Taught by renowned cellist Alisa Weilerstein
Engage with a daring wellspring of wit, emotion, and meaning. Get to know the narrative, the technical demands — and yourself, as you dive in and craft your own compelling interpretation.
Approaching and navigating the layers of sarcasm, dark humor, and perpetual march in Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 is no small feat. How do you subtly embody these nuances in your playing — with just the right amounts of awareness and restraint?
Discover the secrets here. In this comprehensive 5-part course, groundbreaking cellist Alisa Weilerstein explores how to channel the Concerto’s depth. You’ll learn to meld the historical context with Shostakovich’s personal struggles…and “read between the lines” of the composer’s genius to create your own unforgettable rendition.
Alisa Weilerstein, known for her compelling performances and deep interpretive insights, is a preeminent cellist of her generation.
Raised in a musical family, Weilerstein took up the cello at four. She debuted with the Cleveland Orchestra at the age of 13, playing Tchaikovsky's Variations on a “Rococo” Theme. Her formal studies continued under Richard Weiss at the Cleveland Institute of Music, and then with Joel Krosnick at The Juilliard School while pursuing a history degree at Columbia University.
A MacArthur "genius grant" recipient in 2011, Weilerstein enjoys a global career spanning solo recitals, chamber music, and collaborations with leading orchestras and conductors. Her recordings of Bach’s six solo Cello Suites, have received critical acclaim and a Gramophone Award nomination. She has also recorded the complete Beethoven Sonatas for Cello and Piano with Inon Barnatan, and concertos by Elgar, Elliott Carter, Dvořák, and Shostakovich.
Weilerstein's insights into Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 draw from personal advice received from Mstislav Rostropovich, the work's dedicatee and premiere performer.
Preview our curated selection of courses below. With lessons covering fundamentals, technical training, style and interpretation, you won't find a more thorough and enriching learning experience anywhere else.
Our members rate us at 4.8/5 stars. Here’s how a few of them transformed their cello skills since joining tonebase.
“Instead of scouring the internet for hours for performance tips and tricks, I now have access to a wealth of high-quality content from renowned artists at my fingertips!“
“Sincerely speaking, a few months with tonebase help me solve many issues I have had with my fingers for years if not decades.“
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The Ultimate Practice Toolkit will teach you how to practice with a purpose and make actual progress on your musical goals.
