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Access Octomono Masonry Settings

Free Beginning Cello Etudes!

10/3/2021

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Free Beginning Cello Etudes!

I am in love with cello etudes. 

There are very few things in life that make me more excited than finding new cello etudes. I've been searching for etudes since I was in junior high, working on the Werner cello method by myself (my teacher at the time didn't assign etudes or exercises) and found myself puzzled over the rests at the beginning of some of the studies. Was there (gasp) a piano accompaniment? This was before widespread internet access but I searched library catalogs, obsessively looked at the back covers of cello music looking for any mention of a piano part, and asked everyone I came across. Nobody had any idea...
Werner Cello Method
A few years later, we had our first computer (good old dial-up internet access) and I found Ebay. I searched for old cello music late into the night, every night.

​One night, I found a large collection of cello music on Ebay and in it, there was a copy of the Werner Cello Method Piano Accompaniment - all volumes. I was so excited to find out that yes, Werner had written a piano part; the book actually did exist! Now all I had to do was win the auction. 
I put in a low bid and waited while the bids rose that week. I waited until a few hours before the auction closed and then I sat, staring at the page, refreshing it every few seconds.

​Dial-up internet was slow and unreliable and I was shaking as I waited for the minutes to tick by. One minute before the auction ended, I started bidding again. I bid higher (hands shaking,) bid higher, oh no - I'm outbid, bid higher, move faster Cassia! And then it was over. I couldn't believe it but I had won. The Werner was going to be mine!
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There have been numerous moments of great etude-finding joy since: The store in Italy that actually answered my email about a huge number of rare etude books they'd gotten from an old estate and sent the package with Zacchini, Moja, and so much more. The library in Switzerland that didn't answer the first five emails I sent but answered the sixth; with the file of the Nolck book I was looking for actually attached! The used book stores and internet sites and WorldCat continue to have treasures and yes, there's still Ebay. 
Lee Cello Method
But through it all, the greatest joy has been playing and teaching with these amazing etudes. I knew there had to be a way to make them available in a practical way. It has taken a long time but we finally have a practical, graded system of rare and classic cello etudes that works for my students.  
Becker Op. 13
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There will be a number of volumes in The Cello Etude System:
Part 0: Beginning Level
Parts 1A and 1B: First Position, Closed
Parts 2A and 2B: First Position, Extended, and Half Position
Part 3A: First and Fourth Position
and many more!

The First Volume of Cello Etudes is Released!

This is the solo book. The student etude part is written on its own, without accompaniment. This can help with note-reading and making it easier to find and work on skills. 
LEARN MORE
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Etudes are the bridge between technical exercises and repertoire. The best etudes teach one or more specific cello skills, often combined with opportunities to develop musicality. 
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Etudes are an essential part of any cello curriculum and now, finally, there is a book that gives beginning cellists a system of etudes they can play from the very start of their cello journey!
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Duet accompaniments provide another layer of teaching. With the duet accompaniments in this book, there is a focus on rhythm that will prepare the student for later chamber and orchestral music-making!
LEARN MORE
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There were too many beginning etudes to fit in The Cello Etude System, Part 0 so we decided to offer some of the extra beginning cello etudes for free in this blog!
Happy Etude Playing!

-Cassia 
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Free Beginning Cello Etude No. 1

Free Beginning Cello Etudes!

Free Beginning Cello Etude No. 2

Free Beginning Cello Etudes!

Free Beginning Cello Etude No. 3

Free Beginning Cello Etudes!

No. 3, cont.

Free Beginning Cello Etudes!

Free Beginning Cello Etude No. 4

Free Beginning Cello Etudes!

Free Beginning Cello Etude No. 5

Free Beginning Cello Etudes!

Free Beginning Cello Etude No. 6

Free Beginning Cello Etudes!

Free Beginning Cello Etude No. 7

Free Beginning Cello Etudes!

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    Free Beginning Cello Etudes!

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Learning Long Slurs on the B Major Scale for Cello: Free Cello Exercises!

3/24/2021

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​Learn to play the long slur at the bottom of page 38 in The Two Octaves Book for Cello!

