Alfian Emir Adytia, *New Thoughts* Etudes
Each etude explores a specific aspect of extended cello technique. Together they provide a broad foundation for artistic and technical experimentation during the Research Retreat and the Monasteries.
You can download the etudes here →
Students are invited to select two etudes that best align with their personal learning objectives.
- Legato control and bow balance – mid-bow, medium strokes; alternating accented combination-bowings détaché/legato. Occasional staccato/spiccato.
- Virtuosity of bowing – spiccato, saltato, détaché, ponticello, legato; rapid transitions between bowing styles.
- Single-string melody – glissando and position shifts, focusing on intonation and tone colour.
- Delegation of functions – left-hand pizzicato with continuous bow movement, maintaining coordination and clarity.
- Broken-chord study – advanced left-hand technique in high positions and octaves on lower strings.
- Rhythmic skills – jazz rhythms: swing time, straight time, chopping and groove-based playing.
- Notated improvisation – swinging rhythms and advanced bowing to create syncopation; a musical display of rhythmic virtuosity.
- Chordal study – broken chords on upper strings; moderately demanding.
- Advanced pizzicato study – alternating pizzicato patterns and broken chords, developing flexibility and dexterity.
- Guided improvisation with speech – reciting a poem in one’s native language while maintaining a second musical voice.
| Technical Category | Etudes | Focus |
| Bowing techniques | 1, 2, 6, 7 | Legato, détaché, spiccato, saltato, staccato, ponticello, mid-bow control, chopping, transitions between bowing regimes |
| Left-hand techniques | 3, 4, 5 | Glissando, position shifts, octaves, left-hand pizzicato, coordination between hands |
| Pizzicato techniques | 4, 9 | Left-hand pizzicato, alternating pizzicato patterns, pizzicato–bowing combinations |
| Chords & arpeggios | 5, 8, 9 | Broken chords in high positions, chordal texture, octave patterns |
| Rhythm & timing | 6, 7 | Swing/straight time, groove-based playing, syncopation, rhythmic accuracy and drive |
| Coordination / multitasking | 4, 10 | Simultaneous left/right-hand independence, combining musical and verbal elements |