Cello

Finding A Good Cello Music School

Choosing a good cello music school takes just a tad more work than just opening your local newspaper and choosing the first teacher or school that pops out at you. . It is a good idea to ponder on your requirements and answer some questions before making a decision. For instance do you know how professional the school is? Are there opportunies for advanced students to perform in a recital? Do they get to be a part of an exchange program?

These are just a few of the questions you should address, and here are a few tips to help you in selecting a cello school.

  1. Find out what kind of experience the cello music school has. You need to know the history of a school and know how long the school has been in existence. Knowing this will assist you in finding out if the school has been achieving its goals or not.
  2. What kind of background do teachers have? You also need to find out where the teachers came from and the school where they previously taught. It is also necessary to find out what kind of education they received.
  3. Make queries about their graduates students, specifically about where they have taken further studies. Excellent graduate students come from very good schools.
  4. One thing that you should inquire about is the cost of the lessons. Other schools will be less costly while some will reasonably ask for higher tuition. These are generally those that offer more benefits to their students.
  5. Are the cello lessons given as group classes or individual? It doesn’t mean that individual classes are more important than group classes, oftentimes there is a good basis for offering a group class, and a really fine school would do this for the good of its students.
  6. Whenever group classes are offered, determine how many students they put in a group. A good class has many benefits to offer, but the number of students must be controlled.
  7. Ask about teaching methods. Good cello schools are proud of the teaching method they use and are willing to share it.
  8. It is also a good idea to examine the experience and credentials of the school director.
  9. Be aware that a school that concentrates on producing good cellists will also have many links with music management firms.

These are the type of questions that you should be willing to ask. A lot of music schools are happy to provide you with all the information that you ask of them.

They will usually tell you of the types of certifications they offer, the admission requirements, whether there is an audition requirement, types of students they have, and their faculty qualifications. They are also proud of their students and will tell you of all the performances students participate in.

It’s important that you investigate a music school well. You don’t want to invest a lot of money in a company that will be gone in a few months, or one which invests very little in its faculty thereby offering very little to its students.

Choosing An Adult Cello Class

As an adult cello learner, there are a few things you need to look out for when learning to play this instrument. If you have the desire to learn to play a good instrument like the cello, nothing should prevent you from accomplishing it, especially not your age. The following 5 tips will help you find the right adult cello lessons.

Let People Know

Tell everyone you know that you are looking for qualified cello classes. Chances are, you will find someone that either has a child taking lessons, or has taken adult cello lessons themselves.

Make Phone Calls

Call music stores and find out about private cello teachers. Many know of either adult cello schools or teachers offering private adult cello classes.

Call the Cello School or Teacher

Call the cello teacher you are recommended and tell her what you plan on doing, why you want to play the cello, and what you expect to get from cello classes.

Teaching Methods

Ask about teaching methods. Even if you hire a private teacher ask if she has some kind of teaching plan she uses. A teacher without a plan is a clear indication that her classes will turn out unorganized, so better find somebody else.

Communicate

Ask about your teachers expectations. Determine what she or he specifically wants from you. The answer will give you an idea of what to anticipate from the adult cello class.

Costs

After inquiring about the above information, then it is time to ask about cost. How much does an hour’s lesson cost, a half hour lesson, and how long should each class last, especially for an adult cello learner.

Location

Find out where the teacher’s studio is located. You may just skip classes or withdraw totally from the course if it is located very far from your place of residence.

Get a Trial Lesson or Observe a Lesson

Ask the teacher if you can get a sample lesson or if you can observe another class before signing up. Offering to pay for this lesson is an option. Doing this will assist you to decide whether these are the proper adult cello class for you.

No matter what age you are, twenty, thirty forty, fifty or sixty, you can still attend adult cello classes. You would be surprised at the number of people over the age of 50 who have decided they want to learn to play this wonderful instrument. Determination and having the proper adult cello lessons are all that are needed.

