Teaching Cello -Exercises for Early-Advanced Skills

Thumb Position Methods

Learn to play across strings in thumb position.

This is an all-around method for learning the notes and finger positions in cello thumb position. ​

Learn to shift into thumb position.

This is another approach to starting thumb position, focusing on shifting in and out of cello thumb position and learning one note at a time.

Low 2nd Finger in Thumb Position

The second book in the "Thumb Position for the Cello" series teaches low 2nd finger in cello thumb position.

Other Books for Thumb Position Study

Grant teaches thumb position

This volume of Grant's method focuses on teaching the notes and finger spacing using the thumb in a variety of positions. Exercises are interspersed with short teaching duets.
Fundamentals Of Violoncello Technique - Volume 3 (Thumb Position) look inside Fundamentals Of Violoncello Technique - Volume 3 (Thumb Position) By Francis Grant. For Cello. Books/Methods. Grade 1. Published by Ludwig Music Publishing Co. (LG.10300128)

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Grant gets technical

Technical exercises in thumb position that focus on finger spacing and note-reading. Slightly dry to begin with, the book has a section of folk tunes in thumb position at the back.
Basic Thumb Position Studies for the Young Cellist look inside Basic Thumb Position Studies for the Young Cellist For Cello. Method/Instruction; String - Cello Studies or Collection. Book. 24 pages. Published by Alfred Music Publishing (AP.SZB1)

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Dotzauer teaches thumb position

The thumb position section begins about halfway through the book and is 22 pages long. Dotzauer mostly teaches playing across strings in various keys and includes some short etude-duets in between the exercises. 
Cover tiny file look inside Violoncello Tutor Vol. 3 Composed by Justus Johann Friedrich Dotzauer. Edited by Klingenberg. Studies. Sheet Music. Edition Peters #EP5962C. Published by Edition Peters (PE.P05962c).

A brilliant italian method by Francesconi

Thumb position exercises are interspersed with bowing studies in the lower positions. Using short etude excerpts by Duport, Dotzauer and others, Gino Francesconi, who wrote this book, adds enough original material to take a sophisticated cello student (generally high school age or older) through an amazing amount of cello technique. This is a book I sometimes take out and play through for fun.  Check European music sites for cheaper prices.
Cover tiny file look inside Scuola Pratica Del Violoncello Antologia Didattica Vol 3 Suvini Zerboni. 120 pages. Hal Leonard #ESZ4023C. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.50596588).

Hans Jensen's Book

Hans Jensen wrote a book called (optimistically) Fun in Thumb Position. My students inevitably take issue with the title, however there is a ton of good material for teaching cello thumb position. Available from Shar Music.

Carl Schroder teaches thumb position

Also available as a free edition here:
Schroder Cello Method, Volume 3
There are too many finger numbers on the notes for this to be used as a method but for supplemental work, these etudes (written as duets) can be quite helpful.
Cover tiny file look inside Practical Method for Violoncello-Vol. III Composed by G. Schroder. Classical. Softcover. With Standard notation. Published by Carl Fischer (CF.O3484).

Werner teaches thumb position

The thumb position section begins about halfway through the book and is about 11 pages long. Exercises are interspersed with Werner's own beautiful studies. The piano part to these studies is free and can be found here.
Cover tiny file look inside Practical Method for Violoncello, Op. 12-Pt. II Composed by Joseph Werner. Classical. Softcover. With Standard notation. Opus 12. Published by Carl Fischer (CF.O568).

Zelenka provides solid technique

These exercises work on spacing and shifting in thumb position. They span early-advanced and late-advanced levels.
18162382 look inside Tagliche Ubungen in der Daumenlage Composed by Ladislav Zelenka. Edited by Bauer. For cello. Level 3-4. Sheet music. Published by Friedrich Hofmeister Musikverlag (HF.FH-3030).

Short and technical

These short exercises by Anna Marton are slightly difficult to figure out, making them ideal for college students or adults. 
Cover tiny file look inside New Perspectives in Thumb Position for Violoncello With 100 Short Exercises. Composed by Anna Marton. Softcover. With Standard notation. Theodore Presser Company #414-41182. Published by Theodore Presser Company (PR.414411820).

