Learn to Play Wohlfahrt Etude No. 39 on the Cello

The exercises below give you shifting, position, and bowing exercises that help you master this intermediate cello etude.

Teaching is often an act of quiet service.

When I went to research more about Franz Wohlfahrt’s life, I discovered that he was the son of a piano teacher. He himself studied with Ferdinand David. He wrote books for his students.

And that’s about all there is; Franz Wohlfahrt seems to have lived a life outside of the history books.

However,

The impact that Wohlfahrt had on violin teaching is undeniable; he left us with some wonderful etudes that are still played today! His etudes make students solid.

Wohlfahrt’s Etudes Op. 45 have been transcribed for viola in a number of different editions and also for advanced cello by Paul Gruemmer. I love to play Gruemmer’s cello transcription in my own practice! (This is a link to that book with sample pages.)

Here are some free preparatory exercises for Wohlfahrt's Etude No. 39 (Op. 45)!

This transcription of this etude for cello is set at an intermediate level (easier than those in the Gruemmer book) and works on shifting, string crossing, and playing across strings in position.