Teaching Cello - Methods for Beginning Students
Note:
Using more than one method at a time is highly recommended! This way, students can learn the same ideas from a variety of teaching perspectives. Remember, at the beginning, the student needs to play as much as possible.
Learning the Cello, Book One
Learning the Cello is an introductory method for the absolute beginner. With large print and large notes, this is also a great book to use with younger beginning cellists.
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Learning the Cello, Book Two
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String Builder Book 1 for CelloThis is a good book for intensive work on each finger. For instance, when first finger is taught, there are several pages of short studies and pieces that only use first finger and open string. Third and fourth fingers benefit from the same focused approach.
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Essential Elements for Strings, Book OneThis book has a great piano accompaniment that makes every song a bit more of an adventure. I like this book much more than Essential Elements 2000 because there is more music and the pages are not as cluttered.
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Cello Book One
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Playing in Keys for Cello, Book One
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Methode du jeune violoncellisteThis is a brilliant, concise method for older beginning students, probably most practical for those ages 11 or 12 and above. The technique is taught at the top of each page, and a short duet is at the bottom of the page to use or elaborate on what was taught.
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The Art of Cello PlayingPotter teaches a bit of almost everything in this book. Of particular interest is the continuous study of different bowing techniques and the original practice material.
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The Essential String Method SeriesGreat teaching material from the British team of educators. The focus on rhythmic playing makes this a good choice for groups.
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Friss's Violoncello TutorI love the gorgeous Hungarian music in the Friss method books. Not optimal for very young beginners, this book works well with more serious students, as well as musically sensitive students who might not be amused at having to play yet another version of "Lightly Row". Later volumes address the cello positions.
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Modern Method for the VioloncelloThis somewhat serious method is overshadowed by the genius of the second Volume (one of my favorite books to teach and play!) but still has a lot of valuable material. De'ak was a student of the great David Popper and seemed to be preparing his students to play Popper's music.
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Early Start on the Cello, Vol. 2Interesting European perspective on cello teaching and playing. These books include lots of valuable technique along with the pieces and duets.
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Method Books for Very Young Cellists
Students who are very young often benefit from larger notes and pages or exercises that focus on only one thing.
Click here for a more comprehensive page on very young cellists or Pre-Twinkler material for cello.
Click here for a more comprehensive page on very young cellists or Pre-Twinkler material for cello.
Champion StringsThis is a favorite of many of my students. A single song is written first in note names, then written again with only finger numbers, and finally as a combination of finger numbers and notes. Excellent for helping students get to a point where they are more fluent in reading without the usual frustration. There is also a piano accompaniment book for Champion Strings.
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Young Strings in ActionPaul Rolland includes a lot of material to get the young beginner playing with minimal required note-reading. My favorite part of this books is duets with only finger numbers; great for teaching a student to play while note-reading is covered more gradually in another book.
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The Essential String MethodMany thanks go to this team, spearheaded by the wonderful Sheila Nelson, in putting together a great series for young cellists. Lots of fun songs, illustrations, and activities for the beginner.
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Early Start on the CelloLarge notes! Illustrations! Nice book for young beginners.
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Recommended Free Cello Methods
These books are public domain and available for free on imslp.org:
http://imslp.org/wiki/Metodo_Elementare_per_Violoncello_(Cuccoli,_Arturo)
http://imslp.org/wiki/School_of_Violoncello_Playing_(Davydov,_Karl)
http://imslp.org/wiki/Metodo_di_Violoncello_(Quarenghi,_Guglielmo)
http://imslp.org/wiki/Imperial_Method_for_the_Cello_(Mollenhauer,_Eduard)
http://imslp.org/wiki/Method_for_the_Violoncello_(Fischer,_Carl_August)
http://imslp.org/wiki/Practischer_Lehrgang_des_Violoncellspiels_(Schr%C3%B6der,_Carl)
http://imslp.org/wiki/Metodo_Elementare_per_Violoncello_(Cuccoli,_Arturo)
http://imslp.org/wiki/School_of_Violoncello_Playing_(Davydov,_Karl)
http://imslp.org/wiki/Metodo_di_Violoncello_(Quarenghi,_Guglielmo)
http://imslp.org/wiki/Imperial_Method_for_the_Cello_(Mollenhauer,_Eduard)
http://imslp.org/wiki/Method_for_the_Violoncello_(Fischer,_Carl_August)
http://imslp.org/wiki/Practischer_Lehrgang_des_Violoncellspiels_(Schr%C3%B6der,_Carl)
Recommended Beginning Cello Exercise Books
Using exercises from the very beginning teaches students that exercises are the most efficient way to learn. Check out our lists of technical studies for beginning cellists.
For a list of beginning exercise books by Cassia Harvey, visit www.cellotechnique.com. Books are listed by subject, in order of difficulty within each subject.
For a list of beginning exercise books by Cassia Harvey, visit www.cellotechnique.com. Books are listed by subject, in order of difficulty within each subject.