Learn Cello your way with a TakeLessons expert

Image Source / DigitalVision / Getty Images Many beginning musicians wonder, “Is cello hard to learn?” The process of learning the cello is not difficult, but it’s important to keep in mind that the cello is not an instrument of instant gratification. It does require focused, daily practice time and a good teacher to guide you along the way. How far you progress with cello is a direct result of the amount of quality time you put into practicing the instrument. Even someone who puts

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

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

Tuning your cello correctly is one of the most important skills you will learn in early lessons. Learning the cello tuning notes and the correct methods for different rehearsal and performance settings will set you apart. Good intonation can be the deciding factor between an excellent performance and a disastrous one, but if your strings aren’t in tune then it is sure to be a disaster. Today, we will discuss the right way to tune your cello in different settings, and the different versions

Pursuing a career in music is a risky decision, because by the nature of the industry few artists can “make it big.” Most artists aren’t pop stars, or even full-time career musicians, and all musicians also teach to remedy this. There are many paths to becoming a professional cello player, and depending on where you start it might be easy or hard to earn a reputation and start making money. I followed an academic path, studying classical music at university and then continuing my research

The cello is a beautiful instrument, capable of producing a wide range of sounds. In order to create such beautiful music, the cello must be crafted with care and precision. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at the cello and some of its parts.  By understanding the different parts of the cello and how they work together, you'll have a greater appreciation for this instrument.  What Are the Main Parts of a Cello? A cello is a stringed instrument that is played with a bow. I

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’

Christmas in 2020 calls for more subdued celebrations to reflect on the preceding year and feel gratitude for what we have. The cello’s deep sound is perfect for bringing listeners to a somber and reflective place, and these carols were selected just to highlight the resonant beauty of the instrument. These classic carols for cello will bring friends and family together to sing and reminisce, and the advice provided here will help you learn them in time for Christmas. All of the sheet musi

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 “Wher

The cello is an absolutely beautiful instrument that calls countless numbers of people to play it. Adult students are sometimes the most challenging to find pieces for as they don’t want to play the “kiddie” songs that many younger students are excited about. These pieces for younger students are short, based on simple folk songs that children know, and generally do not feel challenging enough for many adult students. So what popular cello pieces are out there that adult students can u