Am I too old to start taking cello lessons?

 

​No, you're never too old to learn to play the cello! 

 

Because we tend to marvel at child prodigies, we fail to see how many adults discover a love for musical instruments like the cello later in life. 

 

While children may benefit from youthful energy and mental elasticity, adults have certain advantages that children don't usually have, such as body control, a different range of emotionally intelligence and critical thinking and analysis skills.

 

Can I learn the cello without a teacher?

 

As a professional cello instructor myself, you can likely guess what my answer will be--you should study under a qualified cello teacher--but let me explain why.

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The cello is a classical instrument with hundreds of years of rich history. Over those centuries, the arts of playing and teaching the cello have been highly refined.

 

An experienced cello instructor will put you on the right path and save you from the pain of developing bad habits that are hard to un-train yourself out of the longer you go without correcting them.

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Does a cello student need to know how to read music before they start?

 

No, you do not need to be able to read music to begin. You will learn how to read music through the natural course of your cello lessons.

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How hard is the cello?

 

The cello has a reputation for being difficult to master, but cellists of any skill level can enjoy playing the instrument. Having good teachers helps a lot, too, and I owe mine teachers a great debt of gratitude.

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As your cello instructor, one of my goals is to help you find the joy and personal fulfillment the cello can bring so you can push through when you get frustrated or discouraged.

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How long does it take to get good at the cello?

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That depends on what you mean by "good." What are your goals for playing the cello? And do you have previous musical training or experience?

 

Having a background in music or a knack for reading notes and rhythms will help, too.

 

If you want to be able to enjoy playing by yourself or for your friends and family, you can likely achieve that within a few months.

 

How much practice does it take to learn to play the cello? How often should I practice?

 

As with all complex skills, learning the cello takes a lot of focused, routine practice. I recommend my cello students practice every day.

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