The ABCs of Cello for the Absolute Beginner: Cello, Book 1 [Paperback]

Janice Tucker Rhoda (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2000 | ISBN-10: 0825838851 | ISBN-13: 978-0825838859

Janice Tucker Rhoda's phenomenally successful series, The ABCs of Cello, owes much of its success to the wonderful original material and to the sensitive arrangements of classical, folk, fiddle and other popular melodies. After many years of teaching children and adults the author has developed a simple and enjoyable approach for studying the Cello. The ABCs of Cello for the Absolute Beginner, Book 1 contains 29 Melodies, Finger Graphs, Warm-ups, Scales, Easy Duets, a worksheet for note-recognition, a glossary and practice chart.

The special CD insert consists of three components: 29 performance pieces of cello with piano accompaniments, piano accompaniment tracks by themselves for play-along, and a printable pdf file of the piano accompaniments. Rob Bethel is a critically acclaimed classical and improvisational cellist who plays The ABCs of Cello Book 1 CD with passion, sensitivity and gusto!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I love Janice Tucker Rhoda's method books because they are easy to follow. As a cello teacher and member of the American String Teachers Association, I have reviewed many method books, and found Janice's books to be a fun, organized, "no frills" book to offer my students. The students enjoy being able to play familiar songs right from the "get go". Many method books are so cluttered with information the student has a difficult time focusing on the lesson and just ends up very confused. The ABCs of Cello series of method books are excellent books for every level, they progress nicely through the positions and move the student smoothly through their musical endeavors." --Charlene Ledoux, cellist Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra, Fitchburg State College

About the Author

Janice Tucker Rhoda's biography is included in Marquis Who's Who in America, Who's Who of American Women and Who's Who in the World. She has designed her path-breaking instruction series, The ABCs of Strings, to encourage students of all ages to play the Violin, Viola, Cello and Bass. She has given clinics and courses at colleges worldwide and has served as an adjudicator for solo competitions. Ms. Rhoda resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

Ms. Rhoda is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts where her teacher was well-known pedagogue, Eric Rosenblith, protégé of Carl Flesch. She also studied with such luminaries as Nancy Cirillo, Rudolf Kolisch, Yuri Mazurkevich, George Neikrug, Daniel Pinkham, Gunther Schuller, Roman Totenberg and Benjamin Zander.

Ms. Rhoda has brilliantly adapted her innovative approach to the Cello!

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Carl Fischer Music (January 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0825838851
• ISBN-13: 978-0825838859
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #853,394 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Janice Tucker Rhoda is the author of the popular instruction series The ABCs of Strings published by world-famous Carl Fischer Music. She has designed her path-breaking series to encourage students of all ages to play the Violin, Viola, Cello and Bass. Her method makes learning to play a bowed string instrument easy and enjoyable. She gives string teacher training clinics and courses at colleges worldwide, and teaches an Adult Violin Course at Cambridge Center for Adult Education in Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. She also teaches Viola, Cello and Double Bass, and accompanies students on Piano.

Ms. Rhoda studied in the prep and college division of New England Conservatory beginning at age 16 with pedagogue Eric Rosenblith, protégé of the famous Carl Flesch. Ms. Rhoda played a Brahms Sonata on a popular TV show at age 16, and became concertmistress of Massachusetts All-State Orchestra after auditioning playing Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. When she was age 19 a car hit her Italian violin out of her hand and it sailed through the air and crashed to the ground! She grew up in a family of 5 children and 35 first cousins on the North Shore of Massachusetts.

Janice Tucker Rhoda's best-selling method series, The ABCs of Strings, encompasses Books, DVDs and CDs for Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass and String Orchestra. The books combine melodies from classical music standards, folk and fiddle tunes, rock 'n roll and jazz, and Ms. Rhoda's original compositions of these various styles along with warm-up exercises, scales and study pieces. There are simple graphs showing left-hand finger placement, worksheets for note identification and practice charts in all of the books. Each absolute beginner book has additional duets and a glossary of music terms and symbols.

Violinist Yuki Beppu began with the ABCs of Violin method series at age 4 with Ms. Rhoda. Ms. Beppu won the New England Conservatory concerto competition at age 10 and performed for the President. She stars in The ABCs of Violin for the Intermediate Player DVD and performs all 69 pieces from the ABCs of Violin Books 1 and 2, and A-Major, D-Major and G-Major Scales.

Ms. Rhoda's father played the steel guitar and harmonica; her mother played piano, acoustic guitar, accordion and sang. They both played by ear their entire lives. At age 60 both of her parents decided to learn to read music, so her father focused on Harmonica, and her mother on Piano. Her father practiced 5 hours or more every day while self-teaching. Her mother's private piano teacher from Russia said she would have been a child prodigy.

Ms. Rhoda has also studied Guitar, Flute, Clarinet, Recorder and Mandolin, and had years of private voice lessons beginning at NEC for college credit. She learned to read music at age 6 in the public schools and sang solos in school plays and graduations before studying Violin at age 9.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely the Best Book for Cello Beginners, December 7, 2003

By 

A cello teacher (New York USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The ABCs of Cello for the Absolute Beginner: Cello, Book 1 (Paperback)

When I first started teaching, I had my students use the two method books I grew up using. Since the ABCs Cello Books came on the market, though, I've switched all my students over with excellent results. This book, as well as Books 2 and 3, definitely constitute the best series I've ever encountered for beginning cellists.

Mr. Rhoda's original tunes are very listenable and lie nicely under the fingers, every bit as effective as the popular melodies found throughout. The exercises progress logically, scales and duets work well, and there are plenty of tunes to illustrate the various concepts. Everything's cleanly presented and well put together.

Highest recommendation!

54 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Treat Yourself to the ABC's of Cello for the Absolute Beginner!, March 19, 2006

By 

Eve Carr (Fredericksburg, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The ABCs of Cello for the Absolute Beginner: Cello, Book 1 (Paperback)

Whether you are an adult beginner or a parent who is looking for a good introductory book for your child, definitely get this book. Janice Tucker Rhoda is a well-known musical educator, and I purchased this book based solely on her name. Her instruction gives the warm-ups, scales and rhythm exercises that you need to learn any instrument, but she quickly gives you real music to play.

The graphics pick up on the simple, easy-to-understand approach, with no cutsie-pie graphics to distract. You need that when you are sitting so far from your music.

I initially started with a Suzuki book, but think that this is much better because it has a more structured approach.

I highly recommend this book. I was especially pleased with it because, as a violinist, I didn't read the bass clef and, quite frankly, was afraid that I would have difficult with it. I'm pleased to find that, with this book, I'm finding it quite easy.

As with learning any musical instrument, having the help of a professional instructor--along with this book--can help you learn much faster--and avoid picking up bad habits.

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top Drawer!, December 17, 2004

By 

Crazy Cat Lady - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The ABCs of Cello for the Absolute Beginner: Cello, Book 1 (Paperback)

Yes, top drawer!
A very easy to read music book with simple instructions in the intro. There are also little fill in schedules of how much you played everyday.

Nice well known songs are included.

A must have for absolute beginners.