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.
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Student Information
Colorado Cello- Lessons, Performances, and more!
School year schedule will begin on August 17th, with the
exception of Shining Mountain students,
who will begin on September 8th.
Group classes will be scheduled soon, stay tuned!