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When I was asked about ways to learn and practice the long slur at the bottom of p.38 in The Two Octaves Book for Cello, I knew I wouldn't be able to answer the email just with text because there are so many great exercises to learn long slurs. 
Here's the slur. It's pretty tricky to play all of the shifts, save enough bow for all of the notes, and keep everything smooth and even!
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Here are some tips for working on these free cello exercises!
Tips for Playing Long Slurs on the Cello
And here are free cello exercises that can help you learn the long slurs on the B major scale:

Learning Long Slurs on the Cello, Page 1

Learning Long Slurs on the B Major Scale, for Cello - Free Cello Exercises

Learning Long Slurs on the Cello, Page 2

Learning Long Slurs on the B Major Scale, for Cello - Free Cello Exercises

Learning Long Slurs on the Cello, Page 3

Learning Long Slurs on the B Major Scale, for Cello - Free Cello Exercises

Learning Long Slurs on the Cello, Page 4

Learning Long Slurs on the B Major Scale, for Cello - Free Cello Exercises

Learning Long Slurs on the Cello, Page 5

Learning Long Slurs on the B Major Scale, for Cello - Free Cello Exercises

Learning Long Slurs on the Cello, Page 6

Learning Long Slurs on the B Major Scale, for Cello - Free Cello Exercises

Learning Long Slurs on the Cello, Page 7

Learning Long Slurs on the B Major Scale, for Cello - Free Cello Exercises

Learning Long Slurs on the Cello, Page 8

Learning Long Slurs on the B Major Scale, for Cello - Free Cello Exercises

Learning Long Slurs on the Cello, Page 9

Learning Long Slurs on the B Major Scale, for Cello - Free Cello Exercises

Learning Long Slurs on the Cello, Page 10

Learning Long Slurs on the B Major Scale, for Cello - Free Cello Exercises

Learning Long Slurs on the Cello, Page 11

Learning Long Slurs on the B Major Scale, for Cello - Free Cello Exercises

Learning Long Slurs on the Cello, Page 12

Learning Long Slurs on the B Major Scale, for Cello - Free Cello Exercises

Learning Long Slurs on the Cello, Page 13

Learning Long Slurs on the B Major Scale, for Cello - Free Cello Exercises

Learning Long Slurs on the Cello, Page 14

Learning Long Slurs on the B Major Scale, for Cello - Free Cello Exercises

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Want More Scale and Arpeggios Variations? Check out The Two Octaves Book for Cello!

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Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Viola, Book Two!

1/12/2021

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About a month after I wrote Open String Bow Workouts for the Viola, Book One, back at the end of 2019, I got the first email asking for Book Two. As more and more people started asking for Book Two, I realized that I'd like a Book Two as well and I started mapping out what a second volume would look like.

​It's taken a little bit longer than I'd planned (apologies to everyone who got a January 2020 estimated release date!) but Open String Workouts for the Viola, Book Two is finally here!  
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To celebrate, here is a second volume of free Mini Open String Bowing Workouts for Viola! The mini viola bowing workouts below are all-new and aren't included in the book. ​

Free Mini Viola Bowing Workout No. 1

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Viola, Book Two!

Free Mini Viola Bowing Workout No. 2

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Viola, Book Two!

Because Open String Bow Workouts for Viola, Book Two focuses on articulation and bow control, these free studies work on some of the same skills that the book does: staccato, dynamics, double stop staccato, and spiccato. 

Free Mini Viola Bowing Workout No. 3

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Viola, Book Two!

Free Mini Viola Bowing Workout No. 4

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Viola, Book Two!

Double stop staccato is a great way to get the strings ringing right away - which leads to better tone overall!

Free Mini Viola Bowing Workout No. 5

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Viola, Book Two!

Free Mini Viola Bowing Workout No. 6

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Viola, Book Two!

Free Mini Viola Bowing Workout No. 7

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Viola, Book Two!

Free Mini Viola Bowing Workout No. 8

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Viola, Book Two!

