C. HARVEY PUBLICATIONS
  • Home
  • Violin, Viola, Cello, & Bass Books
    • Cello Books >
      • Beginning Cello Books
      • Early-Intermediate Cello Books
      • Late-Intermediate Cello Books
      • Early-Advanced Cello Books
      • Late-Advanced Cello Books
      • Popper
      • Cello Repertoire Study Books
      • Cello Downloads
      • Free Cello Sheet Music
    • Violin >
      • Beginning and First Position Violin Books
      • Intermediate and Advanced Violin Books
    • Viola >
      • Beginning and First-Position Viola Books
      • Intermediate and Advanced Viola Books
    • Bass
    • Books by Subject
    • String Class
    • Piano Accompaniments
    • Gift Certificates
    • Christmas Store: Music and Gifts for Strings
  • Accessories
  • Tools
    • Violin Study Maps
    • A Complete Study of Fourth Position
    • Cello scale books: a guide
    • Beginning Violin Technique
    • Problem Solving
    • Choosing books for your level
    • How to use technique
    • Using technique in the cello lesson
  • About the Company
    • New Releases!
    • Better String Playing Blog
    • Where to buy the books!
    • Publishing Blog
    • What Teachers Say
    • Ordering/Shipping
    • About the Authors
    • Dealer Information
    • Related Sites
    • C. Harvey Publications Review Club
    • Contact

Problem Solving for the Cello

Fingers collapse, are weak, or don't move fast:

Solutions:
Practice finger exercises first very slowly, then gradually work for a faster tempo. Double stop exercises with an open string as the top note (found in Finger Exercises, Book One) are best for training the fingers to curve and play on their tips. Double stop exercises with a finger on each string (found in Finger Exercises, Book Two) are best for training strength and coordination.




Finger Exercises for the Cello, Book One
Finger Exercises for the Cello, Book One
Double Stop Beginnings for the Cello, Book One
Double Stop Beginnings for the Cello, Book One

You want better tone:

Solutions:
1. Strengthening the left hand is the first step. The fingers of the left hand must press the string down completely before the string can vibrate and make good sound. Try Daily Exercises for the Cello, Book One to help strengthen your hand, along with the Finger Exercises books (see above).
2. Bow training, first on open strings (String Crossing for the Cello, Book One), and then with fingered notes (Bowing Variations for the Cello, Book One). First, make sure your hand is relaxed while holding the bow. Feel the weight of your arm sink into the bow; don't squeeze the bow to get sound. Work on straight bows (try playing next to or in front of a mirror), and then work on making the strings vibrate as wide as possible with the bow.





Bowing Variations for the Cello, Book One
Bowing Variations for the Cello, Book One
String Crossing for the Cello, Book One
String Crossing for the Cello, Book One

You want to learn to shift:

Solution:
Start with a book like Second Position for the Cello, Book One, or Fourth Position for the Cello, Book One. While shifting is best learned with a teacher, these books can offer considerable practice material for during the week.
When you first start shifting, you may hear some slides. It is much better to keep your finger on the string while you shift than to take it off, even if you initially hear more sliding; it is much easier to learn the distance between the notes this way.




Second Position for the Cello, Book One
Second Position for the Cello, Book One
Fourth Position for the Cello
Fourth Position for the Cello

You want to learn tenor clef:

Solution:
Try Tenor Clef for the Cello, which teaches one note at a time. To supplement your Tenor Clef study, try the Davydov School, pages 34-43 , and the Dotzauer Method, Volume 3, and the Romberg School, pages 36-57 .




Tenor Clef for the Cello
Tenor Clef for the Cello

Have more problems?

Email us or send us a note on our contact page. We love to hear suggestions for future books!
C. Harvey Publications
601 Foster Road
Cheltenham, PA 19012
info@charveypublications.com



Cello Books
Violin Books
Viola Books
Bass Books

©2023 C. Harvey Publications

    CONTACT

Submit
  • Home
  • Violin, Viola, Cello, & Bass Books
    • Cello Books >
      • Beginning Cello Books
      • Early-Intermediate Cello Books
      • Late-Intermediate Cello Books
      • Early-Advanced Cello Books
      • Late-Advanced Cello Books
      • Popper
      • Cello Repertoire Study Books
      • Cello Downloads
      • Free Cello Sheet Music
    • Violin >
      • Beginning and First Position Violin Books
      • Intermediate and Advanced Violin Books
    • Viola >
      • Beginning and First-Position Viola Books
      • Intermediate and Advanced Viola Books
    • Bass
    • Books by Subject
    • String Class
    • Piano Accompaniments
    • Gift Certificates
    • Christmas Store: Music and Gifts for Strings
  • Accessories
  • Tools
    • Violin Study Maps
    • A Complete Study of Fourth Position
    • Cello scale books: a guide
    • Beginning Violin Technique
    • Problem Solving
    • Choosing books for your level
    • How to use technique
    • Using technique in the cello lesson
  • About the Company
    • New Releases!
    • Better String Playing Blog
    • Where to buy the books!
    • Publishing Blog
    • What Teachers Say
    • Ordering/Shipping
    • About the Authors
    • Dealer Information
    • Related Sites
    • C. Harvey Publications Review Club
    • Contact