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Cello Repertoire Initiative

Time with friends

by Kathy Blackwell and David Blackwell

Instrumentation
Cello, Piano
Composed
2023
Publisher
Self Published
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About this piece

A free piece for cello and piano from Kathy and David Blackwell's website, written at the level of Cello Time Runners. A lilting 3/4 melody marked 'Happily' practises the forward extension, in particular the low F sharp, with a flowing piano accompaniment. The PDF contains the score and the cello part.

Technical overview

First position with forward (4th-finger) extensions, especially low F sharp; 3/4, quarter note = 84; dotted rhythms and slurs; mp to f.

Technical focus

  • Dynamics

Level rubric

Late Beginner

Left Hand

  • Mostly 1st position with small extensions.
  • Early shifting to 2nd/3rd positions.
  • Controlled vibrato on sustained notes.

Right Hand

  • Expanded bow technique for faster passages & wider dynamics.
  • Longer slurs (3–4 notes).
  • Hooked bowing for dotted rhythms.
  • Practice basic martelé accents.
  • Increase speed in string crossings with minimal arm movement.

Bow Strokes

  • Standard détaché; add staccato, martelé, short slurs, hooked strokes.

Rhythm & Musicality

  • Incorporate dotted figures, compound meters (6/8), triplets & syncopation.
  • Develop subdivision sense; introduce rubato in small measures.
  • Slightly longer phrases.
  • Introduce basic dynamic shading.

Levels are approximate guides, not strict requirements.

Music

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