And finally, here are a couple of open string viola exercises on spiccato:

Free Mini Viola Bowing Workout No. 9

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Viola, Book Two!

Free Mini Viola Bowing Workout No. 10

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Viola, Book Two!

    ​Sign Up to Get Free PDFs of these Mini Open String Bow Workouts for Viola!

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​Did you miss the blog post with free exercises to celebrate Book One?
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Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Violin, Book Two!

1/12/2021

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About a month after I wrote Open String Bow Workouts for the Violin, Book One, back at the end of 2019, I got the first email asking for Book Two. As more and more people started asking for Book Two, I realized that I'd like a Book Two as well and I started mapping out what a second volume would look like.

​It's taken a little bit longer than I'd planned (apologies to everyone who got a January 2020 estimated release date!) but Open String Workouts for the Violin, Book Two is finally here!  
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To celebrate, here is a second volume of free Mini Open String Bowing Workouts for Violin! The mini violin bowing workouts below are all-new and aren't included in the book. ​

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 1

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Violin, Book Two!

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 2

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Violin, Book Two!

Because Open String Bow Workouts for Violin, Book Two focuses on articulation and bow control, these free studies work on some of the same skills that the book does: staccato, dynamics, double stop staccato, and spiccato. 

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 3

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Violin, Book Two!

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 4

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Violin, Book Two!

Double stop staccato is a great way to get the strings ringing right away - which leads to better tone overall!

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 5

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Violin, Book Two!

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 6

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Violin, Book Two!

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 7

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Violin, Book Two!

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 8

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Violin, Book Two!

And finally, here are a couple of open string violin exercises on spiccato. 

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 9

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Violin, Book Two!

Free Mini Violin Bowing Workout No. 10

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Violin, Book Two!

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Did you miss the blog post with free exercises to celebrate Book One?
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Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Cello, Book Two!

1/12/2021

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About a month after I wrote Open String Bow Workouts, Book One, back at the end of 2019, I got the first email asking for Book Two. As more and more people started asking for Book Two, I realized that I'd like a Book Two as well and I started mapping out what a second volume would look like.

​It's taken a little bit longer than I'd planned (apologies to everyone who got a January 2020 estimated release date!) but Open String Workouts for the Cello, Book Two is finally here!  
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To celebrate, here is a second volume of free Mini Open String Bowing Workouts for Cello! The mini cello bowing workouts below are all-new and aren't included in the book. 

Free Mini Cello Bowing Workout No. 1

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Cello, Book Two!

Free Mini Cello Bowing Workout No. 2

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Cello, Book Two!

Because Open String Bow Workouts for Cello, Book Two focuses on articulation and bow control, these free studies work on some of the same skills that the book does: staccato, dynamics, double stop staccato, and spiccato. 

Free Mini Cello Bowing Workout No. 3

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Cello, Book Two!

Free Mini Cello Bowing Workout No. 4

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Cello, Book Two!

Double stop staccato is a great way to get the strings ringing right away - which leads to better tone overall!

Free Mini Cello Bowing Workout No. 5

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Cello, Book Two!

Free Mini Cello Bowing Workout No. 6

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Cello, Book Two!

Free Mini Cello Bowing Workout No. 7

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Cello, Book Two!

Free Mini Cello Bowing Workout No. 8

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Cello, Book Two!

And finally, here are a couple of open string cello exercises on spiccato: 

Free Mini Cello Bowing Workout No. 9

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Cello, Book Two!

Free Mini Cello Bowing Workout No. 10

Better Bowing Articulation: Free Mini Open-String Workouts for Cello, Book Two!

    Sign Up to Get Free PDFs of these Mini Open String Bow Workouts for Cello!

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Did you miss the blog post with mini free exercises to celebrate Book One? 
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Forked Deer: Free Mini Fiddle Tune Booklet for Violin, Viola, Cello, and String Bass!

