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New Directions in Cello Playing introduces natural, tension-free ways of playing and anatomically improved techniques that prevent performance-related injury. Its innovative approach to body use increases efficiency and improves performance. This revised and expanded edition also includes new strategies for teaching beginners.
Although New Directions in Cello Playing is primarily addressed to cellists, it deals, in large measure, with basic body mechanics that affect all string players. -- Ofnote --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
51 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Finally, an ergonomic cello technique,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: New Directions in Cello Playing (Paperback)
So, after 30 years of semi-professional recording and performance, my back is getting pretty tweaky. Plus, I was starting to get some repetitive stress injury after a dense season. My doc said I may have to quit. Well, this book is totally revolutionary. It gives many many ideas about how to reposition myself while playing; things I'd never thought of. I am back playing. I have many ideas still to incorporate, but I already feel much better. I now require my students to get this book. Everyone is excited about these ideas. This is, I repeat, revolutionary, and should be required for those of you who want to play without pain for many years. I deducted one star because there is just so much information, that it looks a little overwhelming. It would probably have been better to do two books. But, since it's not, take a look at it.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Helpful...if you're not a beginner.,
By Schnarspunkdencegrokante (Santa Monica, California United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: New Directions in Cello Playing (Paperback)
This book is well written and easy to read, but as a beginning cello player, it ended up being more confusing than helpful. The suggestions made in the book seem like logical contradictions to traditional instruction, but when trying to learn the basics from all of the cello teachers I tried, they were irritated by alternate methods described in the book. I think the major problem is that instead of posing the "new directions" as alternate methods to an old system and explaining the initial reasons for the old methods coming about thereby allowing the reader to choose for herself, it just discards traditional methodology altogether.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A scientific approach to finding 'proper' technique,
By Bill Tarman "A.Golfer" (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: New Directions in Cello Playing (Paperback)
The problem with teaching anything is that teachers tend to pass on 'received knowledge' in the mistaken belief that all those before them (and around them) teaching the same thing couldn't possibly be wrong. Very often, at best what is taught is simply arbitrary; at worst, it is just plain destructive.
Mr. Sazer does not tell you what the 'proper' playing techniques are. Instead, he teaches you how to find out what is best for your body. There are plenty of pictures to illustrate the experiments he wants you to try. These experiments cover all aspects from how to sit, placement of feet/arms/hands, how hold the cello, bowing, fingering, etc. In each experiment you are told what area you are investigating. He has you perform various movements and record what your perceptions are. After each experiment he tells you what his perceptions were but your results and conclusions are more important. Quite often the results you find are at odds with the standard teachings you will hear from your cello teacher. For example, real cellists in performance do not bow perpendicular to the strings nor keep their fingers down on the strings nor quite a few other things that are taught beginning and intermediate students. As pointed out by an earlier reviewer, many teachers don't like someone who tries to understand why. It challenges them to come up with a reason other than "that's the way we do it". I would disagree that the book is not for beginners. Why not learn the best way from the beginning rather than suffer pain and have to relearn later?! An earlier negative reviewer claimed (without evidence) that Mr. Sazer didn't know anything about musicians' injuries and then pushed a book by a psychiatrist whose claim is that all your problems are in your mind. While some physical problems may stem from anxieties and stresses of performance, neither of the reviewer's claims are valid. Sazer demonstrates a profound understanding of the cellist's physical problems and these are not imagined but quite real. If you are not afraid to learn for yourself the best way to play, buy this book. If you are a timid follower and don't mind the debilitating pain, carry on.
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