r/Cello

Apologies for a slightly misleading title! I’ve always had a vague interest in classical music (my partner is a pianist) and I’ve always wanted to learn an instrument but could never find the “right” instrument for me. I dabbled in piano and guitar for a little while but I keep on coming back to the cello. For Christmas my very sweet parents have decided to gift me cello lessons for 2027; I’m very excited and very eager!

As someone with very little practical musical background, I’ve started studying music theory and looking into ear training. I’m not expecting to learn anything of incredible value over the next few months, but I want to fall even more in love with the cello before I get my hands on one.

What would you recommend to become more comfortable with an instrument you’ve never played? For adult learners, what are some things you wish you knew before beginning? Is there anything I can do to physically prepare myself for the cello?

I don’t expect to become Jacqueline du Prè or anything through blind self-study (or even at all!) but I’d like to have even a somewhat decent baseline than absolutely nothing going into it!

Hello all! I have an interesting issue.

I have recently begun teaching a new student who is around middle school age. I taught them about posture and grip and went to teach them how to pizzicato, but they were unable to get a sound. Their form looked correct so I was a bit puzzled, but when I pushed down a little bit on their finger they were able to play.

I went through a couple of exercises to try to get them to realize how to apply the weight of their arm to the strings, such as having them pretend their right arm is a finger board and trying to apply pressure to their arm so they can actually feel it. Then when trying to transfer it to the cello it didn't seem to do anything.

Their form seems correct, they just aren't applying enough pressure to get the string to contact the finger board. The action on the cello also seems perfectly fine.

Has anyone else dealt with something like this before? I asked a violin teacher I know but they said that young students just have to pinch to get a sound, but I'm hesitant to suggest something that is technically bad technique and has to be unlearned later.

Gonna preface, I've been playing cello for about 6 months but I'm a classically trained flutist of 20 years. I know my way around music, I'm just switching to strings because I love the voice that a cello has in comparison to my flute.

So I'm currently playing on Prelude C, G, and D, with a Kaplan A. The reason for this is I wanted to start with cheap strings until I could hear the nuances of my sound and better approach nicer strings. I'm glad I did because when I started everything sounded fine and I couldn't hear a difference in strings. How the heck would I know what I want if I'm not hearing differences at all? The first issue I noticed was my A string... now 6 months later I'm noticing my lower register. Now that I'm hearing the nuances I finally feel prepared to invest in strings I want to listen to.

Anyway, I noticed a shrill scratchy cat-on-blackboard sound to my prelude A after about a month of playing so I replaced it with a Kaplan to make it warmer. I love my Kaplan A (although I'm not married to it) but I'm now hearing issues with the rest of the preludes. Specifically my lower register. My bowing obviously needs work as I've been playing less than a year, but no matter what I do I can't get rid of this ever so slight harmonic sound to my lower register. It's definitely not my left hand, that has always felt great surprisingly. I think it's because I originally tried bass guitar when I first started exploring strings. Regardless, left hand is good. When I first started researching lower register strings, I found I love a deep, earthy, grumbly, old world sound. The first time I noticed it was actually in a cannone set. So I started looking at magnacore arioso and il cannone warm/broad. As I was looking at these, I made sure to compare it to my upper register to prevent the split where it would sound like I'm playing 2 different instruments. Eventually I decided to do magnacore C, and cannone G with a Kaplan D and A to get the sound I'm after. It gradually blends the old world grumble to the bell side of things if I'm right. (key words being IF I'm right)

Then out of curiosity I looked to see if Jargar had anything to say since I was primarily looking at Larsen and D'Addario. I found the Jargar evoke. from what I read... it sounds like it might blend the Larsen lower register with the Kaplan A.

Gonna slip this in here: before you ask if my cello itself is bright/dull/muddy/etc.... I don't know. I won't know for a while until I test out different strings on it. So far I've only played it with the preludes and the one Kaplan. It's absolutely possible that this cello leans to the brighter side... but it's also possible that it's just the fact I'm using cheap-beater strings. It's an "oxford made-in-china" used rental I got for $400ish from an actively closing music shop. I'm not expecting greatness, but I want to give it the best shot it's got.

I want to hear feedback here. I... have gone so far down the rabbit hole I can't see sky anymore. What do we think of the (magnacore arioso C, Il cannone warm/broad G, Jargar evoke D, Kaplan A)? (bolded that to make it easy to find) I'm not married to the Kaplan but it's a young string so I want to play it till its time to change it. Are there cheaper options than what I've listed? I read about the helicore but I'm not sold on them since I've heard the cannones and magnacores and I like them. Remember, goal is old-world earthy lows blending into silverbell-like singing highs.

So my friends and I (string quartet, violin 1, violin 2, viola, cello) want to play and perform Phantom of the Opera (the song from Phantom of the Opera). The only trouble is, we can't find that sheet music. All we can find are other songs from the musical, but not the actual Phantom of the Opera song.

I would appreciate your help if anyone would be so kind as to try and find this particular arrangement. Thank you so much!

My son has recently been obsessed with the idea of playing cello. He’s 5 and right in the middle of the size range for a 1/4 sized cello. We found one in great shape on marketplace, but it doesn’t have a case/bow/rosin. I know he doesn’t need the bow right away, but want to be prepared.

Suggestions for a case, bow, and rosin? Should I purchase a 1/4 sized bow as well? I’m a music teacher but in the band/choral world so I want to make sure I set him up right!

Hello!

Im a 26 year old producer who has always loved this instrument, recently i decided to rent a cello, i will be having it sent to my house in the coming weeks.

Although i am extremely excited to begin learning, i am also anxious as i have very limited experience with instruments. I have played some drums in the past, for about a year in total, and i play piano very poorly, instrumental playing has never been a strength for me when it comes to music, hence why i have been producing for so long.

I am very worried that i will be discouraged, and "burn out" before i even get started so to speak. Does anyone have any tips to make the learning process easier? I am going to hire a private teacher, i will be having lessons every week/every two weeks depending on costs, and supplement this with daily practice.

Tldr: complete Newbie trying to learn this instrument, very limited instrumental background, looking for tips and encouragement to stifle my anxiety. Thanks.

Someone in my neighborhood posted a
video from their Ring camera of a guy knocking on their door and then trying to get into their truck in the driveway before walking off. The guy had a cello case on his back - looked like a full size hard case. I thought, no one carries their own cello to try breaking and entering…. so i advised them to share it with the police in case someone had reported it stolen, but thought i’d also check the Seattle and Cello Reddits in case anyone knew someone around here in that situation. If it is stolen, both the case and the person might be recognizable enough to help identify. It was shared in the Ring app to warn neighbors about possible B&E attempts from the same guy.

Well I've taken the plunge and rented a cello. Just a student one but not the most basic. So far I've spent twenty minutes trying to decide how to have my chair and how to position the cello. It's my first time with av bowed instrument but I'm already liking the tone.

If only finding an in person teacher was as easy as finding a cello!

I'm 42. I have my first real lesson tomorrow... But practicing everyday this past week and I can't seem to go past 20 minutes because of muscle pain (maybe I'm just old). I'll ask my teacher about technique tomorrow, but does anyone else remember it being painful to start their first week?

I just sprained my ankle a few days ago, and its in a boot currently. I need to keep it elevated. Will it be hard for me to do my 1.5 hour orchestra practice with the boot on and leg raised on a chair? Will it just mean I would have to adjust my stance? Thanks.