What Intermediate Students Need Before Moving On:
- Good form holding the cello.
- A good bow hold.
- Strong, agile left-hand fingers.
- Good general bow control,facility, and good tone. A workable bow technique that includes the ability to play staccato and spiccato.
- A working knowledge of the notes in the first 8 positions.
- The ability to sightread moderately complex notes, rhythms, and bowings.
- Fluency in bass and tenor clef.
Lesson Recipe for Early-Intermediate Students
- 1 page of finger exercises (such as Finger Exercises for the Cello, Book Two)
- 1-2 pages of scale studies (from a book such as The Two Octaves Book for Cello or The C Major Scale Book for Cello)
- Double stop work for stronger fingers, if not covered in finger exercises (1 etude from a book such as Double Stop Etudes for the Cello).
- 1-2 pages from a position method, such as Fourth Position for the Cello or Fourth Position Study Method. Once these books have been started, 1-2 pages from another position method can be added (Second Position for the Cello and then Third Position for the Cello) and studied simultaneously with fourth position. This approach works better with students ages 10 and above. With younger students, it can be helpful to focus on one new position at a time.
- 1 page of general shifting studies (when 1-4 positions have been started), such as C Major Shifting for the Cello or the first 40 exercises in Pattern Shifting for the Cello or Serial Shifting.
- An etude and/or duet
- Repertoire: One or more pieces to learn each week, depending on age and available practice time.
Lesson Recipe for Late-Intermediate Students
- 1 page of finger exercises (such as Finger Exercises for the Cello, Book Three)
- 1-2 pages of scale studies (from a book such as The Two Octaves Book for Cello or The C Major Scale Book for Cello)
- Double stop work for stronger fingers, if not covered in finger exercises (1 etude from a book such as Double Stop Shifting for the Cello).
- 1-2 pages from a position method, such as Fifth Position for the Cello (until the book has been finished; then transition to general shifting exercises).
- 1 or more pages of shifting studies (from books such as Serial Shifting or Pattern Shifting).
- 2 pages in a tenor clef method such as Tenor Clef for the Cello, until the clef has been learned.
- An etude and/or duet
- Repertoire: One or more pieces to learn each week, depending on age and available practice time.