A Cello, A Fiddle, & An Irish Island

Wed, 11/01/2017 - 12:00am
Written by ArtistWorks
Topics: Cape Breton Medley, cello, Hanneke Cassel, mike block

Prominent American Scottish Fiddler, Hanneke Cassel, joins forces with her husband Mike Block to perform the "Cape Breton Medley". The Cape Breton Medley is a combination of 3 popular tunes, commonly played in Cape Breton. 

Let's Circle Back: Mike Block's New Cello Lesson

Mon, 10/30/2017 - 12:00am
Written by ArtistWorks
Topics: Bow Changes, Bow Circles, bowing, cello, Learn Cello, mike block

What if your Cello playing could sound as fluid and uninterrupted as a never-ending circle? Mike Block wants to teach you how to create continuity in your sound and make bow changes without pauses and breaks. Thinking of your Cello differently could unlock an entire world of sound you never would have thought possible. Check out what Mike has to teach here.  

ArtistWorks Live: Talking Cello with Mike Block

Thu, 03/09/2017 - 11:03am
Written by ArtistWorks
Topics: cello, google hangouts, mike block

For anyone that missed it, here's a great edition of ArtistWorks Live we did recently. This time we talked with the great cello mind (and recent Grammy Winner) Mike Block. We do these once a month with different teachers and special guests, and anyone with a 12 month subscription can tune in and ask questions. It's always different but always a lot of fun getting to know our teachers a bit more outside of the lessons. 

This last one was no exception, there were a lot of great questions sent in by many of you. Here’s some of what we talked about:

  • The most efficient use of your practice time
  • Managing stage fright/performance anxiety
  • How Mike got involved playing with Yo-Yo Ma & the Silk Road Ensemble
  • What is it about the cello that made Mike want to learn
  • How to stay motivated to keep making music

We also got to hear some beautiful cello playing, including a special piece that was composed for Silk Road Ensemble by one of their members from Syria. 

Enjoy it and be sure to check the YouTube playlist here for past episodes with more of our amazing ArtistWorks teachers! 

Getting to Know Your Cello Bow

Fri, 02/24/2017 - 6:01pm
Written by ArtistWorks
Topics: cello, mike block

cello bowing facts

There it is – your cello bow. It's with you whenever you play, unless we're talking pizzicato. But for now let's just focus on playing with a bow. 

So how much do you know about your cello’s best friend which helps make such a beautiful noise?