Cello
Faculty
Natasha Farny, Associate Professor
About the Area:
Welcome to the Fredonia Cello Studio! At Fredonia, we focus on lasting friendships, creative and musical interpretations, and a strong technical foundation. Through weekly private lessons, students focus on several personal goals over their four years. In addition to improving technique, interpretive skills, and musical abilities, students perform major masterpieces of the literature, while learning to play efficiently and healthily.
Every semester, Fredonia cellists enroll in Cello Technique Class, a course that teaches both bowing and left hand techniques, scale and arpeggio fluency, and in-depth knowledge of major orchestral excerpts. We also study a variety of etude books that isolate left and right hand issues. Frequently, students will perform etudes in studio class to demonstrate their success and test their fluidity with a certain challenge. At Fredonia, students immerse themselves in the art of cello playing by practicing together, discussing tips in studio class, and performing frequently.
Performance is important to Fredonia music students. The Cello Class meets every week alternately for studio class and string area recital seminar. Opportunities to perform occur everywhere: in cello studio recitals, guest artist master classes, off-campus recitals in the community, end-of-semester chamber music recitals, and orchestra, opera, and musical performances. Fredonia cellists have won the concerto competition and received the Performer's Certificate. Concerts involving faculty/student collaborations occur with some regularity, occasionally leading to concert trips around the state.
Graduates of the Fredonia cello studio have studied overseas, attended graduate programs on full scholarship, and landed excellent jobs. Due to Fredonia's rigorous standards for Music Education, Fredonia education graduates have a high rate of employment throughout the state.
Performance jobs after graduation include positions in orchestras, touring groups, and private studio teaching.