Great as supplements to a thumb position method

I like to use Rick Mooney's book as supplements rather than as methods. These duets are fun!
Cover tiny file look inside Thumb Position for Cello, Book 1 Edited by Aaron Stang. String - (Suzuki) Supplementary; Suzuki. Summy-Birchard supplementary instruments (Cello). Instructional and Method. Instructional book. 72 pages. Summy-Birchard Inc #00-0763. Published by Summy-Birchard Inc (AP.0763).
Cover tiny file look inside Thumb Position for Cello, Book 2 Thumbs of Steel. Composed by Rick Mooney. String - (Suzuki) Supplementary; Suzuki. Book. 80 pages. Alfred Music #00-0764. Published by Alfred Music (AP.0764).

"Storming the Summit"

This interesting book by Christine Lohr is all in German but has some great shifting and thumb position studies in larger notes.
Cover tiny file look inside Gipfelsturm mit Cello Composed by Christine Lohr. Studies. Sheet Music. Heinrichshofen Verlag #N2638. Published by Heinrichshofen Verlag (PE.N2638).

Another Supplemental Book

Another book billed as a method that I use occasionally as a supplement. With just 16 pages of material, this book is heavy on pieces rather than exercise material. 
Cover tiny file look inside Introduction To Thumb Position on the Cello Arranged by A.W. Benoyn. Instructional and Method. Instructional book. 16 pages. Oxford University Press #9780193554672. Published by Oxford University Press (OU.9780193554672).

Pat Legg & Alan Gout's Material

Fun supplemental pieces for thumb position. Too complicated to use as a method. More like "Thumb Position for Students Who Have Learned Some."
Cover tiny file look inside Thumb Position for Beginners (Cello) Easy Pieces for Cello Duet and Cello/Piano. Composed by Pat Legg. Series; String - Cello Studies or Collection. Faber Edition. Book. Faber Music #12-057151801X. Published by Faber Music (AP.12-057151801X).
Cover tiny file look inside Thumb Position Repertoire (Cello) Intermediate Pieces for Cello and Piano. Composed by Pat Legg and Alan Gout. Series; String - Cello Studies or Collection. Faber Edition. Book. Faber Music #12-0571518028. Published by Faber Music (AP.12-0571518028).

Early-Advanced Scale Study

Learn Three-Octave Cello Scales

A basic scale method for the cello. Shifting exercises for each scale are included.

Bowing and Rhythm Variations on Cello Scales

Each major and minor scale is written with a different set of bowing and rhythm variations, providing many hours of interesting scale practice.

Improve your Scale Shifting

Exercises to teach the notes in the top octave of six different three-octave cello scales. 

Learn Three-Octave Arpeggios on Cello

 Major and minor arpeggios, along with variations that help solidify shifting. Great for helping serious students improve their fingerboard navigation.

Continued focus on Scale Shifting

Exercises to teach the notes in the top octave of more three-octave cello scales. 

Improve Your Shifting in the Higher Positions

Variations and studies on broken thirds up a single string. This is a shifting book that uses recognizable patterns to teach and reinforce the higher positions.

Other Early-Advanced Scale Books

Klengel's classic approach

One of the most famous books of scales: includes major and minor scales, arpeggios, and broken thirds in two, three, and four octaves with several pages of bowing variations for each section.
Cover tiny file look inside Technical Studies - Volume 1 Cello Method. Composed by Julius Klengel (1859-1933). String Solo. Studies. Instructional book. With introductory text. 39 pages. G. Schirmer #LB1816. Published by G. Schirmer (HL.50261960).