10/4/2020

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All of the music was ready. The snacks, the chairs, the stands; we were ready for anything. Myanna and I had spent hours arranging music, making chamber groups out of names (level often unknown), answering emails, cleaning, and so much more. Summer string camp was about to begin!
Harvey String Teaching Summer Chamber Camp
The doorbell rang and the first student came in, always looking a little uncertain. It's hard to be first! But then the deluge would happen and soon our front porch would be covered with violin, viola, cello, and bass cases and no matter how prepared we had planned to be, chaos would reign for that entire first session. ​
Harvey String Teaching Summer Chamber Camp
We have always had students at a range of ages and levels sign up for Summer Chamber Camp, from first year players to high schoolers in advanced string quartets. But by far, the most challenging issue has been finding music for our "Blackberry Blossom" groups: first and second year students in larger groups who want to play with their friends (even if levels aren't compatible) and have fun playing!
The level range inside of these groups has been astonishing. Some students only know a few notes while others can play fluently in first position (but aren't quite ready for the early-intermediate trios and quartets at the next level.)
Problem-solving is pretty much our favorite thing. So Myanna wrote some easy, flexible tune arrangements for these groups. 
First, there's a Regular Exercise and a Basic Exercise that can both be played together at the same time (and with all the instruments.)
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Then, for each tune, there's an Advanced Melody, a Stress-Free Melody, a Basic Harmony, and a Teacher Harmony (plus, a piano accompaniment and full score, available separately.)
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Here's a concert photo of one of our Summer Fiddle groups playing a tune from the Blackberry Blossom Fiddle Books!

Harvey String Teaching Summer Chamber Camp
We weren't able to have a summer camp this year due to Covid. But now, we're using these books both with in-person and remote string classes and lessons. And we're excited about how flexible the books are, both with level and instrumentation. 

And now for the free booklets!

To give you an idea of how the books work, Myanna and I have put together a free set of exercises and tune arrangement of Forked Deer in exactly the same format as the Blackberry Blossom Fiddle Books. 

This is an all-new tune that isn't in the books! Feel free to copy and hand out to students or fellow musicians. 
Forked Deer: A Free Fiddle Tune Booklet for Violin
Forked Deer: A Free Fiddle Tune Booklet for Viola
Forked Deer: A Free Fiddle Tune Booklet for Cello
Forked Deer: A Free Fiddle Tune Booklet for String Bass
Forked Deer: A Free Fiddle Tune Booklet for String Class

Here are Free Play-Along Tracks for Forked Deer:

C. Harvey Publications · Forked Deer First Exercise
C. Harvey Publications · Forked Deer Second Exercise
C. Harvey Publications · Forked Deer Tune

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Free Sousa Duet for Strings to Celebrate the Release of Fiddles on the Bandstand, Book One!

7/2/2020

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Free Liberty Bell March for Violins, Violas, Cellos but Sousa
 So we're a little over halfway through 2020 and it's been quite a year! We hope that all of you are healthy and safe and able to still make music.

About a month ago, just as the weather was turning warmer, Myanna realized we all could all use some light-hearted, earnest, outdoor-belonging, inspiring, beautiful, rhythmic, toe-tapping, nostalgic, FUN music! ​​
As usual, Myanna told me nothing about what she was writing, but as I walked out of the studio to my car one day, I passed Myanna and our mother playing some Sousa on two violins and I just had to stop and listen.

​They kept playing through the book and somehow I couldn't leave. And that's how the Fiddles on the Bandstand books were born!

Fiddles on the Bandstand Duets: Fully Compatible Between Instruments

Fiddles on the Bandstand: Fun Duets for Two Violins
Fiddles on the Bandstand: Fun Duets for Two Violas
Fiddles on the Bandstand: Fun Duets for Two Cellos

Here's What's In the Books:

Fiddles on the Bandstand: Fun Duets for Strings
These are the tunes people hum, the tunes we remember from "somewhere", the tunes we might even want to share with our neighbors in an impromptu outdoor concert!

​Some years ago, Myanna and I ran a youth orchestra and when they were asked to play outside after a parade, we quickly realized that there is an entire genre of lighthearted music that is perfect for that situation. Some of the tunes that inspired us back then have made an appearance in this book. 

