Exercises for Beginning Cello Students

Teaching Cello - Exercises for Beginning Cello Students

The Open String Book for Cello

Using only open strings, this book teaches beginning cellists easy bowing rhythms and techniques.

Early Exercises for the Cello

Using three exercises each week, this book teaches finger strength, rhythm, and very basic bowing. This is a great supplement to any cello method.

Beginning Technique for the Cello

Teaching one finger each week, Beginning Technique works well with similar methods, such as the Applebaum String Builder , and with repertoire books such as Stepping Stones and Waggon Wheels.

Finger Exercises for the Cello, Book One

A bestselling exercise book for teaching agility, correct hand position, and good intonation to first and second year cellists.

Knowing the Notes for Cello

A book of easy exercises and short pieces that helps students focus on one note each week.

String Crossing for the Cello, Book One: Open Strings

A book for practicing string crossing on open strings.

Double Stop Beginnings for Cello

Double stops that are taught in Beginning Technique are continued here. This book helps strengthen the left hand and also helps note reading (reading two notes at once can be quite tricky for some students).

Half Position for the Cello

This is a method for learning half position on the cello. With easy exercises and short pieces, this book only contains first and half positions.

Cello Stretching: Extended First Position

This is a method for teaching extended first position on the cello. With plenty of material to work with, the book can help cellists with their first position intonation.

First Position Scale Studies for the Cello

Basic scales, rhythms, and bowings for the first year cello student.

The Hot Cross Buns Book for Cello

50 variations on the folk tune, working on note reading on all four strings, third and second finger, and easy rhythms.

The 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' Book for Cello

50 variations on the popular song, working on techniques such as slurs, dotted rhythms, and string crossing.

The Triplet Book for Cello, Part One

Agility exercises and fiddle tunes in triplets to help the student get used to 6/8 counting and playing. This book is in first position.

The Triplet Book for Cello, Part Two

Further studies in triplets. This book is also in first position, with more emphasis on chromatic finger patterns.

Fun With Double Stops

I love the books in this series. The exercises and studies in this book work on double stops in first position.

look inside

Fun With Double Stops 1 Vc Composed by Basler-Novsak, S/Stein, S,. Cello. Boosey & Hawkes Chamber Music. 23 pages. Simrock #M221115935. Published by Simrock (HL.48018625).

Recommended Free Cello Exercises

These books are public domain and available for free on imslp.org:
http://imslp.org/wiki/Daily_Studies_(Klengel,_Julius) (Volume 1 for agility, Volume 2 for string crossing)
http://imslp.org/wiki/Die_ersten_Violoncello-%C3%9Cbungen,_Op.31_(Schr%C3%B6der,_Carl)
http://imslp.org/wiki/School_of_Bowing_Technique_Op.2_for_Cello_(%C5%A0ev%C4%8D%C3%ADk,_Otakar) (Cello version, Part 1, studies for bowing)