Can Someone Review My Cello Part?

• Dec 12, 2013 - 00:32

In my AP Music Theory Class, I was assigned a project in which I chose to arrange a medley of two songs. We all arranged or composed a piece of music with at least four different instruments (or vocals) of any combination. Then, we found others in our class whom could play our piece on an instrument for us. I, being a percussionist and only arranging Marching Band pieces, haven't had any experience with arranging for bowed stringed instruments. However; in my arrangement, I tried the best I could at creating a cello part to be played. We only have one cellist in the class and today she informed me that she was having some difficulties playing my piece. She claims it is because of the sharps in the key signature and my teacher says that it also has to do with the fingering. I'm asking for help from some of you whom could look over this part and let me know what I can do to make it a bit simpler and easier to play. Some things like changing sixteenth notes to eight notes are things I know I can do. Are there any others?

-Thank you,
Morgan Resendes

Attachment Size
Cello.mscz 4.36 KB

Comments

I've looked over the part, and it seems to me that the only section likely to be problematic is where the key signature changes to E flat.

I find it strange that the cellist has trouble with the sharps in the key signature - sharp keys are usually preferred by string playes, and flat keys hated.

This suggests that perhaps she is not yet a very competent cellist, and thus needs help to overcome the challenges presented to her in your cello part.

I would think the way forward is to liase with her cello teacher to give her the necessary fingering - particularly for the E flat section which probably needs to be played out of first postion.

I would attempt to insert fingering myself, but I'm a guitarist so would probably get it wrong, although I used to play the viola many years ago in the school orchestra and have enough working knowledge of the 'cello (guitar and cello fingerings are very similar) to be able to suggest where the problem may lie.

HTH
Michael

EDIT: On secpnd viewing it is very clear that most of the part needs to be fingered our of first position, so enlisting the help of her cello teacher is IMO essential.

In reply to by Shoichi

Thank you, I don't think I've upgraded Musescore, yet.
2 Questions for you: If I have already upgraded, how could I tell? (How could I check that?)
And also, if I haven't, How would I go about doing so? (Would I just download Musescore again or is there a path I have to take on the website that leads me to "Upgrade" or something similar?)

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