In the past week, as the books have arrived from the printer, I have started to play the duets in outdoor lessons with my students. And I can say that there's nothing quite like the beauty of these cello duets gently floating out in the breeze. 

To Celebrate the New Books,
Here's a Brand New Arrangement of
​Sousa's Liberty Bell March!

John Philip Sousa
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Did you know that Sousa began his career playing violin?
Sample Pages from the Free March:
(Full March Available Through the Contact Form Below.)
Free Liberty Bell March for Violins, Violas, Cellos but Sousa
  • The violin duet is mainly in first position with a small amount of third position. 
  • The viola duet is in first and third positions. 
  • The cello part is in first through fourth positions and is all in bass clef.
  • The duets are compatible between instruments.

    Sign Up Here to Receive Your Free PDFs of the
    ​Sousa Liberty Bell duet!

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Free Christmas Duets to Celebrate New Book Releases!

12/10/2019

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How three new duet books made it to press in the middle of a super busy fall...

In the middle of way too many scheduled performances and tons of teaching, Myanna was writing the books in the Dancing Into Bethlehem series.

Now, I just have to say that Myanna is wonderfully secretive. She never reveals what books she'll write next; no group-think or input from anyone ever inspires what will be written.

​However, I can tell something new is coming when I hear strains of her duets wafting up from the studio below mine. Myanna's music is just so inventive, evoking film scores and folk dances, that I always know when I'm hearing her arrangements. 
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Writing is just the first part. After that she figures out bowings, edits the books, plays through the books many times, tries the duets out with her many students, and finally sends the books to me. Yay. 
Although I've figured out that new books are coming, I can only prepare so much. Most of the work I do can't start until I actually have the manuscripts. 

​I pick the titles, design the covers, set up the layouts, do more proofreading, register the ISBNs, send the books to our various printers, make book cover and sample page images for the website, write the book descriptions, design the webpages, order the books, and finally start letting everyone know. ​
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Let's just say that Black Friday shopping didn't happen. I didn't even have time to do Cyber Monday shopping! Instead, I caught a few of those "Cyber Monday Extended" sales. Yep, those extended sales are just about perfect for us. 

As an aside, I'd like to thank our wonderful UPS, USPS, and Fedex, and AmazonFresh delivery people, without whom this company (and these hungry musicians) would not be able to run! 
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Here's a little bit about the new books:

  • All duets are compatible between instruments (violin and viola, violin and cello, and viola and cello can play together!)
  • All duets are intermediate. The violin and viola books are all in first position but are musically and technically challenging. The cello book uses first through fourth positions (but no tenor clef.)
  • Myanna picked a really neat selection of carols and Christmas music! I love her other Christmas duet book, Sailing Into Bethlehem, and I'm excited to have new music to play with my students this year.
  • These duets can be played for gigs, in lessons, or just for fun. They bring an enchanting, lively warmth to the Christmas season!​
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And to Celebrate the Release,
​
​Here Are Some Free Mini Books of Carols!

  • These free violin, viola, and cello duets are compatible between instruments, just like the duets in Sailing Into Bethlehem and Dancing Into Bethlehem. 
  • These duets are not included in either of the two Christmas duet books; they're only available here!

Christmas Duets for Two Violins - A Mini Ebook

Christmas Duets for Two Violins -Free Sheet Music

Manger Lullaby - a Free Violin Christmas Duet

Manger Lullaby - a Free Violin Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey
Manger Lullaby - a Free Violin Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey

Masters In This Hall - a Free Violin Christmas Duet

Masters In This Hall - a Free Violin Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey
Masters in the Hall - a Free Violin Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey

O Tannenbaum - a Free Violin Christmas Duet

O Tannenbaum - a Free Violin Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey
O Tannenbaum - a Free Violin Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey

Christmas Duets for Two Violas - A Mini Ebook

Christmas Duets for Two Violas -Free Sheet Music

Manger Lullaby - a Free Viola Christmas Duet

Manger Lullaby - a Free Viola Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey
Manger Lullaby - a Free Viola Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey

Masters In This Hall - a Free Viola Christmas Duet

Masters In This Hall - a Free Viola Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey
Masters in the Hall - a Free Viola Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey

