Here is my dilemma. Ive been playing Cello for about 6 months. I love this instrument a lot but the problem is my back hurts while playing it because Im 6 ft tall and I have to bend a bit because of the pegs. Right now I am renting a cello from L&M in Toronto. I hate this Cello. Sounds aweful so I am going to rent one form the soundpost in Toronto. they are worth about 4 grand. Id like to however get posture pegs so that I can sit up straight. However I dont want to spend the 300 can to get posture pegs installed in someone elses Cello. Thats why I was thinking I would rent a really nice cello and then eventually purchase it (50% of my rental goes towards the cello should I purchase it). HOWEVER, I dont want to purchase a cello that I will grow out of quite quickly. I cant afford to finance right now. I want a damn good cello. Is a 4 grand cello decent or is it something I will quickly grow to despise because It just isnt quite good enough? The soundpost doesnt rent anything more expensive then 4 grand

The Dommer

Get a Gliga Gama. It will cost you a lot less than 4 grand and will almost certainly outplay whatever you are renting that costs 4 grand. We sold one to a conservatoire graduate who played the Elgar on it and didn`t stop raving about how wonderful it was for an hour.

Liz

First off, which conservatory was this student from? I`d be hard pressed to find a decent cello of any kind under 4 grand. I had a beautiful Kohr instrument that I played on for 4 years, worth around $1500.00. I had to upgrade, I was out powering the instrument. If this conservatory student has a cello that will out-play my Pederson (which is worth $7500.00), then I`d like to play this cello.

Now, to the original post... If you`ve only been playing for six months, I would have to agree that a $4000.00 instrument is a little pricey. I`d say start with a good beginner instrument, like the Kohr, or as many other people on this site will tell you, the Gliga (I`ve never played one, so I can`t say whether or not they are all they are cracked up to be). As far as the problem of your back hurting, the only way that I can see anyone having difficulty sitting up straight, is if the endpin wasn`t adjusted correctly, or if the instrument isn`t a full size. My first suggestion is that instead of even thinking about spending $300 on a set of pegs, that you try adjusting your endpin out more, and then setting the cello at more of an angle against your body.

If you`re interested in trying out some instruments, I bought both of mine from Robertson and Sons violin shop in Ablequerque, NM. I`d highly suggest calling them. If you`d like to try my Kohr, which I need to sell, I`d be happy to ship it to you, and let you try it out.



Titus

Which conservatory? The Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester, England). I am not suggesting she was soloist material, in fact she ended up as a singer, but certainly she was performance diploma level or higher.

Liz

Im pretty sure I sit right with the cello. My teacher is always very careful to correct posture and bow holding etc.

If you`re in pain, you`re not sitting right. Have you ever heard of the Alexander method? It`s a universal term that has to do with playing an instrument in a way that causes you no pain. Alexander actually was a singer, and developed a method of singing that would keep people from hurting themselves while they were singing. If your teacher doesn`t know that you`re in pain, he/she can`t help you to sit in a way that fixes that problem. If he/she does know, and hasn`t helped you find a way that is pain free, then you need a new teacher. Any teacher who has a student that he knows is in as much pain as you are in, and tells you "Well, you`ll get use to it" or "It will go away after a while," is absurd. I hope your teacher isn`t this way, but make sure you make it clear that this is a serious thing.



Titus

nono. My teacher is great. and god knows a good teacher is hard to find. Ive been through enough teachers in guitar who think because they can play a crazy lick that they are a good teacher.

Im not in "tons" of pain. However I know its probably notre and back. I have been trying to find a way to sit without being uncomfortable. She suggested the posture pegs.

Um... I know a few cellists who are 6 ft or taller who have no problems with their pegs, but I did notice how far their end-pins are out. I think you just need to take your end-pin out more, and if it`s out all the way and your pegs are still bothering you, you need a longer end-pin.

Jael,

YOU TOOK THE WORDS RIGHT OF MY MOUTH!! I don`t care how tall or short you are, if the end-pin is put out far enough and you sit at the end of your chair, your back will be straight. My brother is 6`2" and he never had any problems playing the cello.

Dommer,

Also, how big is your cello because you make it sound real small?

hey guys. Im 6 ft on the nose so if you say so then you are right. I will try that. although I dont know what you mean by bring the end pegs out. if you pull them out they become lose....

anyone got a pic they could send of what they mean? or explain it a bit better.

No no, the pegs are at the top of the cello to hold the strings and aid in tuning and what not. The End Pin is at the bottem of the cello and is adjustible vertically to provide for more height. And so what they are saying is that instead of buying these new pegs, make sure you have a full size (4/4) cello and that the end pin is fully extended so that you no longer have to strain your back. Or so I think thats the issue.

So in these picture www.8notes.com/school/ cello/beginner_1/cello1.asp make sure that the `spike` is extended far enough.

Dangit. Never mind go here [url]http://www.8notes.com/school/cello/beginner_1/cello1.asp[/url]

OMG im so imcompetent. http://www.8notes.com/school/cello/beginner_1/cello1.asp