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

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. 
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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.

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.)

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

Free Lee Cello Etude Studies
Positions Across Strings

Free Lee Cello Etude Studies
Learning More Positions

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

Free Lee Cello Etude Studies
More Cello Shifting

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

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

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

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

Free Lee Cello Etude Studies
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. 

Free Lee Cello Etude Studies
Fluency

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

Free Lee Cello Etude Studies
Smoother Bowing

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

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!

Recommended Position Methods for this Etude