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Cello Day XIV
With Guest Artist
Rodney Farrar
March 25, 2006
Second Presbyterian Church, 3701 Old Brownsboro Rd, Louisville
You can purchase the outstanding cello ensemble and teaching supplement,
"Fat Notes Cellobration"
from Cellos2go
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Rodney Farrar Returns for Cello Day XIV
Rodney Farrar is a former University of Kentucky Cello Instructor. Farrar is nationally recognized as one of the foremost teachers of young cellists. An ambassador of the Suzuki Method for cello, he engages youth with the magic of music and the variety of sound possible on the magnificent cello. Rodney Farrar is also beautifully efficient and organized in his approach to playing and teaching the cello. It will be an excellent experience for all who come to play and learn.
Rodney Farrar of Littleton, Colorado, has been a professional cellist
for 30-plus years, enjoying a varied career ranging from symphony,
chamber music, and solo recital performance to university teaching and
private instruction for students of a wide range of ages and levels.
He has been actively involved in the development Suzuki cello
teaching in this country and as been guest clinician at hundreds of
institutes and workshops throughout the U.S. and Canada sponsored by
Suzuki programs, public school music programs and private cello studios.
A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Rodney attended Oberlin Conservatory
of Music, Eastman School of Music and Indiana University School of
Music. His cello teachers have included Gretchen Dalley, Peter Howard,
Ronald Leonard and Janos Starker. He was professor of cello at the
University of Kentucky for many years. He also taught at the Crane
School of Music in Potsdam, New York, summer sessions at the University
of Illinois in Champaigne-Urbana and at the Brevard Music Festival in
Brevard, North Carolina.
Rodney currently teaches a large class of private cello and bass
students from the Denver area and is principal cellist of the Musica
Sacra Chamber Orchestra.
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The Magnificence That Was
Cello Day
By Jacqueline Heinzen
Yes, yes, everyone knows about it. The once-a-year splendor that calls to the attention of aspiring cellists. Other instruments aren’t called to it, well, because, cellos are better. Period. So, we just call it cello day instead, because cellists were the only ones smart enough to show up. The 2006 Cello Day went splendidly. There was dancing, singing, eating, and much rejoicing.
This year’s Cello Day was led by a strange skinny creature in a loud Hawaiian shirt. He was from a different planet, apparently… that would explain some things. Rodney is from the planet Yendor where everyone plays the cello!! Gaze in awe before his cellistic excellence! He made Cello Day bundles of fun, and helped us to be more aware of ourselves. Well, maybe not mentally, but now we all know that Earthling’s hands are naturally formed in a "Hey-let’s-play-out-of-tune" position. Rodney demonstrated how our consumption of Coca-Cola allows us to compensate while we patiently wait for evolution to adapt our left hands to the cello.
After the midday feast (otherwise known as lunch) we were gathered back into the sanctuary to get our stomachs back in check. We danced and hopped around to a variety of musical selections, trying to stay with the beat. Basically, we followed the alien’s crazy cool dance moves.
More dancing and cello hugging followed as we played the Cycle Song that has a high school prom dance mixed with a stairway to heaven. Fun. Very fun. Students were challenged to explore unfamiliar regions of the cello. Everyone submitted to what otherwise may have been an embarrassing event. It’s never embarrassing if you’re a cellist! That automatically makes you cooler than everyone in the room. I think that’s what Rodney was getting across.
In my opinion, I think Rodney Farrar did an excellent job of leading Cello Day. Teaching the glories of the cello in a laid back and fun way. Fun. That sums up this year’s Cello Day.
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Amy Britton on the "Violin"Cello
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Every cellist at cello day took home valuable insight and renewed love for the cello and fellow cellist and the Alien known as Rodney Farrar!
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Cello Day is the largest event that the KCC sponsors. During any given year Cello Day may be structured to target a specific level of cellists in our region. Each year at our annual meeting, a dicussion takes place to select a guest clinician, renown for teaching who can bring special musical and cellistic insights to Kentucky professional, amateur, and student cellists alike. We then begin the planning process of finding a mutually acceptable date, music for cello choir, and who would benefit from the experience so that information can be made readily available to those wishing to participate. Generally, it is an all inclusive day of sectionals, masterclass, cello choir and most recently, a studio teachers seminar.
Cello Days Gone By
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