Online Help For People Learning The Cello At Home #2

Lesson #2- Where To Start

• How To Get Up And Running
• Pick out a room in your house that you will use to practice. The best kind of room is the kind where you can actually leave your cello out. Buy yourself a cello stand (Ingles Cello Stand) and then, not only will you feel guilty for not practicing, it will be much more tempting to play because you don't have to spend the time to get it out of the case.
• Find the perfect chair. Just because you have a chair that looks pretty and comfortable, doesn't mean it's a good "cello chair." You need to be able to sit comfortably in the chair with your feet flat on the floor, without the chair being too tall, too short, or too slanted. Don't worry about the chair having back support, because when you play the cello you sit on the edge of your seat.
• Book + Video, or just book?: There are so many method books and videos that can get you on the road to becoming a cellist. Which one will work for you? If you have absolutely no musical background, I would suggest a book like New Directions for Strings- Cello Book 1. This book really breaks everything down to the nitty gritty, while the accompaniment CD makes practicing much less monotonous for the beginner. If you have some music experience, you might find Orchestra Expressions- Cello Book 1 more to your liking. It has magazine-like pages and full color pictures, along with more popular songs that keep a current musician from becoming bored too quickly. If you plan on learning through YouTube videos, (which many people do) then good luck finding a series that works! I have yet to find many that are in a worthwhile sequence and actually teach you what you need to know. This may be my cue to make a series of my own! If you're against taking traditional private lessons, you may want to consider taking the occasional Skype lesson online, if you really get stuck on something.
• Make sure you have realistic expectations: Yes, it's true that learning the cello as an adult is generally harder than when you are younger. This goes double for teaching it to yourself. The most important thing is for you not to get so frustrated that you give up and never realize your dream. You won't become a virtuoso overnight, and you shouldn't expect to. You WILL be playing Mary Had A Little Lamb, and you should be PROUD that you can do it!!
• Don't over-practice: You should main for 15-20 minutes, 5-7 days a week to start. Don't lump all of your practicing into one or two days. It's like brushing your teeth. If you brush your teeth for an hour two days a week, you're leaving yourself with 5 days of dirty teeth. If you brush every day, your teeth are healthy. You can keep your cello skills from getting dirty by practicing a little bit everyday, which builds up your skills in the long run.
• Send me a message in the contact box on the homepage, if you have any questions :) Good luck on picking up your cello for the very first time!

Online Help For People Learning The Cello At Home #1

 

Lesson #1-Dude, Where's My Cello?

 

• Renting a cello
• Go to your local music store and ask about rental options. The last thing you want to do is invest money into buying a cello and then realize that playing it just isn't for you.
• What size do you need? Most adults use a 4/4 cello, also known as a full-size. If you happen to be a super short adult, a 3/4 size might be a better option.
• Ask questions about the rental: Is there insurance coverage? What does it cover? It is a rent-to-own or does only a percentage of what you're paying go towards the purchase price?
• E-mail a private cello teacher and ask if they recommend a certain brand. This is a good option if you are thinking about renting a cello from the internet and won't be able to try it before you buy it.
• Make sure everything that's supposed to be there, is there! Your rental should include the cello, a case, a bow, a cake of rosin, and you might want to ask if they can throw in a rockstop as well. If you are planning on playing somewhere that doesn't have carpet, it is a lifesaver!
• You can rent a cello completely online without ever leaving the couch. Here are some recommended companies that have good track records of renting quality instruments:
• Southwest Strings
•  Johnson String Instruments
• Music & Arts
   

Things Every Cello Teacher Should Know

1. How to put tapes on a cello fingerboard

I really love those "First Frets" things, where all the tapes are incorporated into one tape. I know some people claim that they are not the correct size to fit all instruments, but so far I haven't had one problem. They save so much time, and there are a lot less things to peel off and possibly screw-up. 

2. How to teach vibrato

"Viva Vibrato" is a great series to help get a student started with vibrato. Check out this YouTube videos for additional ideas and tips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7emuiZn4Fog

3. How to adjust a bridge after a cello gets bumped

http://www.lindawest.com/Articles.asp?ID=108 

That is the best link with step-by-step instructions on how to do it. Good luck!

4. How to fix "buzzes"

I find that most buzzes come from the cruddy fine tuners. Usually, the washer that the screw actually screws into is loose and needs to be tightened, or the fine tuners are too close to each other.

Oddly enough, many students complain of buzzes with their instruments, and it turns out to be that they have buttons or zippers on their clothing that are making the sound. :)

5. How to teach alternative styles of cello playing

It's 2012. Most likely, you have students that have seen cellists playing on electric instruments in rock bands, fiddling, or even playing jazz. If you're a traditionalist who loves to teach the classics, it's time for a kick in the pants. Kids love popular music, and everything that might be "cool" about the cello. If you have the opportunity to take a class in alternative techniques, attend the ASTA Eclectic Strings Festival, or even just watch some YouTube videos and buy yourself a book...it will be worth it when you can satisfy your student's desire to be a cello rock star. You might find a rock star within yourself! Those Cecilio electric cellos (like the one below) are only about $299.99, and they really sound great for the price!

You can check them out here: http://www.kkmusicstore.com/strings-electric-cello-c-3_60.html

Sure, there are lots of other things a cello teacher should know, but these will suffice for today :) 

Thanks for reading this.