What piece would you like me to cover next?

Swan is my warm up piece. 2 mins of it, seems so simple, yet so many ways to express it. I learned a few new tips to try - I"ll definitely try the third finger F# and also some bowing changes. Thank you IIia.

Amazing! I got a cello this year for Christmas and have decided that The Swan was my objective for playing and recording as my first piece. This has led me to an immersion of KZfaq video watching, knowing that I have just scraped the surface of the thousand of people who have recorded this piece. Most of the "lesson" videos are 5 to 7 minutes long, with three minutes of play the piece and four minutes of talking about how position sliding and vibrato is important. We know this already ... it is The Swan. Then I found this video on my suggestion list today (along with a bank of other swans). The video not only provides technique advice, but also demonstrates specific practice routines and more importantly reasons why the interpretation is the way it is. There are also a number of different fingerings presented, some of which really help to better convey the feeling of the swan's movement across the water. The fingering for the Em run in bar 4 was particularly unique as Ilia's slurs really convey the young swan for me. I also thing that Ilia's colour change in bar 17 by using the 3rd finger really helps, (however, I decided to retain the individual bowing for the reprise of the EM run in bar 20 as it seems to fit better with the older swan's efforts leading to the mf in bar 22). Brilliant video, thank you so very much!

You are a great teacher! I'm a violin beginner, and I will certainly try to play this piece when I've learned enough to tackle it, but you're right that really nothing can compete with the warmth of the cello for this. However, sitting through 30 minutes of stuff that I can't really use for myself right now has been an immense pleasure, just because of your passion and love for this piece.

Dude, you're so into it, I like it so much ! Very useful tips :)

Great timing as I've been learning this piece over the past month.

Always good advices! Thank you! 🙂

Great video to practice with. Thanx Ilia!

Thank you Ilia, this is a very helpful video. Practice of shifts, the use of arpeggio practice, important of making the A sharp sound right, stylistic considerations on the use of vibrato… so much to learn here. And it helps for other pieces I’m working on as well.

Thank you very much for your tips on slures and vibrato within the different phrasis and repetitions. I also have changed some fingerrings according your advice. Just found your channel due to your post on Facebook. Thank you, Lisa

thank you for you video ,I am a beginner I still leaning my fingerings with first position I not very good but I have a passion to learn music with my cello .this video was very good for me . the swan is a beautiful and one of my favorite . my teacher plays and teach just like you she tells me to sing and practice slow first then fine tone when I am ready to play my new piece . I have subscribed to your channel and looking forward to watch and learn thank you for sharing your talent

Oh my this is a wonderful explanation! Not just on this gorgeous classic but so many examples of technique I can use elsewhere. Thank you!

I was really confused at first with your explanation of the shifts until i decided that the sheet music youre showing must be in Tenor cleft (which i have yet to start learning). That would have been a helpful piece of info while watching. The cleft came in later, just not at the beginning. This is a beautiful song..im just not ready for it yet. But i will be saving this video for later ☺️

Absolutely super! Thank you. I will never play the swan the same again, and will be returning to this class often to remind me of all the good things you are sharing.

Thank you so much. You do an incredible job, too valuable for us the cello students.

Master !!!!🌹

Thank you! I learned so much! I will incorporate your suggestions into my playing of this beautiful piece. It's my favorite cello piece.

Very nice explanasion!!

love the teaching!

What a great lesson Ilia! Ik heb de Zwaan een tijdje geleden geleerd maar jouw video inspireert me om hem weer af te stoffen en te verbeteren met al jouw tips! Is het trouwens mogelijk om jouw bladmuziek van de Zwaan 🦢 erbij te voegen? Thanks!!

Great lesson! I always learn something new from you.

Very educational. Thanks.

Thank you this is so helpful..really good vid.

Thank you so much for the beautiful and amazing tip and advice! I'm super excited to try them out! Really helpful learning a new way of practicing and improving my Swan piece! Would you be able to make a similar episode like this but about Bach's Air on G string? I would love to know your thoughts and how you would express and phrase the piece! Thank you again so much! You are always so inspiring and an amazing person!

Fantastic!

Thank you Ilia this is so helpful.

Thank you very much!

Thank you. Something which gives me new insight to try

Thank you so much for the tricks !! Very interesting ! Also you sing well!

Thank you so mich for the lesson! I have been working on this piece. And focused too much on vibrato that something is missing. Love the singing and phrasing idea. Great tips throughout. Thank you so much.

Amazing lessons as always!thank you for sharing

lots to think about!

Amazing work, thank you!

I love your lessons, thank you! 😊

Brilliant. Thankyou ❤

Thank you. Enjoyed the lesson very much, the different bowing and fingering options. As a suggestion for another piece to take apart, how about the first movement of Vivaldi sonata #3?

Helpful for violinists also

Very nice! Thank you! ❤

Gracias

Great lesson😊 Thank you, Ilia, the great teacher😊

Hi IIia Thank-You so much for this lesson on this serene piece❤ - would you be able to attach the music with fingerings and bowing’s please? I do have the music but sometimes new layout gives a fresher beginning. I have mastered the fingerings and shifts, and now have to work on the right arm! I am grateful for the way you have broken bars down and show how lightness and bow distribution can improve as there is certainly a lot to think about! Many Thanks Caroline

Thanks

good advice.

Could you please explain: why is this piece about a dying swan in (G)Major? Isn't minor more appropriate?