This all sounds great! So what’s the plan?
During each 5-week module, you'll play 4 etudes.
Each week, you'll be practicing two Popper etudes - one that you started last week and one that’s new this week.
You'll watch a video guide to the etude that explores what I'm thinking about for each etude.
You'll watch a video guide to a practice method to experiment with in conjunction with this etude.
You’ll be able to practice with me through 60-minute and 30-minute guided practice tracks.
After each 4-etude module, we’ll have a masterclass where you’ll play one etude for your cohort. They’ll be super fun and supportive and full of puns, but I’m sure you will be nervous. That’s ok - there are 10 weeks of practice experiments that relate to performance anxiety, so the masterclasses are experiments, too.
What will I need to do?
Straight up, this is a big commitment.
I think if you're an efficient practicer (and by the end of our experiments, you will be!), you can learn any of the Popper Etudes in two weeks: 60 minutes a day the first week, 30 minutes a day the second. That's about 10 hours per etude. You’ll be working on two etudes each week, so you’ll need to plan on about 90 minutes per day.
You’ll choose one etude to polish for two extra weeks extra in addition to the masterclass; don’t worry, your practice time will stay at 90 minutes max.
So, what’s included in the course?
Videos to making learning them MUCH faster - $16,500 value
(Think of this as a 90-minute session with a personal trainer for your practice… every day.)
Video Lessons detailing unique Practice Experiments to level up your practice for all 40 Etudes, grouped by theme and in order of difficulty (40 at $100 per video)
Tips, Tricks, and Traps for all 40 Etudes (40 at $100 per video)
60-minute Play-along Practice Tracks for all 40 Etudes (40 at $100 per video)
30-minute Play-along Practice Tracks for all 40 Etudes (40 at $50 per video)
Bonus videos including topics like Cross-rhythms, Harmonics, and an entire series on tricks to conquer Performance Anxiety (25 at $100 per video)
Masterclasses - $1,500 value
10 Masterclasses and Discussions - we’ll find a time where everyone can meet to talk, ask questions, and commiserate ($150 per masterclass)
Materials & Swag - $185 value
PDF Download of the Popper Etudes ($25 value)
Printed Copy of the Popper Etudes ($35 value)
Exclusive PDF’s with supplemental markings for your Popper Etudes ($50 value)
My Pedagogical Guide to teaching the Popper Etudes ($50 value)
Proper Popper Practice Project T-Shirt ($25 value)
Proper Popper Practice Project Stickers for your cello case and computer
Certificate of Completion
Afterwards - infinite value
Extreme Bragging Rights
This is swell, but is it really necessary?
A few of the freshmen my year in Richard Aaron's class had gone through all 40 Popper Etudes before they even auditioned for college.
And during my last year of high school, I studied with two teachers at the same time - one for repertoire and one for technique.
If you're looking to audition for college (undergrad or masters) and you haven't played the 40 Poppers, you are at a disadvantage. And if you're auditioning for Richard Aaron's studio, having not learned them (let alone from his edition) is almost unthinkable.
It is entirely possible that without a support network, accountability, or instruction, an incredibly motivated cellist could learn all 40 Popper Etudes, but honestly that thought is daunting, isn’t it?
Invest in Your Playing
If you were to come study with me privately, and we spent the whole year on Popper, you'd be at my normal private studio rate of $600/month.
So for a 52-week course, I really should be charging at least $7,200.
Not to mention the hundreds of hours of additional materials that I will provide to help you speed through them...
Plus, printed, digital, and annotated copies of the Poppers…
And a guide to teaching them yourself…
And a community to learn with and hold you accountable…
And the most important part - that sweet, sweet swag.
With all that included the total cost of the course should be $18,185
But I know you're probably still studying with a primary teacher, and lessons are expensive!
And though it’s fair to say I’m one of the leading experts in the world on these etudes, I wanted to make this course more accessible.
The course is priced at $2950
That’s $15,235 off the total packaged price (and $5150 off studying them with me privately for one year).
Except if you enroll by Friday, March 29, 2024…
I’m offering it $400 off - a special price of $2550
Total savings - $15,635.
This will be the last time I offer it at such a low price, I only allow five people per cohort, and it’s first-come first-served by application.
So if you’re ready to level up your practice and save thousands of hours practicing over your cello career, then it’s time to: