01What is the CRISP Practice Pillar in the Proper Popper Practice Project?
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CRISP stands for Clarity, Repeatability, Intensity, Speed, and Progress. It is the advanced practice methodology at the heart of the Proper Popper Practice Project, applied to each of the 40 Popper Etudes.
CRISP is the fourth of Cellosophy's Four Practice Pillars: SMILE, FIELD, PRISM, and CRISP.
02What cello level do I need for the Proper Popper Practice Project?
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This Course is designed for cellists who have played at least 2 concertos and are fluent in 4 octaves. If you have studied the Poppers before, even partially, you are ready. If you are unsure, take the free practice scorecard or schedule a call.
03Can I do the Proper Popper Practice Project alongside my cello teacher?
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Yes. This Course teaches practice technique, not cello technique. It is designed to work alongside your private teacher, not replace them. Several enrolled cello teachers use it with their own students and vice versa.
04What if I fall behind in the Proper Popper Practice Project?
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The Course drips weekly but you have lifetime access to all materials. If life gets in the way, pick up where you left off. The system is designed around consistency, not perfection.
05What if I miss a masterclass in the Proper Popper Practice Project?
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You'll participate every 5 weeks in 10 of the 20 masterclasses spread across the year. During every 5-week block, there are two masterclasses spaced 2 and 3 weeks apart. If you can't make one or need a little extra time, just hop onto the other track and then continue every 5 weeks from there.
All sessions are recorded so that participants can rewatch themselves. Recordings are made available only to PPPP enrollees.
06How are the 90 daily practice minutes structured in the PPPP?
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Week 1 of each etude: a 60-minute guided practice track. Week 2: 30 minutes of refinement while starting the next etude's 60-minute track. You always know exactly what to practice and for how long.
07Does the PPPP use the Aaron-Moore Popper Etudes edition?
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Yes. The same edition required at Juilliard and the University of Michigan since 2012. Digital and print copies, and Eric's own personal teacher's edition, are included with enrollment.
08What makes the PPPP different from learning the Popper Etudes on my own?
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Most cellists work through the Poppers in order, focusing on the notes. This Course reorders them by technique and theme, and uses each etude as a structured practice experiment. The goal is not just to learn the etudes. It is to build a complete practice system you will use for everything else you play.
09Who is the Proper Popper Practice Project NOT for?
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This Course is not for beginners or early intermediate players. You need at least 2 concertos under your belt and fluency in 4 octaves. If you're not there yet, start with the Practical Popper Prep Course.
10Is the Popper Etudes sheet music included with the PPPP?
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Yes. Enrollment includes the Aaron-Moore Popper Etudes edition (the same one required at Juilliard and the University of Michigan) in both digital and print formats, plus Eric Moore's personal teacher's edition with annotations.
11How do the masterclasses work in the Proper Popper Practice Project?
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You'll participate every 5 weeks in 10 of the 20 masterclasses spread across the year. During every 5-week block, there are two masterclasses spaced 2 and 3 weeks apart. If you can't make one or need a little extra time, just hop onto the other track and then continue every 5 weeks from there.
All sessions are recorded so that participants can rewatch themselves. Recordings are made available only to PPPP enrollees.
12Can I interact with other cellists in the Proper Popper Practice Project?
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Yes. PPPP enrollment includes access to the Cellosophers Forum, a private community where enrolled students share progress, ask questions, and support each other.
13What is the performance anxiety course built into the PPPP?
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A 20-week program built directly into the PPPP that addresses the mental and emotional side of performing. It's woven into the weekly curriculum, not a separate add-on.
14What results have cellists gotten from the Proper Popper Practice Project?
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Students have described it as "some of the best money I've ever spent," reporting faster learning, more structured practice, and significant improvements in both their playing and teaching.
15Does the Proper Popper Practice Project work alongside private cello lessons?
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Yes, but it does require 90 minutes a day of your practice time. Students who were studying with a teacher all reported that they learned their lesson music much faster and at a much higher level. Our hope is that the speed boost in learning evens out with the 90 minutes you're adding.
That said, the PPPP is a fantastic way to up your practice time.
16Will the Proper Popper Practice Project change my cello technique?
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Yes, but not in the way you might expect. You'll run 52 practice experiments, one per week, which help you confront different technical challenges. Each experiment gives you data so that when you encounter those challenges again, you know the fastest way that you personally tackle them. You will develop technique by doing the etudes, but more importantly you'll develop the skill of practicing those techniques when you encounter them in other music.
17What are the 52 weekly practice experiments in the PPPP?
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Each week focuses on a specific technical or musical challenge drawn from that week's etude: string crossings, thumb position endurance, spiccato control, phrase shaping, and dozens more. You don't just practice the etude. You isolate one variable, test an approach, and record what works for you personally. Over 52 weeks, you build a personal library of practice strategies that transfers to everything else you play.
18What comes after the Proper Popper Practice Project?
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The PPPP will help you develop the ultimate practice system, tailored to your own preferences. You should emerge with all the data you need to create a reliable, scalable practice system that lasts for your entire career. You will know, down to the minute, how long it will take you to learn and master any piece of music you encounter.
There are no further Courses in the Practice Pillar sequence because you will have mastered your practice.
19What is the Premium Track of the Proper Popper Practice Project?
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Everything in the Proper Popper Practice Project plus a 30-minute weekly lesson check-in on the etudes with Eric Moore. It's designed to give you extra support if you're concerned about the challenge, although in that case we would recommend completing the Practical Popper Prep Course first.
The Premium Track is also designed for professionals applying the Course in real time to their concert music, and for audition preparation at the college or orchestral level. One professional student used it to prepare for orchestra auditions and a college professor used it to prepare for international concerto performances. You can schedule a call to discuss.
20Why do I need to apply for the PPPP Premium Track with Eric Moore?
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Unfortunately, Eric's studio is full to capacity. He'd like to chat with you about what you hope to gain from the additional 1:1 support. You can schedule a call to discuss.
21Who is the Proper Popper Practice Project designed for?
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Students as young as 11 have completed all 40 Popper Etudes with Eric. A handful of students have been under college age, a few in college, and a few have been adult amateurs, although most PPPP students have been conservatory graduates with at least a master's degree. The Course works for any advanced cellist with at least 2 concertos and fluency in 4 octaves.
22Is there a certification for completing the Proper Popper Practice Project?
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Yes. You will receive a certification upon completing the Course. Certification requires attending all 10 masterclasses.
23Is there a payment plan or buy now pay later option for the PPPP?
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The PPPP ($4,299) has buy now pay later options like Affirm available at checkout. Your payments also roll forward: your $99 from the 30-Day Challenge and your $499 from Popper Prep both apply as credit.