by Stephen De’Ak

26 Studies of Medium Difficulty

Stephen Deak (1897-1975) began to play the cello at seven years old and entered the Royal Academy of Music at the age of eleven. He studied under the famous cellist, David Popper, from 1911 to 1913, and made his concert debut in 1919 at the age of twenty-two. His “Modern Method for the Violoncello” has been used my multitudes of beginning cellists. This book covers the phases of left-hand technique and of bow technique that are necessary for a thorough facility.

Contents:

• Preface
• The change of place of the hand between the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th positions
• Portamentos in large intervals
• Studies
• Preparatory exercises for thumb position
• Exercises with the thumb
• Studies
• Shifting the thumb in various positions
• Studies
• Change of place of the hand between the 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th positions
• Change of place of the hand in large intervals
• The art of bowing and tone production
• Varied bowing exercises
• The spiccato
• Spiccato study (No. 27)
• The staccato
• Staccato study (No. 28)
• The flying staccato
• Chords
• Chord study (No. 29
• Double stops (Octavos, thirds and sixths)
• Harmonics (Natural and artificial)
• Trills, grace notes, turns, passing trills
• Varied rhythmic finger exercises in different positions
• Scales