It is never too late!

I teach cello lessons. I think a lot about each individual student before their lessons. Their mental and physical needs, their goals and aspirations. One methode of teaching does not necessarily fit all! I can apply this thought to so many other things in life.
My daughter and I love to play with horses. She is much more the expert than I. She has taken a lot of lessons from a lot of different trainers. We have had several different horses at different ages and...guess what!? One methode of training does not fit every horse! I have met so many trainers and teachers who try to put learning in a box! I have a very difficult time with that! People don't fit in boxes....neither do horses! So, as a teacher (trainer?) I try to take in account as many variables as possible, including age. The age of the horse you are working with makes a HUGE difference in how you go about training, so does the age of my cello students!
I have had older beginner cello students. One, in particular was a women approaching 80. The first thing she asks me..."am I NUTS?" My answer is ALWAYS "NO!" This particular student had once been an outstanding pianist. I thought at first that this was going to be relatively easy considering her background. As we got started, though, I realised another variable...the mind!
As we went along with her lessons, I was discovering that I had to repeat things over and over, much like a very young child before the light bulb turns on. As frustrating as it became, I suddenly realised that the lessons for this particular student were not about playing the cello! It was a MENTAL excersize! The purpose of her lessons eluded me for a while until MY light bulb went on! It wasn't about playing the cello!! This revelation made our lessons much easier. It was as much a lesson for me as it was for her and no....she wasn't nuts and no.....it wasn't too late!
I have another older student. A woman in her 70's. Again the..."am I nuts?" Her needs and goals are similar to the other in a way....a wonderful mental excersize, but she also has added the...."I have always wanted to play cello! Even just Twinkle...!" Well, she is WAY beyond twinkle now. She and I have discussed some physical aspect of playing that might prove challenging, but that does not mean she cannot play some very beautiful pieces and ENJOY it! It does not have to be complicated or difficult to be beautiful AND enjoyable.
There is so much more on this topic. I think I will save it for another time! As a beginner blogger, I do not want to make MY mental excersize complicated or difficult! As I am continually struggling to comrehend the ins and outs of computers, I think of my children who are SO much
farther ahead of me with their knowledge and skills. And I think of their youth......but I also believe that it is never too late!

The Cello: Coming of Age

There is a revolution afoot! The cello is finally coming to the forefront as the extremely versatile instrument it is! Finally, we cellists do not have to be satisfied with being lumped in with basses! We can sing out! We have a voice! No longer do we have to resign ourselves to the relentless bass lines of pieces like (dare I say it?) the Kanon!!! ACHHH!
Thanks to people like Yo Yo Ma and groups like Apocalyptica we are beginning to realize our full potential as front players, a position held for too long by violins! Many of us are venturing out to satisfy a need that has been quelched for far too long! We are IMPROVISING, we are cello arranging. We are playing all kinds of music!
I have started a group called La Cella Bella. We are a cello quartet. All women to boot! We are playing music for everyone and arranging it for cellos ONLY! It is a revolution! We can play ANYTHING!!! The most difficult part I face with my group is getting ALL the permissions and lisencing required. People should be honore that their music has been part of this revolution!!!
I am excited and I hope to have some music for all to hear soon! Takes time and money. Please feel free to make comments, suggestions, experiences, I'd love them all!
Thanks for listening!
Alison Reynolds