Lesson Requirements
All students are required to have the following:
  • Cello, bow, and case
  • Rosin
  • Dust cloth, for cleaning instrument off immediately after use
  • music stand for practice at home

In addition, students may be asked to purchase the following items:
  • Music books and sheet music
  • Tuner
  • Metronome
  • Blank staff paper
  • New or different brand of strings

My recommendations for many of these items may be found on my recommended
products page.



Practice Tips
Practicing is most effective when it happens regularly.  It is far better to practice 4-6
days a week for shorter periods of time than it is to practice once or twice a week for longer
times.  This is because your body and brain need time to recover and process the intricate
movements that are part of cello playing.

Ideal practice times are as follows:
  • True beginners (playing less than 3 months)- 15-20 minutes a day, 4-6 days a week
  • Beginners- 20-30 minutes a day, 4-6 days a week
  • Intermediate to Advanced- minimum practice time should equal your lesson time.  For
    example, if you take a 45 minute lesson, you should practice for  at least 45 minutes a
    day, 4-6 days a week.

It is recommended that you plan in some rest days - just as with conventional athletes,
musicians use and work their muscles intensely.  Your body will benefit from an occasional
day off, which is why my ideal practice routines don't exceed 6 days a week, even for me!

Caring for your Instrument
As with many things, your instrument will behave and perform better with preventive
maintenance.  Here are some helpful tips:
  • Be careful with your cello both in and out of the case.  Most accidents will happen
    when people are in a hurry, or not watching what they are doing.  These accidents can
    lead to complicated (and costly) repairs.
  • NEVER lean your cello up against a chair, table, wall, etc.  It may seem stable, but if it
    falls over you will likely cause it serious damage.
  • Be especially careful around the bridge- this is the most delicate part of your
    instrument.  
  • Always dust off your strings and body of your cello after playing.  Rosin dust will
    collect and, over time, turn into a sticky residue that can impact your cello's
    appearance and performance.
  • The body of your cello may be cleaned with a specially-formulated polish.  Clean a
    small area at a time (for example, clean just a quarter of the top surface before moving
    on).
  • The strings and fingerboard of your cello can be cleaned with rubbing alcohol.  Place a
    minute amount on a cloth or paper towel, and rub along the strings and fingerboard
    until residues are removed.  Do NOT let alcohol touch the body of your cello; It will
    eat through the varnish, thereby ruining the finish.

Click here to visit another helpful website on stringed instrument care

Humidity and Cellos in Colorado
You may have noticed how dry it is in Colorado, which may be a cause for concern among
cello owners.  I have heard many opinions from various luthiers (stringed instrument
repair people) about whether or not to humidify instruments that reside in our arid
climate: some are in favor of doing so, while others are completely against it.  With my
own two cellos, one is extremely sensitive to lower humidity and needs humidification,
while the other does just fine without.  My personal opinion is that each cello may be
different, and if you experience problems with your cello, especially during winter, you
may benefit from humidifying.  You can find some of my favorite instrument humidifiers
on my recommended products page.
Copyright © 2010 coloradocello.com
Student Information
Colorado Cello- Lessons, Performances, and more!
Recitals are scheduled for Saturday, February 27 at 3pm
and Sunday, March 14, also at 3pm.
Dress rehearsals (for those needing piano accompaniment)
tentatively scheduled for Feb. 20 and March 7
Group classes will be scheduled soon, stay tuned!