O Tannenbaum - a Free Viola Christmas Duet

O Tannenbaum - a Free Viola Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey
O Tannenbaum - a Free Viola Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey

​Christmas Duets for Two Cellos - A Mini Ebook

Christmas Duets for Two Cellos -Free Sheet Music

Manger Lullaby - a Free Cello Christmas Duet

Manger Lullaby - a Free Cello Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey
Manger Lullaby - a Free Cello Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey

Masters In This Hall - a Free Cello Christmas Duet

Masters In This Hall - a Free Cello Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey
Masters in the Hall - a Free Cello Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey

O Tannenbaum - a Free Cello Christmas Duet

O Tannenbaum - a Free Cello Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey
O Tannenbaum - a Free Cello Christmas Duet by Myanna Harvey

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Learning Three-Octave Arpeggios - Free Preparatory Studies!

11/1/2019

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Figuring Out How to Teach Cello Arpeggios

As long as I have been studying or teaching cello, learning arpeggios consisted of seeing an arpeggio and trying to play it. This was fine; even workable, but as I came to discover, not the best way to learn or teach cello arpeggios that would be consistently in tune.
Three-Octave Arpeggios on the Cello: Preparatory Studies
Some students struggled mightily with the larger spaces. Other students didn't understand the concepts behind the fingerings. All in all, even the most talented and advanced students only played a perfect arpeggio about 1/3 of the time, which wasn't great for auditions!
I became acutely aware of the lack of an actual cello method for teaching arpeggios when Theresa Villani (a wonderful cellist and teacher) reached out to ask if I had one. Since I had no idea where to start, I did quite a bit of brain-storming... and wrote a scale method instead!
Learning Three-Octave Scales on the Cello
After Learning Three-Octave Scales on the Cello was published at the end of August 2019, I still didn't quite know which arpeggio fingerings to pick for the book but at least I had a blueprint for how to teach notes and spaces.
I finally settled on three distinct fingerings for Learning Three-Octave Arpeggios on the Cello. The first fingering, used in the Galamian Scale System for Cello (among other books) is a little like a staircase; you go up the C string, then over to the G, then up the G, then over to the D, then up the D, then over to the A. 
​
Learning Three-Octave Arpeggios on the Cello
The second fingering is very straightforward: you go across to the A string and shift up the A string.
Learning Three-Octave Arpeggios on the Cello
The third fingering, used in Klengel Technical Studies for Cello, Volume One, shifts up to the thumb on the D string and then has you play the top octave of the arpeggio in thumb position. ​
Learning Three-Octave Arpeggios on the Cello
Each of these three fingerings has something to teach cellists. A study of all three fingerings will give you a comprehensive knowledge of fingerboard geography and larger shifts on the cello. 
Learning Three-Octave Arpeggios on the Cello

Free Cello Arpeggio Preparatory Studies!

To celebrate the release of this new book, we are offering free preparatory studies for Three Octave Arpeggios on the Cello. Click on each picture to see the image enlarged. If you would like the file as a free PDF, fill out the form below and your download will be on the next page.

Cello Arpeggios
Shifting Study

Three-Octave Arpeggios on the Cello: Preparatory Studies

Cello Arpeggios
Fifth Position Study

Three-Octave Arpeggios on the Cello: Preparatory Studies

Cello Arpeggios
Spacing Across Strings

Three-Octave Arpeggios on the Cello: Preparatory StudiesPicture

Fingering No. 1
Putting the Arpeggio Together

Three-Octave Arpeggios on the Cello: Preparatory Studies

Cello Arpeggios
Note Spaces
​for Fingering No. 2

Three-Octave Arpeggios on the Cello: Preparatory Studies

Cello Arpeggios
Playing Across Strings
​for Fingering No. 2

Three-Octave Arpeggios on the Cello: Preparatory Studies

Cello Arpeggios
Putting the Notes Together for Fingering No. 2

Three-Octave Arpeggios on the Cello: Preparatory Studies

Cello Arpeggios
Shifting to the Thumb for Fingering No. 3

Three-Octave Arpeggios on the Cello: Preparatory Studies

Cello Arpeggios
Learning More Thumb Position Notes for Fingering No. 3

Three-Octave Arpeggios on the Cello: Preparatory Studies
Picture

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Learn Cello Scale Spaces - Free Sheet Music!