You need to have a good rapport with your teacher, and this relationship will create a love of the music and the learning. However, choosing the wrong type of cello lessons will make you hate your new endeavor, this is why finding the right type of adult cello classes is so important. Remember, the most important thing at this age is that you have fun and enjoy your new music classes.

How To Select A Music School For Cello Lessons

The cello is a member of the violin family, although you may be surprised by its huge size, as it is a much larger version. To play the cello you need a bow and the cello with four strings which are somewhat different from the violin, because the highest sounding string is A then D, G, and C. Because of its unique qualities you really must be interested before taking up this type of lesson.

For those people that are interested in taking cello lessons, they need to decide on the right type of music school for these lessons. There are actually two methods of cello teaching that are popular today, the traditional method and the Suzuki method.

In the traditional method the student is taught to read music, practice chords and learn bow movement all at the same time. Often he is not exposed to real musical pieces for several months or years, instead he is taught very classical student practice pieces in the beginning. This is a method that many adults feel comfortable with. The music is interesting and varied for them, while at the same time they learn traditional music for the cello.

The Suzuki method is a better teaching method for children and the method itself suggests that children start as early as 3 years old. In this method, the idea is that the child be surrounded with music, and especially music from the instrument he intends to play. For instance, in this method the child is exposed to the musical piece he is going to start to learn.

So before starting to practice the piece he has to listen to it the way it should be played and then listen to other more advanced students play. The idea is that if the child is surrounded by the music he will become a proficient player. Listening and participating are more emphasized in this method, than learning to read music in the beginning. This is especially true for the very young learners.

Once you have decided on the method you need then it is time to decide on what type of school you want to learn at. There are actually many different options here. You can choose personal classes with a good teacher, and you can also join a group class in which a teacher is present. There are also new teaching schools located online and these teach through video, chat and email.

Which is the Better Choice?

This really depends on what you need and who it is for. Your best option is to find a good music school that is located near you. The cello is difficult to learn so a physical class is better. This is because you can physically see the small changes and nuances that make for successful cello playing. However, there are students who use a combination of a physical class and online lessons.

Online Cello Lessons Versus Live Cello Lessons

“There was once this young boy who wanted to learn to play the cello, unfortunately, his parents did not have the money to send him to music school. He continued his studies; eventually graduating, becoming a career professional, still he always wished he had learned to play the cello.”

The above story is very familiar to some people. We all had dreams as children, and many of these went unfulfilled for one reason or another and these dreams remain just that… dreams for many of us. However, now they don´t have to remain that. There are ways to learn to play instruments like the cello, even if you have a family, even if your schedule is so full you don’t know when you would have the time for such a thing, all you have to have is the desire and the persistence. There is always time to do what you really love.

How is This Possible?

With the help of new technology, and great teachers you can take cello classes or any other musical class at any stage in your life. The right teacher will know how to orient the class toward your generation. In many cases a private class can work around your work schedule. You can take classes in the evenings, or even on weekends.

Most cello teachers will accommodate adult learners, so that leaves the question as to whether you should take “in person classes” or “online classes”. The truth is that the cello is a difficult instrument to learn and there are minute nuances that can best be appreciated in a physical class, so most cello teachers recommend a physical class, although Online cello lessons can certainly be used to complement a physical class.

Besides, online classes are not for everyone, but they are made for a particular type of person, one that is extremely organized and sets a schedule for himself. They are made for people who cannot afford an in person class. The best solution is a formal class, however, it is nice when a person can combine both methods.

The point is, if you dream of taking cello classes, but were unable to, for any given reason, now you can when you sign up for a cello class, and get out of that boring routine.

Is This the Best Choice?

If you talk to cello teachers they will tell you that a traditional class is the best choice. But they also agree that Online technology can simplify and make the overall learning go more quickly. Are Online Cello Classes the Best Choice for Children?

Probably the best type of learning scenario for a child is an “in person” class. This way the child will socialize with other learners, and learn from his peers. He will be immersed in the music, and enjoy the learning process much more.

