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Action Studies for Cello

By Jamie Fiste, Professor of Cello at Central Michigan University
The term "Action Study" was coined by famous violinist and pedagogue, Paul Rolland. Actions studies are movement exercises that help string students practice particular techniques ("actions") necessary to play the instrument. 

These can be difficult to describe but most should be clear (hopefully!).  A video is forthcoming in which I demonstrate the action studies.

"Shoulder Drop"
Both arms
The shoulder drop is to help the shoulders relax their shoulders while playing the cello

  • Hold your arms in playing position on or off the instrument. Tuck shoulders up. Drop shoulder down. Maintain this feeling in shoulders while playing the cello.

One caveat: When raising the elbow, such as playing on the A string, the teacher should not discourage the shoulder blade from upward rotation. This will be noticeable by a slight rise in the shoulder. This is a natural movement necessary to prevent shoulder impingement (stay tuned for an article on this important topic for cellists).


Bow Arm and Hand

"Look through the Telescope!"
Bow hold
To teach the student that the thumb is curved and goes across from the second finger. It also is important later when you teach the pivot motion in the right hand.

  • Curve your right thumb and position the tip of the thumb in the middle of your second finger. Look through the telescope at your neighbor!

"String Trek Docking"
Bow hold
This is to demonstrate that the hand should remain relaxed and that the fingers should be spaced apart in a "natural" way, not overly spread apart nor squeezed together.

  • Hold the middle of the bow with the left hand with the frog in front of you
  • Shake out the right hand above the proper position on the bow
  • Bend the right thumb and put the tip across from the middle of the second finger
  • Gradually bring the hand down to the bow as if "docking" the Starship Enterprise (sound effects are good at this point!)
  • "Dock" the hand on the bow.

"Alphabet"
Bow hand
To strengthen the third and fourth fingers

  • While holding the bow, spell the alphabet in the air with the tip using ONLY THE FINGERS. Do not use the wrist.

"Thumb Aerobics"
Bow hand
This exercise is to help reduce thumb tension in the right hand. 

  • While holding the bow in the right hand in the air, flex and straighten thumb. You can support the bow stick with your left hand, if need be.

"Grandfather Clock"
Bow arm
Teaches the pendulum motion for whole bows (big pendulum) and bowing at the frog (little pendulum)

  • Relax your whole arm and let it hang from the shoulder. Swing your entire arm left to right like a grandfather clock.

"Swing"
Bow arm
"Swing" is designed to help the student become more aware of how the arm moves from the shoulder (pivot joint) for the lower half of the bow.

  • While doing the "Grandfather Clock" gradually bend the arm from the elbow like a swing. Keep swinging the arm from the shoulder. Keep you hand relaxed.

"Door on a Hinge"
Bow arm 
Door on a hinge is designed to teach forearm freedom while playing in the upper half of the bow (Forearm Détaché). The "door" is the forearm and the "hinge" is the elbow.

  • Hold up the right upper arm away from the body. "Open and Close" forearm (door) while keeping the upper arm and shoulder relaxed. The active motion is accomplished only by the forearm.

"Windshield Wiper" (vertical)
Bow hand
Helps the student learn that the index finger helps to control the bow in order to keep it parallel to the string.

  • Place the bow on the string at the upper half.
  • Using the index finger, slide the bow on the string as if it were a windshield wiper. The tip points up towards the ceiling and then down towards the floor.
  • Notice how the index finger controls the tip of the bow

"Windshield Wiper" (horizontal)
Bow hand
This helps the student to use the fingers to adjust the angle of the bow at the frog using only the fingers

  • Hold bow in front of you
  • Using only the fingers, move the tip of the bow away from your body and back towards your body

"Lazy Boy Chair"
Bow arm
Helps the student to release tension in the shoulder

  • Have the student hold up their arm bent at the elbow like sitting in a Lazy Boy Chair
  • Like the arm of the chair, use your hands to hold up their arm
  • Ask the student to completely relax their entire arm into your hands
  • Move their arm around with the student remaining totally relaxed
  • If the arm is still being held up by the student, you have a "floater"!
  • With your hands, bounce the arm up and down, encouraging the shoulder to relax

"Free Fall"
Both arms
Helps the student to release tension in the shoulders, especially if Lazy Boy Chair is a struggle.

  • Hold both arms straight out to the side
  • Let the arms fall back to your side in a completely relaxed manner

"Chicken Wing"
Bow arm
This teaches the student that the upper arm (or elbow) rises and falls when you bow from the tip to the frog.

  • Bend your arm at the elbow and hold your arm to the side. Raise and lower your elbow like a chicken wing.
  • Teacher should look to be sure the elbow is falling by gravity and not being "pushed" down.
  • If the elbow isn't falling by gravity, work on Free Fall and Lazy Boy Chair.