9/2/2019

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One of the best ways to map the fingerboard for your mind and fingers is by learning scales. Three-octave scales, in particular, can be used to teach nearly all of the notes on the cello.
Learn Cello Scale Spaces - Free Sheet Music!
As I watched over the years while some of my students struggled with knowing how far to shift in three-octave scales, I knew that there had to be a solution. 

Surprisingly, the answer came while I was writing a scale book for the violin! 

Because violinists typically play with four fingers in each position (1-2-3-4), instead of three (1-2-4 or 1-3-4), I was able to write exercises that used notes they already knew to teach notes in the next position. 
When I saw how well the exercises worked, I just knew that I had to find a way to use that same concept to teach cello scales.

​I started writing studies for a three-octave G major cello scale and tried them with several students who had never played a three-octave scale before.
I wasn't surprised when they figured out the exercises; it was a pretty easy concept. But I was absolutely shocked when, at the end of playing the 4 pages of G scale exercises, those same students were able to play the scale straight through, without stopping, and in tune!
Picture
New Release!
Before this, I had wheedled and cajoled and talked my students through their initial 3-octave scales. And, after they finally learned the scales, some of them played scales in tune but some just didn't.

​This book was a game-changer for me and my students, cutting out months and years of frustration, and helping them master entire three-octave scales in all of the major and minor keys.
Cello whole step
Cello whole step
Cello half step
If we take time to think about the steps in scales and teach them to our fingers, it is possible to truly learn scales, play more in tune, and play in tune more consistently.
Cello D Major Scale
To celebrate the release of Learning Three-Octave Scales on the Cello, this post gives you the major scales written out with all of the whole and half steps so you can think about and remember each space. 

And if this whets your appetite for scale mastery, check out the new cello scale book!

​​Tips for Playing Cello Three-Octave Scale Steps

  • Play these exercises slowly. 
  • Think about each space as you play it.
  • As your mind sees the words "half step" or "whole step", try to remember how that space feels in your fingers.
  • Roman numerals refer to strings, not positions.
       I = A string
       II = D string
       III = G string
​       IV = C string
  • If you have trouble playing scales in tune, or just want to improve your scale intonation, study the scale exercises in Learning Three-Octave Scales on the Cello.

C Major
​Cello Scale Spaces

Three-Octave Cello Scale Spaces

D-flat Major
Cello Scale Spaces

Three-Octave Cello Scale Spaces

D Major
​Cello Scale Spaces

Three-Octave Cello Scale Spaces

E-flat Major
​Cello Scale Spaces

Three-Octave Cello Scale Spaces

E Major
​Cello Scale Spaces

Three-Octave Cello Scale Spaces

F Major
​Cello Scale Spaces

Three-Octave Cello Scale Spaces

F-sharp Major
​Cello Scale Spaces

Three-Octave Cello Scale Spaces

G Major
​Cello Scale Spaces

Three-Octave Cello Scale Spaces

A-flat Major
​Cello Scale Spaces

Three-Octave Cello Scale Spaces

A Major
​Cello Scale Spaces

Three-Octave Cello Scale Spaces

B-flat Major
​Cello Scale Spaces

Three-Octave Cello Scale Spaces

B Major
​Cello Scale Spaces

Three-Octave Cello Scale Spaces

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    Authors

    Cassia Harvey can't ever find or play enough exercises. She searches for rare and out-of-print studies and etudes in her free time. If you know of any, please let her know. Seriously; it's an obsession.

    Myanna Harvey's teacher assigned her piles of exercises when she was growing up but whenever her mother stopped listening, Myanna would quickly break away from the Sevcik to play a bit of Brahms or Beethoven she had heard on the radio. Now she practices with exercises and assigns them to students but her greatest passion is playing chamber music. 

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