6th+Grade+Cello+Lesson+-+Shifting

Is this a "best" lesson? I dunno. But it was successful.

This lesson was designed to get cello students acquainted with shifting on the D and A strings. They already have one week of practicing shifting to third position. This week adds fourth position.

Warm up Start the lesson by playing a few scales in thirds: Bb, C, and D. Then challenge the students to play the D scale entirely on the D string. If they can figure it out, great. If not, move on. They will be able to figure it out by the end of the lesson. Essential Elements (EE) pg. 6 #34

Review EE pg. 7 - Some third position shifting exercises that use known notes to help get unknown notes in tune.

New EE pg. 8-9 - New exercises that go up to fourth position. The exercises again use known notes to find unknown notes. You need to be able to point out to the students how to find fourth position and what it is going to sound like. Maybe use hints like finding the harmonic at the fifth or matching it with the upper string. It may be helpful to describe shifts as finger replacements.

Repertoire The fiddle tune - Road to Lisdonvarna can be played using a shift up to fourth position on the A string. This can be taught by rote and that gives you the opportunity to use the same language you used when describing the shift and finger patterns in the exercises from the book.

Have a fun piece or activity to end the lesson as a reward for working hard and figuring out a new position.

Have the students write down what they worked on and give practice-guiding goals for them to work on as they practice.

Things to do throughout the lesson: Question them. Use good questions that they both have the ability to answer and that will help them figure out how shifting or finger patterns or intonation can be improved or checked.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5c626d; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">You may get questions: Why do we have to shift? If I can play these notes on another string, then what's the point? <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5c626d; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Be ready to answer them.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #5c626d; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">Smile and make jokes about Frosty