Choosing the right type of cello lessons whether these be online or “in person” can really only be decided on by you. Each type of class has its own advantages and disadvantages and you have to find the class that best fits your needs.

Benefits Of Kids Cello Lessons

Cello is probably the most beautiful instruments ever created, but mastering a cello is a very serious and expensive process. Naturally before approving cello lesions for their child parents want to find out what are the benefits of these lessons? In this article we will describe the five main benefits.

General cello education

Singapore cello lessons are good in general. Of course any musical education is good for your child, but cello somehow stands aside. Cello is the instrument that has the same sound specter as the human voice. This instrument speaks to us; and through it your child will discover and learn to perform probably the most beautiful musical pieces ever written. Cello is building character through beauty. Also it is not the easiest instrument; it is not only hard to master, but even hard to carry around, and as you know after you master something hard, everything else will be easier.

Communication enhancement

When your child starts playing the cello with singapore cello lessons, after a while he or she might enter the cellist community. It will help your child to start naturally communicating with other children, which is very helpful if your child is a bit shy. Cello will point you kid to the right direction, to a community revolving around classical music and beautiful instruments. Also in this case a cellist community is in many ways a much safer musical community, than hanging around with some rock bands for example.

Character benefits by playing the cello

Playing a musical instrument gives confidence. Sounds strange, but if your child will get used to play for the teacher, family or audience, it will help your child in building professional career. We live in a fast and competitive world and people who have no problems with telling their thoughts and ideas out loud, or people who can make a serious public speech, have more chances to become successful than people who just stand aside. Basically singapore cello lessons will make your child more self-confident and socially active.

Physical benefits of playing the cello

Playing music is difficult, but it trains your hands and your brain. In case of hands of course it will be just a minor agility improvement. In case of brain training it will be very useful, especially if your child starts playing at early age. As you know, the more you train the brain, the better it works, and in case of playing cello it is probably one of the best brain trainings.

Professional cello career

And finally there is always a chance that your child will turn out to be a talented musician and will choose music as main profession. In this case choosing a cello is a very good solution, because a cellist has more possibilities to become a good paid professional musician, than a guitar player.

There are many opportunities in different orchestras and in the recent years cello is even breaking into mainstream through other music genres. Also if you child eventually decides to choose another main instrument, after the cello he or she will be able to easily switch to any other instrument. Cello lessons give a very serious musical education, so musician that mastered the cello has serious chances to become a professional in the musical field.

Is It Easy To Learn The Cello For A Beginner?

The cello is a very popular musical instrument and is also known for its beauty. The instrument is almost three centuries old and looks very similar to the violin except that it is much larger and has a thicker body.

One can learn playing the cello from a tender age as the musical instrument comes in many different sizes, from the full size beginning from ¾, ½,¼ to the smallest size.

The cello teachers have adopted the “Suzuki method” of teaching which originated in Japan and requires a lot of parental involvement and can be taught to children as young as 3 to 4 years old.

It is not necessary though that one has to start young however there is a maturation stage in the learning process that might affect the progression. The cello musical instrument is not very difficult to learn.

The lessons are similar to the violin lessons and as the fingerboard of the cello has no marks it is difficult to know where to place the fingers and so the teacher and the parents have to be a little patient in the beginning as it takes a little time for the ears to get accustomed to the right notes.

To begin with, you must decide why you want to learn the particular instrument. If you have a passion and a strong desire to learn the cello only then it is advisable to go ahead with it or else it will be a complete waste of time.

If you have made up your mind to be a good cellist the next step would be to have an achievable goal for yourself. Only then one tends to practice religiously and get results. The next step would be to search for a good and efficient teacher.

You can seek your parents help if required. Try and visit two or more teachers and see how they teach and then make up your mind as to whom to learn from seeing your own schedule and way of learning the instrument.

After this comes the very important step of learning the basic steps or techniques to play the cello. It is important to learn slowly and not rush because one might learn the wrong techniques in the beginning and that can be disastrous later as it becomes a habit. And habits are difficult to change and takes years to correct.

