The Art of Cello Playing: A Complete Textbook Method for Private or Class Instruction [Paperback]

Louis Potter Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1980

The author's stated purpose in writing The Art of Cello Playing is 'to present a progressive sequence of commentary and material as a basis for acquiring a sound technical foundation and basic playing competence to prepare the player for exploring the rich solo, orchestral, and chamber music literature of the instrument.' To that end he has produced a comprehensive textbook and reference manual on beginning to advanced cello technique with emphasis on the vital beginning foundation. Louis Potter Jr., is particularly well qualified to make this contribution from his wide experience in teaching both classes and individuals at Michigan State University and at National Music Camp, Interlochen, Michigan.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Summy-Birchard Inc; 2nd edition (June 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874870712
• ISBN-13: 978-0874870718
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,952 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Buy for Cello Students, April 23, 2001

By 

"hermitus" (Hayward, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Art of Cello Playing: A Complete Textbook Method for Private or Class Instruction (Paperback)

This is a very useful and intelligent book for beginning cellists. There is a wealth of information about cello technique, and an abundance of musical and even physical exercises (along with detailed instructions on how to read music). I am very glad I bought this book -- it's a gem.

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-have for all cellists!, August 19, 2005

By 

H. Wang (Fort Worth, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art of Cello Playing: A Complete Textbook Method for Private or Class Instruction (Paperback)

This book uses illustrations, words, and music examples to explain every aspects of cello techniques, which I found interesting and useful. The look of the pages might not be as colorful or flashy than many other books, but you would have more fun out of it and really build up a healthy playing foundation for all cello music.

The author introduced the fourth position after the first position - a method I also use on all my cello students - which helps greatly in developing a good shifting habit. This is a very interesting and efficient approach, and I suggest all the cellists and teachers out there to give it a try!

44 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easily Over-reated and Under-rated, May 22, 2003

By 

Patrick Walsh "feofil, fool for christ" (Rochester, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Art of Cello Playing: A Complete Textbook Method for Private or Class Instruction (Paperback)

This book culminates a top quality effort in pedagoy in cello technique. It is intended for beginners in the cello, but probably should be on every amateur cellist's book shelf as a valuable resource guide. There is probably a good three years worth of material here. I'll let you know when I finish it!

This effort to present the art of playing the cello in a systematic way--a "cello method", however, both enhances and detracts from the lasting usefulness of this book. If you follow through this book step-by-step, and gain some proficiency in a topic prior to moving on to the next topic, you will eventually learn the cello.

But the systematic presentation makes this book difficult to use in diagnosing difficulties in technique that are the result of improper form, or motion. The material is there, but sometimes it takes a good while to find the exact presentation you are looking for. But still, the author's insight into the difficulties students tend to accumulate are well worth the effort required to track it down. Who knows, maybe you will learn something else while you are perusing the book. But I find it difficult to come up with an approach that would accomadate this usage, so I do not criticise this. On the contrary, I think more non-beginning amateurs should get this book for this purpose! The effort is worthwhile.

The only criticism of this book that I have is that it does use pictures to show posture, and so on. I am sure that in the early editions of this book, the pictures were wonderfully clear and illustrate the subtleties of form and posture precicely. But the current printing quality leaves a lot to be desired, sadly. It would be well worth someone's time to replace the pictures with line drawings, which do not lose content as the printing quality deteriorates. And a fingerboard chart would really be helpful.

This book is a definite must!