This year musicians have been practicing alone at home more than rehearsing with each other. Even though COVID-19 stopped the multi-musician rehearsals and gigs, I know it is important to keep my technique under my fingers for when they do return. One way to keep up your practice routine while still remaining socially distant is to find cello solo sheet music, or pieces you can practice by yourself.
Finding the Music
Searching for music online has its pros and cons, as discussed in “Where to Find the Best Easy Cello Sheet Music.” Even though searching online can be fast and easy, there is a lot of low quality sheet music you have to sift through before you find something worth playing.
Remember that online search engines are optimized for advertising and promoters, not music students; try searching several ways to find different sheet music options. For example, try searching for “cello solo,” “unaccompanied cello,” and “cello etudes.” Each result will give you great options and way more variety than only searching for one term. Here are some of the things a student should look for when picking cello solo sheet music:
- Know all the symbols and clefs on the page. If you don’t recognize one, circle it and ask your teacher about it during your next lesson, or send them a message on TakeLessons.
- Make sure the music is in your range by finding the highest and lowest notes.
- Is the sheet music spaced well? Consider the space between, above, and below the notes; these margins will be filled with bowings and fingerings after a few practice sessions. Is there enough space to fit all the markings you need?
- Are bowings and fingerings already included?
- Are the numbers clear and logical? Does it use measure, line, or rehearsal numbers? Do they help you find spots to start and end, or are they just cluttering the page?
You can start searching for sheet music on IMSLP, which has the best quality editing. This sheet music is free (in most countries) because it is in the public domain, meaning there is no active copyright on the music.
Some of the scores were professionally published, and others are digitized versions of sheet music. Here is a list of free cello solo sheet music. Use the above tips to be discerning of your sheet music, so you won’t waste any time between printing and practicing.
Repertoire Suggestions
Here are some well-known pieces to get you started on the search for the best cello solo sheet music:
J.S. Bach Six Suites for Violoncello Solo
Suites 1-3 are great for beginners. Bach uses a combination of arpeggiated chords, melodic interweaving, and ornamentation to turn the solo cello into a Baroque dance troupe.
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Max Reger Three Suites for Solo Cello
Reger wrote these Suites in 1914-1915. These modern Suites take clear inspiration from Bach, including the keys and harmonies used. They expand on the technique with more expressive chromatics and complex chords and double stops.
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Louis Feulliard Daily Exercises for Cello
I recommend these exercises to keep your technique polished during the lockdown. Pick three or four relevant exercises depending on the other music you are learning. I’m currently using exercises 24 and 25 to practice thumb position.
As Thelonious Monk said, “Stay in shape! Sometimes a musician waits for a gig and when it comes, he’s out of shape and can’t make it.” Keep practicing your cello and music reading skills at home by learning some great cello solo sheet music.
Did you find a good piece which I didn’t mention above? Please comment below with the name of the piece, so other readers can learn too! As a teacher I am always so happy when my students bring me new music they discovered on their own. If you are feeling festive, you might look for some Christmas sheet music at Capo Tasto Music. Or look on MuseScore for solo cello sheet music.
William Crider