Feuillard's Ultimate Cello Technique

This is almost a complete book of cello technique. The book includes studies on everything from finger exercises to shifting and even ends with a few pages of bowing studies at the back. Scales could have been an afterthought but they figure prominently in the book. Feuillard presents his own take on scales which (besides the traditional two, three, and four-octave scales) includes one-string scales, scales with a universal fingering, and small scales for agility.
Cover tiny file look inside Daily Exercises for Violoncello For Violoncello. Composed by Louis R. Feuillard. Essential Exercises. Instructional and Studies. Instructional book. 44 pages. Schott Music #ED1117. Published by Schott Music (HL.49002688).

Galamian's system

Galamian's famous violin scale book has been transcribed for cello with mostly good results. Figuring out how to use the book is quite a feat in itself. This is a great resource for serious students who have the ability to understand how to apply the seemingly endless array of bowing and rhythm variations to the scales.
Cover tiny file look inside The Galamian Scale System For Violoncello (Volume 1) Scale and Arpeggio Exercises. Composed by Ivan Galamian. Edited by Hans Jorgen Jensen. Strings Methods. Instructional and Scales. Instructional book. 154 pages. Published by Galaxy Music Corporation (EC.1.3282).

Bowing

The Classic Variations that Teach Nearly All Advanced Bowing Techniques

These 40 variations present a classic study in intermediate and advanced bowing techniques. An essential part of any complete study of the cello, the exercises are melodic and each variation teaches a specific bowing skill. ​
8143190 look inside Sevcik for Cello - Opus 3 (40 Variations). For Cello. Music Sales America. Softcover. 20 pages. Bosworth & Co. #BOE003550. Published by Bosworth & Co. (HL.14029833).

String Crossing Work on a Variety of Bowings

From slur patterns to spiccato, staccato, and ricochet, these exercises train the cellist in essential bowing skills.

Sevcik's Classic Bowing Books

These books of themes and seemingly endless variations are great for high-school aged students and older. Younger students can find it tedious and difficult to apply the variations to the theme. However, these books are truly fabulous and contain nearly every bowing known to cellists!
16636989 look inside Sevcik for Cello - Opus 2, Part 4 (School of Bowing Technique). For Cello. Music Sales America. 16 pages. Bosworth & Co. #BOE003547. Published by Bosworth & Co. (HL.14029806).
16636991 look inside Sevcik for Cello - Op. 2, Part 5 (School of Bowing Technique). For Cello (Cello). Music Sales America. 20 pages. Bosworth & Co. #BOE003548. Published by Bosworth & Co. (HL.14029808).
8144460 look inside Sevcik for Cello - Opus 2, Part 6 (School of Bowing Technique). For Cello (Cello). Music Sales America. 16 pages. Bosworth & Co. #BOE003549. Published by Bosworth & Co. (HL.14029810).

Stutschewsky's Bowing Method

Useful for older students, this book
Cello Method - Volume 2 Technique of the Bow Cello Method - Volume 2 Technique of the Bow By Joachim Stutschewsky (1891-1992). Schott. 55 pages. Schott Music #ED1372. Published by Schott Music (HL.49003358)

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Technical Studies and Shifting

Agility

Finger Exercises for the Cello, Book Four

The latter half of the book incorporates easy thumb position into traditional finger exercises, making this a good supplement to cello thumb position study.

Shifting

Octave Shifts for the Cello, Book Two

This book works on large shifts with a short theme and several pages of rhythm and bowing variations on that theme. This is a great book to add to your student's daily regime before they get to the Saint-Saens and Lalo Concertos.

Exercise Compilations

Klengel's Shifting Studies

Shifting studies in keys. Great (if intense) workouts!
Cover tiny file look inside Technical Studies: Volume II Composed by Julius Klengel (1859-1933). Edited by Rose. Published by International Music Company (IM.2132).

Magg's Wonderful Book

Fritz Magg wrote a really unique compendium of cello exercises! He has ample exercise material for mapping the cello fingerboard.
19641382 look inside Cello Exercises: A Comprehensive Survery of Essential Cello Technique Composed by Fritz Magg. For Cello. Schott. Softcover. 82 pages. Schott Music #B13100. Published by Schott Music (HL.49018581).

Next Step: Duets for Early-Advanced Cello Students