"Basketball Pass" or "Wing on a Hinge"
Bow arm
This is a combination between the "chicken wing" and "door on a hinge". This teaches the somewhat complicated motions necessary in the upper arm and forearm for whole bows. The motion starts from the shoulder with the whole arm, the elbow gradually rises, and at the end of the bow the forearm takes over. There is also a slight pronation in the forearm and hand as you come to the tip of the bow.

  • Alternate between four "chicken wings" and four "door on a hinges". 
  • Then alternate between three chicken wings and three door on a hinges. 
  • Then do two, then one. Now you have "Wing on a hinge"!!

For "basketball pass" crumple up a piece of paper. Practice a basketball pass with the piece of paper. It's amazing how similar the whole bow is to a basketball pass!!


"Row Boat"
Bow arm
This action study teaches the student the different angles necessary on each string to keep the bow straight with the bridge. On the high strings, especially the A string, the arm must reach out more and the tip of the bow must point up more. On the low strings, especially the C string, the arm must pull back some and the tip needs to point downward more towards the ground.

  • Place the tip of the bow on the C string. Pull the arm back. This position is similar to when your arms are bent when rowing a boat. Have your left arm also bend like you are rowing a boat.
  • Now gradually move to the A string and straighten both arms just like rowing a boat. When you get to the A string your arms will be straighter (but not totally straight!)
  • Move between the C and A strings like rowing a boat

"Princess Wave"
Right arm and hand 
This motion is a pronating and supinating action in the forearm. This motion is use in the right hand and arm for articulations and for applying force into the string.

  • Wave like a princess.
  • Keep waving and put your arm into more of a playing position.
  • Later you can combine this with the telescope action study (see below).

Facility and Shifting

"Traveling Up the Road" (beginning)
Action Study to practice shifting and passage work

  • Place your 1st finger somewhat on the inside of the string (if playing on the D string this would be the side of the string closest to the G string).
  • Slide the 1st finger up the string (towards the bridge) on the inside of the string and pizzicato with the same finger at the end of the fingerboard.
  • Repeat with the 2nd and 3rd fingers.
  • Repeat with the 4th finger but substitute the 3rd finger when you get to the heel of the neck.
  • Try this on all 4 strings.

"Traveling Up the Road" (intermediate)
Action Study to practice fast passage work up the string using the scale fingering

  • With just the left-hand, play 1-2, 1-2, 1-2, 1-2, 1-2, etc. quickly in 1st position somewhat on the right side of the string (if playing on the D string this would be the side of the string closest to the G string).
  • Place 1st finger somewhat on the side of the D string and play 1-2, 1-2, 1-2, etc. quickly as you slide up the string (towards the bridge).
  • Be sure to bring the thumb up and around at the heel of the neck as you travel up the string.
  • Pizzicato with the 3rd finger (ring finger) of the left-hand at the end of the fingerboard.
  • Repeat on the other strings.

"Traveling Up the Road" (advanced)
Action Study to practice fast passage work up the string using a chromatic fingering

  • Place 1st finger somewhat on the inside of the D string and play 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3, etc. quickly as you slide up the string (towards the bridge).
  • Pizzicato with the 1st finger of the left-hand at the end of the fingerboard.
  • Repeat on the other strings

"Harmonic Fun"
Action Study to practice shifting and passage work
  • Gently touch 1st finger on the side of the D String (this would be the side of the string closest to the G string). Be careful not to push the string down. Only lightly touch the string with the finger. Be careful to only touch the string with one finger.
  • Slide 1st finger up and down the string all the way to the end of the fingerboard, only lightly touching it. You can keep the thumb above the string.
  • Add the bow: Slide up and down the string with your 1st finger while bowing. See how many times you can travel up and down the string in one bow. Listen to all of the cool harmonics!
  • Repeat with different fingers and on different strings.

More Advanced Right Hand and Arm Technique


"Wax On, Wax Off" or "Polish the Countertop"
Bow arm
This motion is used for controlled spiccato.

  • With your elbows low, arms bent at the elbow, and palms forward, do the "wax on, wax off" from Karate Kid (rotating your upper arms in the shoulder socket).
  • Now try it with your palms to the ground like you are "polishing the countertop".
  • Try it holding a pencil as in a bow hold.
  • It is also helpful to roll up a hand towel and put it under the arm.
  • Try this with the bow in your hand doing successive down bows.

"Robot Wave"
Right Arm 
This motion is used for string crossings at the upper half of the bow.

  • Make sure the upper arm is up away from the body (elbow up). 
  • "Wave" using your entire forearm. 
  • The upper arm will "swivel" in the shoulder socket. 
  • As the forearm points down, the upper arm points up in the opposite direction.
  • There's a teeter totter effect in the whole arm.

