So You've Always Wanted to Play the Cello: Cello for the Beginner

Have you always wanted to learn to play the cello but have never had the opportunity? Or maybe you played in the past but need a refresher? Whether you can read music or not, this course is for you!

I have been teaching the cello for more than 20 years and I never believed that playing an instrument was something that could be taught virtually, but the pandemic put that theory to the test. I continued teaching all of my private students, but we took it online. I also taught about 100 absolute beginner 4th graders virtually at my school job. In many ways, I think it helped hone my teaching skills, so I decided to create this course. I know from my own experience as an adult student that finding time as a busy working adult to take a class can be challenging. You're tired after work! You just spent an hour in traffic! Maybe there are no cello instructors in your area. With this course, you have the opportunity to receive high quality instruction, to go at your own pace and avoid the commute to a music studio.

I began my cello studies at the age of eight, although I had been begging my parents for lessons since I was three! They weren't musicians and didn't know that very young children can and do take cello lessons and made me wait, but once I started, there was no stopping me. In high school, I was in the local youth symphony, and then I went on to major in music in college and graduate school, earning a Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, and Graduate Performance Diploma. During and since college, I have performed in orchestras, chamber music ensembles, and rock bands, and I have taught students from age 3 to 80.

What can you expect from this course?

• How to select a cello. Is it better to rent or buy? Where you should (and should not) go to get a cello

• Correct posture, including how to sit, leg placement, hand and arm positioning

• The parts of the cello

• Basic fingerboard geography, focusing on two strings: The A and D strings

• Proper hand and finger shape

• How to play a one octave D Major scale

• How to play pizzicato, or pluck the string

• How to hold the bow, and create sound with it using your natural arm weight instead of pressure, which can cause injury and an inferior sound

• Learn to play Mary Had a Little Lamb, which stays on one string, making it a perfect first piece of music

• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Still a simple piece, but now using two strings

• Downloadable copies of the music, and two short exercises (The music will also appear on screen as you watch the video.)

• Cello accompaniments for both pieces of music, so that you can play along with me

• The ability to contact me with questions and for video critique

Who is this course for?

• Absolute beginners who have never played an instrument

• People who have played another instrument and can read music, but are new to the cello

• People who played the cello as a kid, but haven’t played in years

• Adults

• Teens ("Please note that those under 18 may use the services only if a parent or guardian opens their account, handles any enrollments, and manages their account usage. As such, any subject matter-oriented towards young students must be clearly marketed to parents and guardians who will be supervising their learning.")

What you’ll need:

• A cello (but not for the first lecture, which I highly recommend watching before getting a cello.)

• An armless chair which allows your hips to be level with or just above your knees. A dining room chair is usually good for this

• A music stand would be helpful for practicing, but it’s not necessary

• A bit of time each day to practice what you’ve learned

• Eagerness to learn and the drive to stick with it!

Testimonials from students and parents:

• “I began studying with Samantha when I was 60. I thought I had left it too late to learn to play the cello, but boy was I wrong! Samantha has a very personable way of teaching, breaking concepts down into easy-to-digest parts, and she makes great analogies to help relate what you’re learning to something else you know outside of music. I really recommend her as a teacher.” -Byron

• “Samantha has been teaching my daughter for ten years and I’ve seen her go from a complete beginner, to being first chair in her high school orchestra. She has developed confidence and musicality, and she loves her lessons with Samantha.” -Irene

• “Lessons with Samantha are fun and informative. She teaches with humor and has a great way of explaining things. I’m a parent with a full-time job and wasn’t sure I had time for this, but I fell in love with playing the cello and I enjoy my weekly lessons with Samantha so much that I can’t believe I ever doubted myself!” -Ricardo

• “I played the piano when I was younger, so I knew how to read music, but I had no experience with the cello. Samantha patiently guided me through the process of learning to play, and has taught me great practice techniques. When I get frustrated with something, she reminds me that she was once where I am, and always manages to come up with a clever way to work through the problem. She is a very supportive teacher.” -Jessica

Did you know that music actually makes you smarter? Studies show that learning to play an instrument provides a workout for your brain and helps improve memory, coordination, test-taking skills, language acquisition skills, and helps to relieve anxiety and depression. I know it has definitely carried me through some very trying times and I don’t know where I’d be without the cello in my life. Take the first step today! I know that you will fall in love with the cello and I hope that my lessons are helpful and inspire you to want to learn more. Music is such a great outlet in stressful times (and let’s face it, times have been stressful!) Tune out the noise and disappear into a world of music.