Customer Reviews

Position Pieces for Cello

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

 

 

I am an adult learning the cello. I would be considered an intermediate to advanced beginner.

Position Pieces is an outstanding way to learn the positions on the cello. Some of the tunes are somewhat juvenile, but they have all challenged me.

The book also incorporates other techniques in the pieces, so it's more than just shifting. My instructor and I have enjoyed working through this book.

It would be very difficult to do if you are trying to teach yourself.

Being a "mature" cello student, I needed studies that would help me to visualize where I am on the cello. Though the pieces in this book are not particularly challenging, they are exactly what I need to familiarize myself with the different positions. The pieces switch back and forth from "home" (first) position to the one you are practicing, giving a valuable study in shifting to the new position. The written exercises at the beginning of each change in position are a help to establish finger spacing before starting out. I have been pleased with all the books by Rick Mooney that I have purchased (Thumb Position 1 & 2, Double Stops 1 and Position Pieces for Cello 1). Good study for any beginning student learning the different positions on the cello.

My teacher uses this method book along with many others, but I like the layout of this one. It presents things in a certain order to make you understand it, and it doesn't give fingerings for every single note like some books. First couple bars or lines have the fingerings then they start getting scarcer and scarcer as the piece goes on. That way you are not using them as a crutch but if you get stumped you can look back at the beginning to figure it out. Unlike Suzuki books which offer two sets of fingers for every single note. I also like the written exercises at the beginning of each new position so that you can make sure you "get it" before you actually play. Nice musically flowing little etudes.

First of all, there is nothing wrong with a 3 star product, including this book, so please don't ding my review because it's not 5 stars. Three stars means "good."

This book is good, but it could be great. There are other very good reviews here which give detail as to why it's good, so I'll skip that part. Two things could have made this book great: 1) an accompanying CD, and 2) pieces that are familiar. Every piece in this book is "fabricated", ie. not a 'real' song. To someone trying to learn, familiar pieces let you know immediately if you are right on the note or not. And a CD is hugely helpful in that regard as well.

So, this is a good book. Please don't get me wrong. It is helpful in learning to shift, and to appreciate that staying in, say, 3rd or 4th position is sometimes easier than reverting to the (to a beginner) safe and familiar 1st position, which can ultimately create the need for even more shifting back and forth.

I like the book, it is helpful, it's just not "GREAT!" It probably ranks 5 stars from others because it is the most helpful, available, and approachable book on learning and becoming familiar with using positions for the cello available, but it still could be better.

This book is very easy to understand. Exercises are worked in a very well thought out and logical manner. I am learning on my own and this book has made it fun!

Easy to understand, easy to play and FUN!