David Popper Experience #18/40 - Sebastian Diezig, cello

Описание: Sebastian Diezig, cello – http://www.SebastianDiezig.com
This etude is quite difficult because the left hand spends a lot of time in thumb position and has to make many shifts. The fourth finger is also used in thumb position. Good intonation is probably the main challenge in this piece.
Another difficulty I find in this etude is the extensive use of harmonics, and I have a recommendation regarding that. Through studying the Popper Etudes, I found that in order to reliably hit those high natural harmonic rows, it can be extremely useful to practice them as if they were normal notes. Press the finger down normally and play them like ordinary stopped notes during practice. Once this works well, you will know better where to place the finger and the harmonic will sound more consistently. You can give this a try.
The most important recommendation when practicing difficult material like this is to practice slowly. You wouldn’t believe how much time I spend practicing slowly, with no vibrato, focusing on good sound, accurate intonation, and clean shifting technique. I am 100% sure it saves time — even when you are in a hurry because I strive for precision, not speed, since speed will be easier to achieve once precision is there. The other way around is nearly impossible.
As is often the case with Popper Etudes, they can easily sound like exercises if one is not careful to make them sound like real music. That is how I would summarize this etude.