Learn Cello your way with a TakeLessons expert

The decision on whether to rent or purchase an instrument depends on so many things. This kind of decision is akin to purchasing a car with all of the same stress (and sometimes, even more!) I know that sounds scary initially and finding the right instrument, as well as deciding how to acquire it, is a nuisance. In this guide, we'll look at some of the pros and cons of renting a cello.  Some Initial Things to Consider When Choosing Between Renting a Cello & Buying a Cello Let's take a closer

Deciding which string instrument to learn can be a complex topic. Many would-be musicians are paralyzed by the choices available to them, and they aren’t sure what the difference is between some of the most common instruments.  Deciding between the violin, the cello, and other string instruments is an important decision for the sound of your music. If you are thinking about taking up the cello, you need to know the answer to the most common question: what is a cello?   Music and in

To become an excellent cellist takes practice, but becoming famous also takes luck. It is often said, “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.” History’s famous cello players show how true this is. When it comes to learning the cello, listening to professional cellists and studying their work is one of the best ways to eventually master this instrument. This is because there is a lot to learn from those who have succeeded before us.  To help inspire you and your musical journey,

As a beginner I often told myself I would know I am a really great cellist when I could play Rimsky-Korsakov’s Flight of the Bumblebee at full speed. To my young ears, this simply had to be one of the hardest cello pieces with its high range, chromaticism, and famously fast tempo. As my musical career continued I worked on these and other skills to reach a point I could begin learning the piece confidently, and it was only a matter of time before I achieved my goal. Of course, this wasn’

If you're new to playing jazz cello, or just want to improve your skills, here are a few tips to help get you started.  First, learn the basics. You don't need to know everything, but having a basic understanding of jazz chord progressions, scales and arpeggios will give you a strong foundation to build on. Next, practice regularly. The more you play, the better you'll sound.  And finally, find a jam session or gig where you can apply what you've learned. Playing with others is a great w

Where can a cellist go to get easy cello sheet music, and how can you tell if the music is good? My cello students don’t just learn classical repertoire, because if you play the same music every single day then your sound will grow uninspired and stale. Not to say classical is boring (I love classical!), but sometimes you need to practice outside your comfort zone. Some days, you might feel like working on fundamentals in a new genre, like jazz. Other times, you just want to have fun jammin

Cello thumb position is one of the big leaps of technique for advancing cellists and is one of the skills that sets more advanced students from the intermediate. This new technique opens up the higher ranges of the instrument and allows us to play more advanced solos and etudes. This technique is not something you should rush into though! Make sure to take things slowly at first and master the basic concepts before moving on.  When Should You Focus on Your Cello Thumb Position? There have to

Like many cellists, my music education began with learning to read classical notation at the same time I learned cello. Some of the best sounding musicians I meet learn their instruments completely by ear, and decide not to bother with sheet music. However, they limit themselves with this choice. Not only is the majority of cello repertoire based on classical sheet music, but they won’t be able to learn a new piece unless they hear it first. Reading sheet music can be confusing at first, but c

The cello that we have today in orchestras, chamber ensembles, or on stage is not the same cello that our good friends, Bach or Handel once used. Although this evolution has not been incredibly drastic in the way that many other instruments have changed and evolved over the years. Visually, there are only slight differences between the baroque cello and the modern cello.  What Does "Baroque" Mean, Anyway? For those of us that are not familiar with the term Baroque and what that means rega

In my last article we looked at jazz cello and some of the possibilities for our instrument in this style. First by imitating the sound of a native jazz instrument (double bass) and then expanding the jazz cello’s vocabulary, so to speak, by imitating artists like Fred Katz and Mark Summer. I emphasized a tiered approach to understanding the genre, first with harmonic and then melodic practice. With exposure to many styles, you can build your unique cello sound and learn to make good melodic m