Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

I wish I had studied the cello years ago, but it's better late than never! I started with this book for the Absolute Beginner and 'am now in ABCs of Cello book 3. This cello book 1 starts out easy with familiar tunes and warm-up exercises. It explains the staff and bass clef which is not the same as a violinists clef, the treble clef. You learn all the basic notes on all the strings in this book in 1st position and as you move along in the upper books you learn "shifting" which means you move your arm and fingers up the neck of the cello. All these books cover alot and are very basic at the same time.

Cello is the best!!

I never read music before but was able to learn it with the simple instructions in the beginning. As an absolute beginner on the cello it seemed easy for me to figure out. It shows where the notes are in relation to the strings. Great songs too!!

I used to play cello in highschool and then dropped it completely for 20 years. I am finding these three, beginning, intermediate, & advanced books very useful.

The beggining book has a nice mixture of melodies and instructions, and I quickly got back up to speed. To get the most out of it, you really need to sit and read it as well, small phrases can be passed over that are very important, such as "try to think about the musical phrase while you play" is easy to overlook while practicing, but important to keep in mind.

Having played before I am finding myself flipping back and forth between books, but even the begginning book has some lovely pieces that with changes in emphasis or repeats become compelling pieces for performance.

As a professional cellist and experienced cello teacher, I find this fantastic method book extremely well written and helpful to any cello beginner. The recored tracks on the CD are an excellent example of what the goal for each piece/song should be. Having only piano accompaniment available for some of the more advanced pieces allows any cellist to learn how to listen closely to his/her own sound as the leading part simultaneously with the 'keeping up the good tempo and richer harmony' piano accompaniment.
I use this method book all the time (all three levels)!

Irina Chirkova, cello faculty

Janice Tucker Rhoda has published a really valuable series for the string player. All the books are graded according to the level of the student. It is clear and easy to read (something that cannot be taken for granted with many of the other series available). The author has put in a mix of her own compositions and familiar and well-known melodies as well. I use them for my students- they are the first books I go to for any level up to intermediate. I especially like the beginning books as my students have always commented on how much they enjoy them. Certainly worth getting- highly recommended!

Great book for the beginner, well explained with lots of diagrams to understand the music notes and placement of fingers on the cello bridge.

The book does a good job of showing how to hold the instrument and introducing fingering, with practice using simple familiar tunes.