Parma Blog about Tanja Bechtler

1.What have been your biggest inspirations on your musical journey?

Musicians that inspired me before I became a cellist were Prince, James Taylor, Queen, Billy Joel but also Jaqueline Du Pre and Pablo Casals with the Bach suites for solo cello. I always loved the way the cello sounded from the first moment that I played it when I was a nine year old girl. Teachers like Marion Feldman and Martha Gerschefski had a huge impact on me. Marion was the sweetest person and at the same time a very thorough teacher. She once told me that I was one of her most talented students and it stuck with me. Also Michael Haber, who helped me win my first orchestral position, gave me a huge boost. These were not only great players and teachers themselves but they also encouraged me and saw potential in me when I didn’t see any. I only met Martha when I was thirty years old, but she changed my playing with her method books that I still use today for my students and sometimes for myself as well, as I only studied with her for a summer. I thank all these people from the bottom of my heart.

```````````````````````````````````

2.What advice would you give to your younger self if given the chance?

I would find a teacher like Martha Gerschefski that uses her method books, which are clear, logical and fun! I also would take classes in Improvisation and Composition/Theory.

``````````````````````````````````````````````````

Take us on a walk through your musical library. What record gets the most plays? Are there any “deep cuts” that you particularly enjoy?

3.What emotions do you hope listeners will experience after hearing your work?

I would like for people to feel the joy in my music and to realize the connection to others through music, as music is a universal language. I also hope the audience would feel a deep sense of calmness and a connection to a greater part of themselves. Lastly I would like for my music to stimulate their creative juices.

```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

4.How do you prepare for a performance?

Of course practicing is a must so that you have it practically memorized inside yourself and also studying the score without the instrument is extremely valuable.

I have also found a method called HORA®️, that I do religiously three times a week, that has profoundly changed the way

I play. It has changed the connection between my brain, body and nervous system and this has been the biggest change in my performances.