Get to know: Frances Duff

Frances Duff is one of AFTA’s resident cello teachers and an all-around wonderful person with whom to talk about classical music. Not only is she a wonderful cellist and teacher, but a well-rounded musician, and lover of classical music.

When did you start playing the Cello? What made you choose that instrument specifically?

I started in Jr. High I believe it would be the equivalent to 7th grade in the US. My older sister played the violin and my brother played the viola. I was too small for the bass so I chose the cello… and never regretted it!

Where did you go to college and what was your degree?

 

I went to McGill University and Conservatoire De Musique De Montreal. I got a degree in cello performance; and a masters in cello performance at the University of Iowa.

Do you have a favorite cellist?

Jacqueline Du Pre. She had a great sound, amazing musical phrasing, and wonderful technique. Lynn Harrell is another wonderful cellist. He played the Shostakovich cello concerto and his sound made me feel like I was right in front of him even though I was in the back of the hall. He is very impressive.

Who was your favorite teacher growing up? What made them your favorite and why do you think their teaching was so effective on you?

Walter Yokim (at the conservatory) he was a wonderful teacher and cellist that I didn’t appreciate because I was too young. I had a really kind teacher, Zdenek Konicek. He was just a great human being.

What got you into teaching music?

 

Someone asked if I would teach Suzuki cello in Toronto but I had to do some training first.
 

Has teaching changed between when you started and now?

The kids have changed a lot. They’re much busier than before, and not in a good way. It’s really difficult to do more than 1 or 2 extracurriculars, and it feels like a lot of students are being pulled in many different ways. Sports are much more time consuming now than they were before, as well, so if I have a student who is also an athlete, I notice it’s really difficult for them to find the time needed for homework, sports practice, and cello practice.

On the bright side, it’s much easier to find and listen to quality recordings now than it was before. Almost everything you could ever want to listen to is on Spotify or YouTube. Listening to professionals and trying to emulate them is a very important part of growing as a musician and that’s easier than ever now.

Do you have any advice for young musicians who are thinking about making music their career?

You have to be passionate about your music but still have a backup plan to make a living. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to make a living as a musician, but a lot of companies like hiring musicians because it shows that you’re motivated and organized so even if you don’t do it as a career, it’s valuable to go through the process of becoming skilled, because it does make you more hirable.

What is your favorite work for the cello? It could be a solo or chamber music piece or anything else.

The Bach suites. You never perform them the same way twice. As you learn more about each piece you play it differently. I also really love the Enigma Variations, particularly Nimrod.

 

Do you have any "desert island" pieces? Anything that you could listen to forever and not get tired of it.

The Nutcracker, Any piece by British Boy Choirs, Enigma Variations

Do you have any guilty pleasure music?

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I don't listen to pop music really but I do enjoy British/Welsh style boys' choirs. I just really love the sound. They’re extremely well trained and their voices are spectacular.

If you had to play another instrument, what would you choose?

I really enjoy French Horn. I just love the sound. Midsummer Night's Dream has wonderful horn parts, and I’m particularly fond of the Mozart Horn Concertos played by Dennis Brain.