Vivaldi E Minor Sonata: Suzuki Cello Book 5 Lesson

Ready to tackle Vivaldi's Sonata in E minor (RV 40)? 🎻 This lesson is your deep dive into the first section of this beautiful and iconic piece from the Suzuki Cello Book 5!

We're going to break down this elegant Baroque work, focusing on the slow, expressive Largo tempo and the nuances of the E minor key. We start with the pickup and first measure, navigating the challenges of the tenor clef and discussing how to handle the tricky shifts and fingerings that maximize musicality. Discover how to execute the turns and trills (ornaments) correctly, and get my best tips on tackling those rapid position shifts—like going into fifth position and back to first—that are challenging but essential for this sonata.

This video covers:
- Understanding and accurately playing Vivaldi's Largo tempo.
- Correct rhythm and phrasing for the opening measures.
- Mastering the first-half structure, including the repeat.
- Techniques for difficult shifts and partial positions.

Use the timestamps below to jump straight to the tricky spots!
00:00 Welcome & Piece Introduction (Vivaldi E Minor Sonata)
00:50 Breakdown: Pickup & Measure 1
00:59 Music Theory Deep Dive: Understanding Tenor Clef
02:07 Clef Changes & Eliminating Ledger Lines (Historical Context)
03:10 Playing Measures 1 & 2 (Rhythm, Tempo, & Turn)
04:55 Playing Through the First Phrase
05:32 Analyzing Key Signature & Ornaments
06:42 Combining the First Two Phrases
08:13 Working on Shifts into Fifth Position (Measure 3)
09:43 Trill Technique: 3 to 4 Fingering Tips
11:52 First Repeat Section Practice
13:26 Navigating the Two Repeats in the Movement
13:58 Second Section Practice: Staying on the D String (Roman Numeral II)
15:58 Transition to A String (Roman Numeral I) & Second Section Shifts
18:44 Analyzing Sixteenths and Thirty-Seconds (Measure 9)
19:26 Complex Shift & Trill Fingering (Measure 9-10)
22:58 Pick-up to Measure 11
24:08 Harmonic and Fingering Pattern (Measure 12)
27:48 Shifting Out of Fifth Position (Measure 13)
30:38 Playing Measures 12-13 in Time (Focusing on Duration)
35:04 Measure 14 Breakdown (Fifth Position)
36:47 Measure 15: Half Position & Wild Shifts
41:41 Combining Measures 14 and 15
42:12 Final Measure Breakdown & Octave Jumps
46:01 Final Practice Run (Measure 14 to End)
49:40 Full Second Half Run-Through
51:15 Final Thoughts on Continuity & Accuracy

This piece requires precision, but with focused practice, you’ll nail it. Don't just play the notes—understand the logic!

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