Some of these habits can be physically injurious as well so it is advisable for a beginner to learn the right techniques slowly.

Initially, practice for a short duration and then gradually increase the time according to your comfort level. Try and perform at school or the community center in order to gain performing experience.

Finally, a learner should concentrate to practice the scales and arpeggios properly as it will make him play the cello in the best manner.

How To Improve Your Cello Skills?

Today more and more people are learning to play cello. This is an interesting instrument but one needs to have complete knowledge about the instrument before playing it. It is often said that the practice makes the man perfect. But in case you know wrong techniques of playing the game, then the practice also will not make you perfect. It is therefore important to have certain lessons before playing the instrument so that you can give overall productive result. There are numerous cello tips that can create a big impact. Below are given some useful tips that can help you to improve your cello skills:

  • Try to optimize the practice time – the instrument needs constant and continuous practice. It is very important for every individual to know what is the perfect time for him and when to do the practice. If you think that you are fresher in the morning then you are in evening then you must practice in the morning time. Well, if you think that you get bore very easily while practicing then it is important that you take some small breaks. Whenever you practice, you should take that you are serious and consistent with your practice. The practice should be done at the same time daily. It is necessary that you devote atleast 6 to 7 days in a week for the practice.
  • Choose the perfect location – it is important that while practicing you should not be disturbed and there should be no one around to bother you or to make you conscious. So, choose the place that you think is best and quiet. Also take care to practice at the same place only. This helps you to concentrate better on the things. All these things if kept in mind before choosing the area will definitely help you to practice better and you will be able to make out the best of your practice sessions.
  • Collect the right accessories – before you sit to practice make sure that you don’t have to stop you practice again and again to gather small things. Therefore, first of all g ather all the practice material that you know you will need during the practice sessions. These can be small things like pencil to make notations, notebooks, a music stand, etc.  It is also very important to have a proper posture while practicing, so make sure you have a perfect chair for yourself. If you create a practice of organizing things beforehand then, you can surely gain maximum benefit from your practice.
  • Satisfy all your physical needs before practicing – before you sit for your practice session make sure that you d rink some water, and have some light snack. This may include fruits, or other things. All these things are necessary to keep up the blood sugar a bit revved up.  Get yourself into comfortable clothing that could make you feel free and will also make you physically prepared for the cello practice sessions. It is better to prepare yourself physically ahead of the time.

How To Choose A Cello School

Choosing a cello school or program for learning cello can be a difficult and time-consuming choice. At first you will need to make many decisions: whether you wish to pursue a degree, diploma or certificate; study on a full-time or part-time basis.

Once you have decided on these, you will still need to undertake a significant exploration and consultation to focus your interests and choice of a cello school.

Here is a step-by-step process to help you evaluate each school or program:

• Visit the school’s website.

Most music schools provide detailed information about their programs – degrees/diplomas/certificates offered, amount of tuition and fees, admission requirements,  performance opportunities for students and more!

It is always important to know more about the school that you are interested to join, so that you will have more confidence and believe that the time you spend there will not be in vain.

Do some background research on the school and how long it has been established? This will be an indication of its stability and also its reputation and standing in the industry.

• Check out the connections that the school has in the music industry

This depends on the focus of the cello school in Singapore question. Some cello schools focus more on developing the next big prodigy, and so they would have more connections with recording studios too.

These are also probably the cello schools with their own music publishing house or if not, they would at least have connections with big publishing houses in the industry. Other schools focus more on developing performers, and they would have more connections with performance venues like cafes, concert halls, theatres or even prestigious arts venues in the country.

This will allow the school to be able to organise concerts and shows for their student performers, to give them more exposure and build up their confidence onstage!

• Speak with school administration: they have a thorough knowledge of the curriculum and study programs that can lend a perspective to your decisions, and sometimes lead you in new directions.

• Research other sources of information. There is a wealth of things that you can do here: If you know past graduates of the school, talk with them about their experiences while they were still a cello student.

