Finally, I pick up the bow again and make my way to my stool, careful not to bump my baby on anything along the way.
I settle myself in the sunlight, and sit still for a short while with my cello cradled between my legs. Ever since I started to learn, this has been one of my favourite parts - the anticipation, the possibilities that exist before horsehair and rosin meet steel.
I adjust the tension of my bow, then limber up with some arpeggios and some chromatic scales. My baby's out of tune; and I need to ease D slightly. Scales again. Better, but not perfect. Tighten G in a bit, tease the bow gently across all four strings, and smile, satisfied. Perfect fifths. A loud, strident, happy sound.
Time for Bach's Cello Suite number one, then. A warm-up piece... playful but also full of emoti
