What Beginning Cello Students Need

Teaching Cello - What Beginning Students Need Before Moving On:

Good form holding the cello.
A good bow hold.
Strong, agile left-hand fingers.
A workable bow technique that includes the ability to move the bow at different speeds and play straight bows on every string.
A working knowledge of the notes in first position.
The ability to sight-read easy notes, rhythms, and bowings in first position. This is best taught by playing and practicing as much music at the same level as possible. Have the student play nearly constantly during the lesson and make corrections while they are playing, whenever possible.
The ability to extend back and extend forward.
A basic grasp of where half position is.

Pages from one or more method books (such as Learning the Cello, Book One) After this, material for reading can be played (such as Playing the Cello or Cello Book One).)
One or more pages from an exercise book (such as Early Exercises (for young beginners) or Beginning Technique (for older beginners).
1/2 page- 2 pages of Scales (such as First Position Scale Studies for the Cello)
One or more duets (such as Beginning Fiddle Duets for Two Cellos)
Repertoire: One or more pieces to learn each week, depending on age and available practice time.

Pages from one or more method books (such as Learning the Cello, Book Two)
1-2 pages of finger exercises (such as Finger Exercises for the Cello, Book One or Finger Agility for the Cello. The Triplet Book Part One and Part Two and Trill Preparatory Studies can also be used as finger exercises.
Music reading material such as 2 pages from Playing in Keys, Book One.
2 pages from a method such as Cello Stretching to teach extended first position.
1/2 page- 2 pages of Scales (such as First Position Scale Studies for the Cello)
1-3 pages from Double Stop Beginnings could be studied to strengthen fingers. This is not essential unless the student has particularly weak fingers.
An etude and/or duet
Repertoire