Getting Started
Learning the cello is not going to be instant - you will need to work at this and be aware that you won't immediately sound like Sheku Kanneh-Mason or Jacqueline Du Pré! However, it is an amazing and beautiful instrument and well worth the effort. Even the simplest pieces can sound wonderful when played well.
What do I need?
I'll help you to find the right things for you.
How much work should I be doing outside lessons?
How do I find time to practice?
Key practice concepts
More frequent "thinking" practice enables faster progress! It's better to do a smaller, good quality, practice than just playing loads of things through to make up the time!
Can I practice without my instrument?
Important tips
And most importantly, have fun!
(c) Jane Cameron, 2019
What do I need?
- A cello of the correct size for you, with bow, case and rosin.
- A seat the right height for you, so you can get your feet flat on the floor.
- A floor protector, a music stand and some music.
- When you first start, you may end up doing a lot of plucking. It takes time for your finger to get used to it so feel free to put a nice squishy plaster over your RH pointy finger so you can practice for longer! The fabric plasters are better than the plastic ones.
I'll help you to find the right things for you.
How much work should I be doing outside lessons?
- It is much better to do a short practice every day than a longer practice a couple of times a week.
- Muscle memory and stamina are built through repetition.
- For children, start with 10 minutes a day and build up.
- The ideal is to practice every day for at least as long as your lesson, but I appreciate that this is not always possible.
How do I find time to practice?
- The best thing you can do is work out a regular time of day to do some practice, so you can build it into your schedule and make it a new habit.
- More frequent "thinking" practice enables faster progress!
- It's better to do a smaller, good quality, practice than just playing loads of things through to make up the time!
Key practice concepts
- Always start by playing some beautiful open strings and simple scales or exercises so that you can make sure your spike is at the right height, your bow and fingers are in the right place, and that you are playing in tune with a good sound.
- Just playing your pieces through does not always help you to learn them well.
More frequent "thinking" practice enables faster progress! It's better to do a smaller, good quality, practice than just playing loads of things through to make up the time!
- Read your notebook!
- Play the thing.
- How well did I play it? What can I do to play it better?
- Did I play with a good sound?
- Did I do all the right notes and rhythm?
- Did I do all the right bowing?
- Are there dynamics? Did I do them?
- What speed should I be playing this, and what mood is my piece?
- Dividing your piece up into lines / sections and playing each one of those as well as you can several times over is a great way to learn new material.
- clap it
- work out and say the note names
- pluck it
- "air bow" it (sing along and make the bow movements in the air without holding the bow!)
- play it
- If you're polishing a piece and are stuck on a little bit of it, take just that bit and work it out slowly and repeat it until it's amazing, and then put it back in again (patch the pothole!).
Can I practice without my instrument?
- Yes! But not all the time!
- Listen to recordings of your pieces or watch videos (But do bear in mind that things on Youtube are not always fully correct!)
- Listen to other cello music played by professionals and appreciate their sound and dexterity. Try to make that lovely cello sound next time you play.
- Look at your music.
- (You can do this in sections)
- Clap it
- Work out the note names and fingers you will use
- Play "air cello"
- Play "air cello" along to a recording if you have one!
Important tips
- Sit up tall.
- Feet flat on floor.
- Support the cello with your knees.
- The pegs at the top of the cello should be near your left ear.
- Always use your best bow hold, including a bent thumb!
- To make a good cello sound, relax your arm into the string and stroke it with the bow.
And most importantly, have fun!
(c) Jane Cameron, 2019