Teaching Cello
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  • Teaching Cello: The Steps
    • Step One: Cello First Position >
      • Methods for Beginning Cello Students
      • Exercises for Beginning Cello Students
      • Etudes for Beginning Cello Students
      • Duets for Beginning Cello Students
      • Repertoire for Beginning Students
      • Lesson Material for Very Young Beginners
    • Step Two: Building Early-Intermediate Cello Skills >
      • Methods and Exercises for Teaching Shifting
      • Etudes for Teaching Shifting
      • Duets for Teaching Shifting
      • Repertoire for Early-Intermediate Students
    • Step Three: Building Late-Intermediate Skills >
      • Methods and Exercises for Intermediate Cello Skills
      • Etudes for Late-Intermediate Cello Skills
      • Duets for Intermediate Cello Skills
      • Repertoire for Late-Intermediate Skills
    • Step Four: Starting Cello Thumb Position >
      • Exercises for Early-Advanced Cello Skills
      • Duets for Early-Advanced Students
      • Repertoire for Early-Advanced Students
    • Cello Sight-reading
    • Cello Alternative Styles
    • A Practical Guide to Bach Cello Suite Editions
  • Planning Cello Lessons
    • Organizing a cello lesson
    • What do Cello Students Need? >
      • What Beginning Cello Students Need
      • What Intermediate Cello Students Need
      • What Advanced Cello Students Need
  • Cello links and resources
    • Cello teaching supplies
  • Contact/Blog
    • Contact
    • Cello Teaching Blog

Teaching Cello - Cello Sight-Reading

I use a lot of music with my students; many are playing between 7 and 11 books/duets/pieces per week. From the very beginning, they play through as much music as possible, reading and learning new music every week. I have them sight-read new solos in the lesson and we work on sight-reading skills, such as reading a little bit ahead, looking through the piece ahead of time to pick a tempo based on accommodating the fasttest notes, not stopping when they play through, etc. In addition, there are some great books to work on these principles. The Cello Sight-Reading Books, published by Schott, are great in that they have lists of italian tempo terms, and practice duets that progress gradually through the levels.

Beginning Cello Sight-Reading

I Can Read Music, Book One

These two books are great for students who have trouble reading notes! I have also used them successfully with dyslexic cello students. 
Cover tiny file look inside I Can Read Music, Volume 1 A note reading book for CELLO students. Composed by Joanne Martin. String - (Suzuki) Supplementary; Suzuki. Book. 108 pages. Alfred Music #00-0441. Published by Alfred Music (AP.0441).

I Can Read Music, Book Two

The second volume has duets that focus on both note and rhythm-reading.
Cover tiny file look inside I Can Read Music, Volume 2 A note reading book for CELLO students. Composed by Joanne Martin. String - (Suzuki) Supplementary; Suzuki. Book. 108 pages. Alfred Music #00-0429. Published by Alfred Music (AP.0429).

Playing in Keys for Cello, Book One

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I use this book to teach students how key signatures affect which fingers they use. The book includes easy extensions about half way through, as they are used in G and F major.

This book has been quite effective in teaching the lower strings to students that can only read notes on the A and D strings. 
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Sight-Read It for Strings

I don't find myself using this book very much with students. If they are playing enough music each week, they generally don't have trouble sight-reading as beginners unless they started as transfer students. Nevertheless, it is a worthwhile resource to check out, and can be used in string classes as well.
Sight-Read It for Strings (Cello) look inside Sight-Read It for Strings (Cello) (Improving Reading and Sight-Reading Skills in the String Classroom or Studio). Edited by Andrew H. Dabczynski, Richard Meyer, and Bob Phillips. For cello. Method/Instruction; String Orchestra Method/Supplement. Sight-Read It for Strings. Instructional, Method and Sight Reading. Instructional book. Instructional text and bowings. 32 pages. Published by Alfred Music Publishing (AP.25261)

...more info


Intermediate Cello Sight-Reading

At First Sight, Book One

Cover tiny file look inside At First Sight - Book 1: 80 Progressive Pieces for Cello Sight-Reading, Pre-Grade 1-3 Composed by Peter Lawson. String music. Published by Stainer & Bell Ltd. (ST.H372).

Cello Sight-reading, Book One

Cello Sight-reading Book 1 Cello Sight-reading Book 1 By Doreen Smith. Cello. Pieces & Studies. 24 pages. Published by Oxford University Press (OU.9780193850040)

...more info


Cello Sight-Reading 2

Cello Sight-Reading 1 look inside Cello Sight-Reading 1 Arranged by John Kember and Juliet Dammers. Misc. 84 pages. Schott Music #ED12954. Published by Schott Music (HL.49016667)

...more info


Advanced Cello Sight-Reading

At First Sight, Book One

Cover tiny file look inside At First Sight - Book 2: 60 Progressive Pieces for Cello Sight-Reading, Grade 4 plus Composed by Peter Lawson. String music. Published by Stainer & Bell Ltd. (ST.H373).

Cello Sight-reading, Book One

Cello Sight-Reading Book 2 Cello Sight-Reading Book 2 By Doreen Smith. For Cello. Cello. Pieces & Studies. Method book. 24 pages. Published by Oxford University Press (OU.9780193850057)

...more info


Cello Sight-Reading 2

Cello Sight-Reading 2 Cello Sight-Reading 2 Arranged by John Kember and Juliet Dammers. Misc. 88 pages. Schott Music #ED12965. Published by Schott Music (HL.49016781)

...more info

Teaching Cello

Repertoire and advice for cello teachers.



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  • Home
  • Teaching Cello: The Steps
    • Step One: Cello First Position >
      • Methods for Beginning Cello Students
      • Exercises for Beginning Cello Students
      • Etudes for Beginning Cello Students
      • Duets for Beginning Cello Students
      • Repertoire for Beginning Students
      • Lesson Material for Very Young Beginners
    • Step Two: Building Early-Intermediate Cello Skills >
      • Methods and Exercises for Teaching Shifting
      • Etudes for Teaching Shifting
      • Duets for Teaching Shifting
      • Repertoire for Early-Intermediate Students
    • Step Three: Building Late-Intermediate Skills >
      • Methods and Exercises for Intermediate Cello Skills
      • Etudes for Late-Intermediate Cello Skills
      • Duets for Intermediate Cello Skills
      • Repertoire for Late-Intermediate Skills
    • Step Four: Starting Cello Thumb Position >
      • Exercises for Early-Advanced Cello Skills
      • Duets for Early-Advanced Students
      • Repertoire for Early-Advanced Students
    • Cello Sight-reading
    • Cello Alternative Styles
    • A Practical Guide to Bach Cello Suite Editions
  • Planning Cello Lessons
    • Organizing a cello lesson
    • What do Cello Students Need? >
      • What Beginning Cello Students Need
      • What Intermediate Cello Students Need
      • What Advanced Cello Students Need
  • Cello links and resources
    • Cello teaching supplies
  • Contact/Blog
    • Contact
    • Cello Teaching Blog