Teaching Cello - Etudes for Beginning Cello Students

The Cello Etude System, Book 0: Beginning Studies

With both a duet book and a solo book option, this series presents a series of carefully graded rare and classic cello etudes that starts from the very beginning (and will eventually progress) through to advanced etudes. 

Part 0 presents cello etudes at a beginning level, starting with open strings and gradually progressing to fingered notes, all in closed first position.

The Cello Etude System, Book 1A: Closed First Position

This book, Part 1A, presents cello etudes in closed first position. The etudes cover techniques such as string crossing, embellishments, hooked bowing, and dynamics.

Nolck's Gorgeous Etude Contribution

This is an exquisite book that should be more well-known. Very short technical studies with piano accompaniment. I love these!
Cover tiny file look inside Das 1.Jahr d. jungen Cellisten Composed by August Nolck. Edited by Siegfried Palm. This edition: paperback. Edition Breitkopf. Pedagogical. 48 pages. Published by Breitkopf and Haertel (BR.EB-1969).

Feuillard's Detailed Etude Collection

This is the first in a series of beautiful compilations put together by Louis Feuillard. These etudes are great for building carefully detailed cello technique.
19470082 look inside Technique Du Violoncelle - Volume 1 Composed by Louis R. Feuillard. For cello. Method / Etudes. Level 2. Score. 20 pages. Published by Edition Delrieu (LM.DF517).

Applebaum's Etude Compilation

First Position Etudes, by Samuel Applebaum are short and simple, with each focusing on one or two specific techniques.
1431972 look inside First Position Etudes for Strings (Cello). Composed by Samuel Applebaum. Orchestra. For Cello. Method/Instruction; String Orchestra Method/Supplement. Belwin Course for Strings. Book. 16 pages. Published by Belwin Music (AP.EL02026).
1431947 look inside First Position Etudes for Strings (Piano Acc.). Composed by Samuel Applebaum. Orchestra. For Piano Acc.. Method/Instruction; String Orchestra Method/Supplement. Belwin Course for Strings. Book. 36 pages. Published by Belwin Music (AP.EL02023).

Legg's Interesting Studies

Cute studies that work on string crossing, rhythm, spiccato and other skills. Several etudes include shifting, making this book not quite as easy as it purports to be.
5019442 look inside Superstudies for Cello, Book 1 Composed by Pat Legg. For Cello & Piano. Book; String - Cello Studies or Collection. Faber Edition: Superstudies. Elementary. Published by Faber Music (AP.12-0571513786).

Grant's Collection

This is a nicely varied collection of etudes by Werner, Schroeder, Kummer, Dotzauer and more. Perhaps the only drawback is that this book has slightly smaller notes than some other etude books. 
Cover tiny file look inside First Position Etudes For Violoncello Composed by Francis Grant. Books/Methods. Published by LudwigMasters Publications (LG.10300117).

Schulz's Etude Compilation

An adorable compilation of first-position etudes, including studies by Romberg, Popper, Lee, and Dotzauer, and duet parts for most of the etudes!
18165576 look inside 24 Etuden in der 1. Lage Arranged by Schulz. For cello (2). Level 1-2. Sheet music. Published by Friedrich Hofmeister Musikverlag (HF.FH-6048).
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Such's New School

A good, sturdy group of etudes that many teachers swear by. Includes a lot of bowing work.  
Cover tiny file look inside New School of Cello Studies: Book 1 Composed by Percy Such. String music. Published by Stainer & Bell Ltd. (ST.7761A).

Schroeder's Classic

This classic cello etude book has a number of etudes in first position at the beginning of the book.
95577 look inside 170 Foundation Studies-Volume 1 (For Violoncello). For cello. 170 Foundation Studies For Violoncello. Instructional. Instructional book. Introductory text. 105 pages. Published by Carl Fischer (CF.O2469).

Popper's Beautiful Duet Etudes

Not quite beginning, but all in first position, these etudes have a beautiful duet part that makes them almost irresistible! You can use these with students of any level and age (particularly with adults!) and they are essential material for every teacher to have on hand.
Cover tiny file look inside Fifteen Etudes for Cello, Op. 76 Composed by David Popper (1843-1913). Masterworks; String - Cello Collection. Kalmus Edition. Masterwork; Romantic. Book. 28 pages. Kalmus Classic Edition #00-K04426. Published by Kalmus Classic Edition (AP.K04426).

Best/Mengler's Compilation

See my complete review of this fabulous book here.
Although the book is technically in first position, I recommend it more for advanced beginners or early intermediate students. 
Cover tiny file look inside Easy Cello Studies Band 1 Elementary technique in the First and Half Position. Composed by Various. Edited by Holger Best, Walter Mengler. This edition: Saddle stitching. Sheet music. String. Educational, Instruction, Classical. Softcover. 21548. 56 pages. Schott Music #ED 21548. Published by Schott Music (HL.49044076).

Trowell's Technology of Cello Playing

This site (Schott Music) offers (paid) downloads of music from Germany. The book is hard to find here in the US but it's certainly worth having; Trowell was a wonderful educator. The other volumes of this book are intermediate and early-advanced and you should definitely get them if you have a chance!

Free Beginning Cello Etudes to Download

Cuccoli Cello Study No. 37, with bowing variations 

Triplet Finger Exercise for Cello

Recommended Free Beginning Cello Etudes

These books are public domain and available for free on imslp.org:
http://imslp.org/wiki/40_Easy_Etudes_for_Cello,_Op.70_(Lee,_Sebastian)
http://imslp.org/wiki/50_Et%C3%BCden_f%C3%BCr_den_Anfang,_Op.101_(Lee,_Sebastian)
http://imslp.org/wiki/15_Cello_Etudes,_Op.76a_(Popper,_David)

Next Step: Duets for Beginning Cello Students