If you take 45 minute lessons, 45 minutes of daily practice is recommended. But, don’t forget, quality is more important than quantity.

Tricky spot tips

  1. Listen to the piece.

  2. Divide the piece up into small spots using numbers or letters. You can also use funny names too.

  3. Clap and count that spot with the metronome at an easy tempo. Be sure you’re staying with the metronome. Don’t move on until you feel like this is easy.

  4. Pizzicato that spot until it feels easy. If it needs to be fast, be sure you’re using the correct left hand technique to make sure it can go faster later. (See my “Playing Slower” blog)

  5. Play bowings with open strings until it feels easy.

  6. Put it together and use the metronome.

Need help practicing at home? Contact one of my Practice Buddies.

Rhythm is the most important aspect of playing an instrument- watch this cool video from Rick Beato about how to clap any complex rhythm.

The Mysteries of Intonation

This Bullet Proof Musician podcast breaks down the mysteries of intonation.

IMinna Chung explains to Noa Kageyama that if you use a tuner to tune each string on your cello, your cello is going to be out of tune. To play a perfect fifth in tune, the higher note needs to be two cents higher. This means your D string should be two cents lower, the G string should be four cents lower and the C string should be six cents lower.

Feelings wheel chart featuring primary emotions: love, fear, anger, disgust, sad, happy, and surprise, with related secondary emotions listed around each.

Emotions in Music

Emotions are typically broken down into these three categories: happy, sad and mad. But there are so many more to consider when we are trying to say something musically. Use this chart to help.

A colorful chart titled "fingerboard" with columns labeled "fast speed," "medium speed," and "slow speed" on the left and "light weight," "medium weight," and "heavy weight" on the right. It has numbered sections from 1 to 5 and the word "BRIDGE" at the bottom.

Crunchy Sounds?

If this is happening, try using less weight and a faster bow in channel 1. Use more weight and a slower bow in channel 5.

Colorful chart showing musical positions and notes for trombone slide positions.

Fingerboard chart listed above with positions

Spice it up

Repetition can sometimes get a little mundane. Try a few of these practice strategies from Practice with Purpose web site.

Practice Strategies Guide in black and white featuring 20 tips such as 'Chunk It,' 'Penny Game,' 'Add a Note,' and others for effective practice techniques in music. Includes suggestions like using a metronome, recording yourself, practicing with friends, and performing for family. Encourages fun and focus on specific musical aspects. Designed to enhance musical skills with varied approaches.
Logo for Mary Beth Cello Lessons featuring stylized initials MB within a circular design.

The faster you want to learn something, the slower you have to practice.

Do you ever find yourself practicing before figuring out some puzzling parts in a section?

You can practice it as soon as you learn it.

Parent involvement

In the early stages of learning as a young child, having the parent available to help the student practice is a key ingredient to creating a beautiful cellist.

“The fate of a child is in the hands of his parents”- Shinichi Suzuki