• Find out what kind of courses the cello school in Singapore offers, and who are the instructors teaching the courses.

Knowing what courses the cello school offers will give you a good idea of the strengths of that school. For example, some music schools offer more courses in singing, whereas other schools offer more programmes in song writing and more.

Of course, once you have found out the strengths of the cello schools you are considering, you would want to choose the cello school in Singapore that is able to offer you the course that you want, and is also known to be strong in that aspect of the music industry.

Ok, hope these tips are useful to you when you are deciding which cello school to join. Once you have decided, it is best to stay at the school for at least 6 months to 1 year, in order to fully experience what the school can offer you, and also to get a fuller learning experience in music and in mastering the cello.

Cello Lessons For Kids

The cello is both fascinating and intimidating.  It’s bigger than a violin and the sound it produces is lower.  For children however, their fascination with any musical instrument begins with sight.  I remember years ago when as a child I saw a concert where a cello solo was featured.  The sounds the cello made were deep and melodious. 

But that wasn’t the first thing I noticed.  I recall thinking how gigantic the cello looked compared to the teeny tiny violin. I also remember thinking how much “stronger” it looked versus the violin.  These first few observations sparked in me my interest and desire to learn more about the cello. 

As a parent I have tried sparking the same interest in my children and students.  Over the years I have noticed that children are easily entranced by anything that makes a sound or looks new to them.  To children, the cello probably looks like an oversized guitar played vertically.  Fascination starts when they see how the bow is needed in order to produce sound.  Once interest is cultivated in a child, it is easier to start teaching since the instrument can now hold the child’s attention.

Just like the violin, good posture is needed when playing the cello.  It is easier to teach beginners and young children correct posture and positioning as they have not yet picked up bad habits which can be very hard to break when it has set in.  Note reading and correct finger positions in the fingerboards are also cultivated in order to produce the correct sound.  There are also bowing techniques which will have to be mastered in order to learn how to play the cello properly.

Young children have minds like sponges.  It is very easy to fill up this sponge with knowledge.  What is most difficult in children is holding their interest.  This is why cello lessons for kids have to be fun and fascinating.  A child who does not have fun while learning the cello is a difficult student to teach. 

The easiest way to determine if your child is interested in learning the cello is to talk to him or her directly.  Make him understand that cello lessons need commitment and that he will have to practice daily in order to become a good cello player.  There is also no exact age on when to start cello or music lessons for your child.  So observe your child.  If you feel that she is ready then have the talk.

Once your child has committed to learning the cello or any other musical instrument make sure that he will have your support.  Children get discouraged too and will need you to cheer them on from time to time.  Make sure that they get all the support and praise they need as this will help them persevere and improve. 

Finally, never force your child to learn the cello or any other instrument.  Your child has to find joy in learning the cello.  It should be enjoyable and fun.  Music should never be a chore or something that he has to do in order to please the parents.  The joy in learning cello and musical instruments should be because you want to learn and find pleasure in learning.  

How To Select A Cello Teacher

The cello is one of the harder instruments to master.  Just like the violin, the cello does not have frets and so mastery will depend on accurate ear training and finger placements.  Just like any other instrument, mastery of the cello will also depend not only on the student but on the teachers as well.  But there are a lot of cello teachers out there.  How do you know who is the right teacher for you?

People have different tastes and styles, so before hiring a cello teacher, find out what kind of personality your cello teacher has.  Does he teach via a strict regimen?  Or does he like to teach through games.  Is he boring or does he have an easy going personality?  The character traits of your cello teacher matters because this will affect your relationship with the teacher.  If you are a person who likes to learn through fun and games, then a cello teacher who does everything by the book would not work for you. 

Or if you are the type who likes discipline and strict teachers then an instructor with a lackadaisical attitude towards lessons will simply not do.  Find a cello teacher in Singapore who matches your attitudes and your goals.  Personal recommendations are the easiest ways of verifying this. 

