Cello Life - Jonathan Simmons

                 Repetitive strain injuries plague far too many musicians, and I was one of them. These injuries tend to come at the most stressful times, before big performances and auditions, and last far too long. In my case, I was barely touching my instrument for five months leading up to graduate school auditions. Although problems did not go away immediately after auditions, I learned some valuable lessons that today allow me to play without pain. Here I hope to steer you toward some resources to help you achieve every musician’s goal – playing pain free. WARM UP             Let me begin by saying that I am not a doctor and am not qualified to give medical advice. Medical professionals such as physical therapists can help you determine steps you can take to avoid drastic measures such as surgery. One of those steps is warming up. My initial conception of warming up for cello was playing scales, and although scales are excellent for opening our ears, they are not enough. P

               Today’s blog post will be a different sort – all about set up and equipment! I hesitate to write a blog post on equipment because so much cello-centric equipment comes out that seems admittedly “gimmicky.” In addition your instrument and bow are a very personal combination. What works for me might not work for you, and what I prefer may not please you at all! With that being said, the intent of this blog is to both share what has worked for me as well as to thank and promote the shops and individuals who helped me come to my current setup. When I buy a new instrument, I will definitely try out these same accessories to see if they work just as well for me on other instruments. To confirm, none of the shops mentioned in this post have sponsored me in any way. Rather I would like to use this post to show my gratitude for their products and their good service.   Horvat Tailpiece and Carbon Fiber Tip Horvat Tailpiece             Perhaps the most unique part of my set