For Cello Beginners: 7 Things You Should Know When Starting the Cello

Hello, I’m Kuro!

In this article, I’ll share 7 essential points that you’ll want to know when starting to play the cello.
I hope this helps you in your journey!

The Growth Curve is Gradual (Consistency is Key)

The cello has a gentle growth curve.
The sound can be produced by anyone, and it is an instrument that can be played forever with little physical strain.

however

It is not a good instrument for such people.

The reason for the gradual growth curve is as follows:

１．It takes time to get used to holding the bow.
２．The muscles required for playing the cello develop gradually.

The way you hold the bow, for instance, needs to be learned over time, similar to how we learn to hold chopsticks or a pencil.
Additionally, the finger joints needed for pressing the strings and the muscles necessary for bowing develop gradually.
Thus, the cello’s growth curve is slower.

If you already have experience with string instruments or the guitar, this may be different for you.
Nevertheless, with consistent practice, you’ll steadily improve, making consistency an important factor.

The Approach to Practice Matters

When practicing, you might decide,

But there are actually a few important things to keep in mind during your practice.

Here are the key points:

１．Warm up for 3–15 minutes.
２．Always check the areas where you made mistakes.
３．Reflect on lessons and practice sessions.

Simply practicing without focus won’t lead to improvement.
Make sure to incorporate these three points in your practice, and you’ll notice faster progress.

Set Achievable Goals

When starting the cello, it’s important to set a goal—anything that inspires you!
For example:

１．I want to play Merry-Go-Round of Life
２．I want to join an orchestra
３．I want to casually play Bach’s Unaccompanied Cello Suites
※These are just some examples from my students.

Setting goals helps maintain motivation and makes it easier to improve.
So, choose a goal that excites you, no matter what it is!

The First Three Months are Crucial for Building Foundations

This is especially true for those who are learning on their own.
The foundation of your playing is extremely important, and the first three months are critical—they will significantly impact your progress.

For example, if you start playing pieces right away, you might encounter issues later on:

The reason is that you skipped building the proper foundation.
So, I strongly recommend that you focus on learning the basics with a teacher in the early stages.

There are Ways to Practice Without Disturbing Others (Mute Devices, etc.)

If you’re concerned about practicing at night without disturbing others, there are several solutions.
One of them is using a mute (or “damper”).
A mute is placed on the bridge of the cello and reduces the volume of the sound.

Mutes come in various materials: rubber, wood, and metal, with metal mutes being the most effective.
There are also “silent cellos” that allow you to practice with headphones.

These devices slightly alter the feel of the cello, but they are very useful for practicing quietly at night.
With these options, you can practice in a variety of ways without disturbing others.

Find a Teacher and Materials That Suit You

The approach and teaching style can vary greatly from one teacher to another, so it’s important to find one that suits you.
Here are a few examples of teaching styles:

１．Fun, engaging lessons
２．Strict, disciplined lessons
３．A logical, structured approach
４．Emotional, expressive teaching with lots of gestures and sounds

There are many different types of teachers out there.
Find one that fits your learning style, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different teachers and materials until you find the right match.

Get Used to Reading the Bass Clef

Unlike the violin, the cello uses the bass clef for reading music.
So, it’s important to get used to reading bass clef notation over time.
It will take a little while to get comfortable, but with consistent practice, you’ll become more familiar with it.