercise for Lee Etude No. 2

Free Lee Cello Etude Studies
Positions Across Strings

Cello Shifting Exercise for Lee Etude No. 2

Free Lee Cello Etude Studies
Learning More Positions

Cello Shifting Exercise for Lee Etude No. 2

Step Two: Work on the shifts one at a time

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. 

Free Lee Cello Etude Studies
Cello Shifting Technique

Cello Shifting Exercise for Lee Etude No. 2

Free Lee Cello Etude Studies
More Cello Shifting

Cello Shifting Exercise for Lee Etude No. 2

Step Three: Work on the bowing

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 way to learn to play long slurs.

Free Lee Cello Etude Studies
Cello Bowing Technique

Cello Shifting Exercise for Lee Etude No. 2

Step Four: More Shifting Practice

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!

Free Lee Cello Etude Studies
Cello Shifting

Cello Shifting Exercise for Lee Etude No. 2

Step Five: The Challenging Part!

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. 

Free Lee Cello Etude Studies
Cello Positions

Cello Shifting Exercise for Lee Etude No. 2
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!). 

Free Lee Cello Etude Studies
Across Strings & Extending

Cello Shifting Exercise for Lee Etude No. 2

Free Lee Cello Etude Studies
More Cello Extensions

Cello Shifting Exercise for Lee Etude No. 2
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. 

Free Lee Cello Etude Studies
Fluency

Cello Shifting Exercise for Lee Etude No. 2

Step Six: Final Shifts and String Crossing Practice

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. 

Free Lee Cello Etude Studies
Shifting & String Crossing

Cello Shifting Exercise for Lee Etude No. 2

Free Lee Cello Etude Studies
Smoother Bowing

Cello Shifting Exercise for Lee Etude No. 2

Step Seven: Play the entire etude.

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.

Free Lee Cello Etude Studies
Etude Op. 40, No. 2

Lee Etude No. 2, Op. 31, with exercises by Cassia Harvey
Lee Etude No. 2, Op. 31, with exercises by Cassia Harvey

Step Eight: Take the technique you've learned and use it to help you play pieces and repertoire!

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, send me an email at info@charveypublications.com.

Have fun playing! 
-Cassia Harvey
Check out other Early-Intermediate Cello Books that can help you improve!

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Recommended Position Methods for this Etude

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    Authors

    Cassia Harvey can't ever find or play enough exercises. She searches for rare and out-of-print studies and etudes in her free time. If you know of any, please let her know. Seriously; it's an obsession.

    Myanna Harvey's teacher assigned her piles of exercises when she was growing up but whenever her mother stopped listening, Myanna would quickly break away from the Sevcik to play a bit of Brahms or Beethoven she had heard on the radio. Now she practices with exercises and assigns them to students but her greatest passion is playing chamber music. 

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  • Home
  • Violin, Viola, Cello, & Bass Books
    • Cello Books >
      • Beginning Cello Books
      • Early-Intermediate Cello Books
      • Late-Intermediate Cello Books
      • Early-Advanced Cello Books
      • Late-Advanced Cello Books
      • Popper
      • Cello Repertoire Study Books
      • Cello Downloads
      • Free Cello Sheet Music
    • Violin >
      • Beginning and First Position Violin Books
      • Intermediate and Advanced Violin Books
    • Viola >
      • Beginning and First-Position Viola Books
      • Intermediate and Advanced Viola Books
    • Bass
    • Books by Subject
    • String Class
    • Piano Accompaniments
    • Gift Certificates
    • Christmas Store: Music and Gifts for Strings
  • Accessories
  • Tools
    • Violin Study Maps
    • A Complete Study of Fourth Position
    • Cello scale books: a guide
    • Beginning Violin Technique
    • Problem Solving
    • Choosing books for your level
    • How to use technique
    • Using technique in the cello lesson
  • About the Company
    • New Releases!
    • Better String Playing Blog
    • Where to buy the books!
    • Publishing Blog
    • What Teachers Say
    • Ordering/Shipping
    • About the Authors
    • Dealer Information
    • Related Sites
    • C. Harvey Publications Review Club
    • Contact