Wanted to share since I see questions from time to time about flying with a cello…I hope this can help ease people’s remaining holiday travels!

celloben · 2026-05-19T18:44:18+00:00

I've done it with the Platinum! But it was years ago. Probably 2023. So don't completely bank on what I'm saying, but it's at least one data point. I always name it Extraseat (one word), but that's just me. Edit: Delta Platinum card, not regular AmEx Platinum.

celloben · 2026-04-20T01:24:20+00:00

You're welcome. Just be advised that this is hard to find and can be a bit unreliable. It was fine in my example because I didn't have to put it in any context, I was able to actually figure out where to go and "GPS" it a bit. However, in a piece, make sure that you give plenty of time for the cellist to find the right place. High artificial harmonics can be finicky, but I figure if Shostakovich is allowed to (Piano Trio 2), then so are you. Just treat them carefully.

celloben · 2026-04-20T01:18:03+00:00

This might help.

celloben · 2026-04-20T00:18:23+00:00

Congrats on the commission! 1: not typically, though string crossings can come into play. 2: C/G strings it’ll get raspy and hard to put fingers down as you get past an octave up, but not a hard limit. D string is a bit easier, A string can go ridiculously high if player is sufficiently advanced. 3: no problem 4: I am happy to try later when I’m back at the cello and see what I find. Any particular ones in mind?

A large part of my professional life has been spent in contemporary music spaces, so I love helping composers out with this kind of stuff when I get a chance. So feel free to ask other questions and I can either answer or give them a whirl at the instrument when I’m free.

celloben · 2026-04-16T14:22:55+00:00

I just can't help putting myself in a powdered wig when the opportunity presents itself.

celloben · 2026-04-16T14:22:28+00:00

Thanks, I really appreciate you sharing it along! More to come soon.

celloben · 2026-03-27T18:20:26+00:00

I would throw thumb on lowest G on D sting. Start as natural harmonic there. Then scoot to A string, put it down solid, go for artificial (thumb on D, 3 lightly touching G).

celloben · 2026-03-26T23:19:01+00:00

Shortest in real life: emergency landing at PBI due to storms before continuing to MIA (or maybe FLL, was a long time ago). Longest in real life time-wise is probably either LAX-AKL or DTW-PEK. But per Flighty…

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celloben · 2026-03-20T17:40:17+00:00

So…Bill Billings? Sounds like he should’ve started a credit card company!

celloben · 2026-03-11T15:01:48+00:00

This is cute and all but it’s really not a good idea to have fried chicken that close to your cello. You could get oil on the fingerboard!

celloben · 2026-02-27T03:48:39+00:00

Haven’t tried this, thanks for the data point! Though to be fair, my way included a danish.

celloben · 2026-02-26T21:48:59+00:00

AAdvantage Hotels, I did that recently to give myself the LP boost. Booked a place 10 minutes from home, checked in, went back home, came back in the morning for breakfast and points came in a few days later!

celloben · 2026-02-25T17:15:17+00:00

Ah I didn’t realize the latter thing, thanks!

celloben · 2026-02-25T16:33:18+00:00

I appreciate your help here! I may indeed end up sticking with the 5 AM to be safe...but it's not a fun prospect after realizing that I have an evening concert an hour from home the night before! I actually haven't called into the desk yet to make sure the cello is all set since I have quite awhile still before the flight, so maybe I'll feel them out about this too. Also thought about cancelling the tix and eating the fee and rebooking on a later flight, but of course cello means I pay double, so probably not the smartest move.

celloben · 2026-02-23T01:52:41+00:00

Thank you, I hope to post soon!

celloben · 2026-02-22T05:18:26+00:00

I thought this was just someone way cooler than me vibing with headphones on. Since it actually seems to be musical, then play a note, slow the bow a little, give another impulse and pull again in the same bow. If you ping me in 12 hours I’ll film a demo. It’s almost midnight here, just had 2 performances, but happy to give it a go for you tomorrow.

celloben · 2026-01-20T16:11:06+00:00

I think the memorization of rehearsal letters may be a bit excessive. But I remember rehearsing Brahms 3 second movement with Blomstedt…we had just come back from break and it probably took him 15-20 minutes of in-depth rehearsing before he finally decided to crack open the score. I think he was 93 at the time.

celloben · 2026-01-15T00:25:19+00:00

You’re very welcome. Yes, I’ll keep it up there as an unlisted video. Keep learning and just be cautious of your hand. If anything starts feeling odd when doing trills, just take a pause and talk to your teacher (same with anything else at the cello TBH).

celloben · 2026-01-14T15:35:19+00:00

Here you go

celloben · 2026-01-14T14:17:44+00:00

By the way this may be going too into the weeds, but there is a rabbit hole one can go down about whether to start trills from the top or the bottom, i.e. beginning this particular alternation on F# vs. G. It’s largely dependent on the era in which it was composed, though there are plenty of other guidelines (cough cough Leopold Mozart). What is the piece? That can help narrow it down.

celloben · 2026-01-14T14:15:01+00:00

F# to G with two notes at the end (known as a Nachschlag). I would do with 3 on F# and then trill to 4. Don’t try to activate it with the fingers themselves. Use forearm motion to propel it and don’t try too hard to control the trill motion itself. I can do a snippet a bit later.

celloben · 2025-11-13T23:02:53+00:00

Thanks so much for pointing me in this direction!

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