Credentials, certifications and experience are important too.  While some people say that they are just pieces of paper, these are actually very good aids in helping you decide whether your teacher is not only credible but able too.  ABRSM certifications and Diplomas verify that your cello teacher in Singapore is trained in his field of study.  Imagine learning the cello from an uncertified teacher!  

You might pick up bad habits, which would be hard to break as time goes by, or you might actually get cheated out of money by hiring an unprofessional, uncertified or ungraded teacher.   The cello is a precision musical instrument which requires years of training to master.  So when hiring a cello teacher in Singapore, find one who has experience in teaching the prospective student’s age and find one who has the highest training possible.

Price is another factor to think of when looking for a cello teacher in Singapore.  Generally cello teachers who have many years of experience, have the highest educational attainment or orchestra performers charge high rates.  This is of course very reasonable given the training and experience the teacher has gained over the years.  However, if you are a beginner learning for pleasure or somebody who intends to pick up cello as a hobby then perhaps a reasonably priced cello teacher will do.  But if you have dreams of making it on stage then a highly trained and very experienced cello teacher might be a good investment for you.

It would be very nice to learn the cello during your preferred time and have the teacher all to yourself during the lessons.  So before going off to a music school, consider hiring a cello teacher for private one on one tuition.  The advantage of this type of lesson is that you have the teacher’s attention to yourself. 

You do not need to compete with other students.  By doing this you are ensured that for at least one hour, the teacher’s attention is focused solely on you.  Your mistakes easily corrected before they become bad habits.  Another benefit of private tutoring is that this can be done either at the teacher’s or at your place during your most convenient time.  Imagine having cello lessons where you do not need to drive through traffic or compete for your teacher’s time with other students!

How To Buy A Cello

Buying a cello need not be a complicated chore.  But before you head out the nearest music store and buy one, there are some things to consider before your purchase.   Buying a cello is just like buying a violin.  Both instruments are from the same family, only sound and size differ.  Let us explore some factors to consider when buying a cello.

Budget & Commitment

The budget is an important factor for consideration.  The budget dictates how much you are willing to spend on any purchase.  There are various price ranges for cellos from the cheapest kind to the more expensive ones.  But before setting up the budget, ask yourself why you want to buy a cello in the first place.  Are you intending to learn for leisure or as a hobby or do you foresee yourself playing professionally years from now? 

For beginners and young children, it would probably better to find a cello in the mid range category as cheap cellos also have low sound quality as poor sound might affect your enjoyment of the lessons.  Cellos also come in different sizes so as the child grows, you will have to accommodate this growth by purchasing cellos appropriate for the child’s height and age.  You have to assess your commitment to learning the cello since good quality cellos are also quite expensive. 

Go with A Pro

As much as possible, try buying a cello with a professional cello player or your cello teacher.  These people are experienced and highly trained so they know right away if the cello is of good quality and offers value for its price. 

Ask them to try out your choices and ask for a frank assessment of the sound quality and their expert opinion before running off to the cash register.   A good tip while at the music store would be to try out several different brands and models before settling on a final choice.  Ask for a warranty at the music store as your cello may need to be serviced or may need a change of strings in the long run. 

Research

Tune up your cello knowledge by visiting the internet as this is always a good place to start your research about cellos before you actually buy one.  There are plenty of cello manufacturers and the internet is rife with people who are willing to share their opinion and view point as to which brand sounds best and which types of cellos are the most durable. 

When you go out to watch an orchestra performance, try to see if you can make out the brand or make of the cello player’s piece and see if you can track this down on the web.  Professional cello players are known for their loyalty in brands and are probably some of the best people suited to give an opinion as to which make and model are appropriate.  You can also ask your teacher for a recommendation. 

Conclusion

Cellos are usually expensive and require many years to master.  Before buying one, it would be best to examine your personal commitment to learning the cello and then setting a reasonable budget for your cello purchase.  If buying a cello is not possible, then try finding a cello rental in the meantime.