"Stir the Cake"
Bow Arm
Stir the cake is to teach the mechanics of string crossings. It is a combination of "Door on a Hinge" and "Robot Wave".

  • Hold the right upper arm up away from the body. 
  • Alternate between Robot Wave and Door on a Hinge. 
  • Combine them. 
  • Using only the forearm, make a circular clockwise motion as if "stirring a cake" using the whole forearm. 
  • Try it again counter-clockwise. 
  • The upper arm should have a counter reaction in the opposite direction. In other words, when the forearm circles down, the upper arm points up as in the "forearm wave."

"Telescope"
Bow Hand
This exercise is to teach the pivot between the thumb and middle finger.

  • Hold bow with left hand on the stick.
  • Look through the telescope (circle using middle finger and thumb).
  • Put middle finger on metal piece and thumb in nook.
  • Hold 1st and 4th fingers out.
  • With the left hand, raise the tip of the bow up without moving the right hand until the bow touches the index finger. Feel the pivot in the right hand.
  • With the left hand, drop the tip of the bow down without moving the right hand until the bow touches the pinkie. Feel the pivot in the right hand.
  • You can also try this with a pencil.

"Telescope II"
Bow Hand
This exercise is to teach the pivot between the thumb and middle finger.

  • Hold bow with left hand on the stick parallel to the ground.
  • Look through the telescope (circle using middle finger and thumb).
  • Put middle finger on metal piece and thumb in nook.
  • Hold 1st and 4th fingers out.
  • Keeping the bow parallel to the ground, raise the elbow and pronate hand until index finger touches stick. Feel the pivot in the right hand.
  • Keeping the bow parallel to the ground, lower the elbow and supinate hand until index finger touches stick. Feel the pivot in the right hand.
  • You can also try this with a pencil.

"Free Fall"
Bow Hand
This exercise is to teach the pivot between the thumb and middle finger. Caution: Only do this on a carpeted surface or if you have a fiber glass or carbon fiber bow!

  • Face palm to ceiling while holding bow.
  • Allow stick of bow to rest on index finger.
  • Release 2nd through 4th fingers from bow (this is the pronated position).
  • Gradually turn hand over so palm faces ceiling.
  • Allow bow to "free fall" while it pivots between thumb and middle finger.
  • Catch with pinkie.

"Bow Clicks"
This teaches how to use the pronating action of the forearm and hand, through the index finger, to create articulations.

  • Review "Princess Wave" and "Look Through the Telescope", "Telescope", "Telescope II", and "Free Fall".
  • Hold the bow on the string at the middle point without any weight or pressure.
  • Push the stick into the hair and immediately let up. Try different tempos.
  • Add slight down and up bows doing the same motion and hear the bow clicks.

"Shock Absorbers"
Bow Fingers
This exercise is to teach finger flexibility in the bow hand. This also teaches the knuckle base of the hand to relax.

  • Place all five fingers on your knee while sitting.
  • Bend and straighten fingers passively by raising and lowering the entire arm.
  • Hold bow in regular position while also holding the stick with the left hand.
  • Bring the bow in for a landing on your string of choice.
  • As the bow lands on the string allow the weight of the arm to result in your fingers and thumb bending passively.
  • Also, be sure the knuckle base of the fingers flattens passively.
"Flexible Wrist"
Bow hand
Teaches a passive motion in the wrist.

  • Do "Door on a Hinge" action study
  • Keep a slight pronation in the hand and forearm
  • Make the motion smaller and faster
  • Relax the wrist and allow it to move passively
  • Try it while holding a pencil like a bow
  • Try it while holding the bow with your left fingers looped around the stick towards the tip, allowing the bow to move in an up bow and down bow fashion.

"The Finger Tap"
Right hand
This exercise is to teach the back of the hand in the upper half of the bow to remain loose. This motion is not actually used while playing. Rather, it helps the brain to differentiate the back of the hand from the front of the hand.

  • With the bow on the string, place the bow in the upper half
  • While applying weight onto the top of the bow, tap the back three fingers on the frog. 
  • Do not let up on the weight while tapping.

Left Hand and Arm

"Soda (Pop) Can" "No, Vegetable Juice!"
Left hand
This exercise is to help with the open "C" in the left hand and prevent "C sickness"!

  • Hold your left hand as if you are holding a soda can with your fingers in a C position.
  • Bring it up to your mouth as if you are going to take a sip. 
  • This is your position for the left hand.

"Spock Sign"
Left Hand
This is to acquire more flexibility between the 2nd and 3rd fingers of the left hand.

  • Without help from other hand, separate the 2nd and 3rd fingers while keeping the 1st and 2nd touching and the 3rd and 4th touching.

