DEEPEN YOUR GROOVES with Flying Pizz ETUDES
Micro Major is one of the flying pizzicato pieces
you can learn with Stephen.
See Micro Major page for sheet music.
Whether you have basic, intermediate, or advanced skills as a cellist, you can start learning Flying Pizzicato right now by clicking on the etude links listed below.
​
Unlike the Art of the Bow, there are only a few techniques and principles that Flying Pizzicato depends upon, mostly related to a continuous down & up motion of the right thumb and first finger, respectively.
​
Flying Pizzicato Etudes will build your skills with basic repertoire, jump-start your own FP creations, and get you ready for what's on my Flying Pizzicato recording.
Go to the publications page for sheet music.
See Flying Pizz background info below.
​
These entry level etudes present basic
Flying Pizz principles and challenges.
What could be called "individual note strumming", Flying Pizzicato is based on striking the cello strings one note at a time and using lots of left-hand pull-offs and hammer-ons.
​
Flying Pizzicato techniques and repertoire develop hand-in-hand as I explore patterns and grooves that draw my attention.
​
The approach grew out of my quest to make deeply rhythmic music that bonds the coherent use of musical materials found in Western Classical music with the traditions of improvisation, dance music, and the Blues.
​
I've been cultivating and sharing Flying Pizz techniques and repertoire with cellists internationally through one-on-one sessions and workshops since 1990.
~ ~ ~
ABOUT THE NAME FLYING PIZZICATO
I came up with the name Flying Pizzicato long before I learned that the same name was given to another pizzicato technique by the great violin pedagogue Paul Rolland, Turns out we met when I appeared as a young student in his string teaching film and workbook series at the University of Illinois String Research Project, a government-funded production of the late 1960's.
​
Stephen as Teacher
It was an honor getting to work with you and I hope we can do more soon.
In the meantime, I have lots to work on!
​
Stephen is engaged, helpful, flexible, creative, encouraging, and overall a lot of fun to work with. The cello is an extraordinarily versatile instrument and Stephen helps open new dimensions to playing and creating that would have been difficult to find elsewhere.
- F. B. (Online Student)
​
Great classes yesterday! It's so great for me and the students to have contact with someone who has pursued a singular path, rather than trying to follow some perceived route to some, mostly imagined, conventional destination. There was alot of food for thought and experimentation on various levels, technical, musical, philosophical, and I really appreciate the openness to the students as people that came across so clearly in your way of interacting.
Faculty, University at Buffalo
​
First, I wanted to let you know how much I have enjoyed your album Flying Pizzicato. As a cellist and teacher I’m having a lot of fun working on the technique and introducing it to my students. I think that any technique that helps us to think differently about producing sound and rhythm on the cello is worthwhile and your music is very appealing to them…and me!… I’m interested in some of the ways that you create multiple voices.
- John Dunlop, Dartmouth Cello Faculty
​
Thank you for your excellent presentation/performance at Greenfield Community College last week. All of the students were obviously impacted by the combination of artistry and passion that you modeled for them. Several students said they'll never look at their instruments the same way again. I highly recommend you to other schools for a guest performance/lecture.
Matthew Shippee
Greenfield (Mass) Community College
​
As a teacher Stephen brings his considerable creativity and warmth into each session. Totally present and attuned to his students, he encourages them to explore their individual paths to artistic accomplishment and to have fun along the way. To be Stephen’s student is to experience the delight of discovery, both artistically and personally. Bright and witty, talented and playful, accomplished and approachable, Stephen Katz is quite simply divine.
- G. V.
​