"Thumb Circles"
Left hand
This action study is for teaching the student to use gravity instead of squeezing with the thumb.

  • Place any finger or combination of fingers down on the finger board. 
  • Use arm weight to push the strings down. 
  • Now make thumb "circles" without touching the neck.

"Don't Crush the Paper!"
Left hand
This exercise is to teach the students to maintain as much as possible an open C in the left hand.

  • Roll up a piece of paper length-wise.
  • Make a soda pop hand.
  • Place all four fingers on the D string.
  • Place the rolled up piece of paper in the open C space of the left hand. Hold it in place or tape it to the side of the neck while the student plays. 
  • Don't crush the paper!!

"Robot Wave"
Left Arm 
The forearm wave is to teach the swivel motion in the upper arm necessary for vibrato. See vibrato for beginners for more information.

  • Make sure the arm is raised but still tilted slightly downward. 
  • Wave using your entire forearm.
  • The upper arm will "swivel" in the shoulder socket. 
  • As the forearm points down, the upper arm points up in the opposite direction. 

"Polish the String"
Left Hand and Arm 
This is to teach the necessary motions for vibrato.

  • Do "robot wave."
  • Gradually move hand closer to string.
  • Place 1st and 2nd fingers on D string and "Polish the String"
  • Make the polishing motion smaller and plant 2nd finger on string.
  • Continue same motion in arm and let arm pivot around finger. Vibrato!

"Crazy Vibrato" (from cellist Carl Donakowski)
Left hand and arm
This is to teach the necessary motions for vibrato.

  • Polish the string following the steps above.
  • While polishing, add long bow strokes and glissando up and down the string in the lower positions.

"Forearm Roll"
Left hand and arm
This is to teach the necessary motions for vibrato. I prefer forearm roll to door knob because I want the whole forearm to be involved, not just the wrist.

  • Place your 1st or 2nd fingers on the string
  • Pivot (pronate and supinate) your entire forearm around the finger
  • It helps to connect the forearm with the upper arm by pointing the thumb out like a hitch hiker

"Mr. Muscle"
Left Hand (Active Motions: Fingers; Pivot Joints: Knuckle at Base of Fingers)
This exercise is to strengthen the fingers of the left hand and increase finger independence.

  • Put 1st finger on lowest string, 2nd finger on next highest string, 3rd finger on next highest string and 4th finger on top string. 
  • While pushing down strings with other fingers, raise and lower 1st finger. Do 5 reps to start with. 
  • After 1st finger, repeat process with other fingers.

"Rocky Mountain Thumb"
Left hand
This exercise strengthens the left thumb for thumb position

  • Put the left thumb across two string of choice anywhere in thumb position.
  • The left thumb nail should touch the lower of the two strings (slight pronation).
  • While depressing the two strings, keep the thumb knuckle base from collapsing (keep it sticking out like a Rocky Mountain!).
  • Keep and open C in the hand.
  • Hold the string down for 10 seconds.
  • Repeat the process in different locations in thumb position.

"Friendly Pairs"
Left Hand
This is to teach finger support 
  • Place 4th finger down with 3rd finger. Keep other fingers over respective notes without touching string.
  • After this, support 3rd finger with 2nd finger. You will need to lift up the 4th finger and put down the 2nd finger.
  • Place 2nd by itself.
  • After this, place down 1st finger by itself.
  • Reverse process: Place down 1st - 2nd - 2nd with 3rd - 3rd with 4th.

"The Trampoline"
Left Hand and Arm 
A somewhat advanced action study to teach the preparatory motions for shifting.

  • Place thumb (optional) and 2 or 3 fingers on an open string.
  • Raise and lower the wrist and elbow in a bouncing motion. 
  • The wrist flexes very slightly during the upward bounce.

"Diving Board: 1-2-3 Go!"
Left Hand and Arm 
A somewhat advanced action study to teach the preparatory motions for shifting.

  • Raise and lower wrist and arm 3 times while keeping fingers on string like bouncing on a diving board.
  • After the 3rd time, allow the momentum of the upward motion of the wrist and arm propel the hand upward in the direction of the bridge. Allow the fingers to slide along the strings. 
  • Try reversing the direction of the shift when you have reached the upper positions.

"Bunny Hop"
Left Hand and Arm
Similar to the previous action study minus the 3 preparations.

  • Place thumb (optional) and 2 or 3 fingers on an open string.
  • Allow the raising of the wrist and elbow to propel the hand upward towards the bridge in successive "hops". 
  • Remember to slide the fingers along the string.
  • Reverse the directions of the "hops."
S.D.G.

Authored by Jamie Fiste, Professor of Cello at Central Michigan University.
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