The Cello Accelerator Course

Curriculum for Zero to Bach in Four Months

Cello Anatomy

Learn how to tune your cello using a “Drone.” Match the pitch to the sound.

Fingering tape is used to help find your finger placements in the early learning stages.

Learn the Many different ways you can try holding your cello and why.

Practice memorize the names of the strings using Pizzicato. Begin learning about your finger placements.

In Lesson 2, we learn how to place our fingers with our left on on the A string.

We continue to learn how to play with our left hand in “First Position” now on the D string.

Learn about the different clefs cellist read, all the terminology needed to get started reading music, and how to read notes on a staff in the Bass clef.

Learn about the time signature and how to count in 4/4.

Combine your music reading skills with some notes in first position.

Practice looking away from your fingers when playing in first position.

Practice exercising your left hand dexterity on both the A and D strings.

Learn how to create an arch or a bridge with your left hand allowing for the a string to ring out while you play on the D string with your finger tips.

Learn how top play the songs Jingle Bells and Old MacDonald while practicing a good left hand posture and arched technique.

Learn how to play the song Despacito, and play an exercise that shows mastery in the arched left hand.

Learn about the Cello Bow. Define the different parts of the bow, and how the bow is used. Applying Rosin to the bow.

Learn a “beginner bow” hold before moving onto a “Pro” bow hold. Practice ways to gain control over your bow, and create a nice sound.

Practice bowing now on the D string. Learn how to prepare your left hand in order to create clean sounding notes using the bow.

Learn how to play a D Major Scale Descending with the bow, playing Quarter notes in 4/4.

Drill more exercises on the A and D string. Drilling exercises similar in style builds muscle memory.

Learn more left hand techniques that help with moving from the A string to the D string. Try preparing your fingers early during the rests before drawing the bow. You can prepare your fingers early and get the bow in place early on a string crossing, leaving you extra time before you have to draw the note with the bow in tempo.

Drill all of the skillsets need to feel comfortable coordinating both hands together. Practice keeping a straight bow, creating a clear and focused sound while also maintaining a comfortable and accurate left hand position.

Learn how to count Eighth notes, and learn how to change your bow hold to the “pro” bow hold.

Learn how to execute Bow Retakes. Achieve control playing two down bows in a row without bouncing the bow, and with a clean start the sound on each retake.

Learn how to read bow articulation markings in the music, and how to play them controlling your bow.

We drill what we have learned about articulations, retakes and hooked bows.

Learn how to play the songs “Happy Birthday” and Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”

Learn Body Movement techniques that can aide your playing in creating a more fluid and natural sound.

In these lessons, we apply all the skillsets that we acquired to play on the A and D string now to the G string. Simply “Drag and Drop!”

Practice combining the G, D & A String together. You should start to see your skillsets compounding.

We now have a full day of drilling all of our learned skillsets thus far!

We learn how to use a mirror to play with a straight bow, and also learn how to play “slurred” notes.

Continuing to work on playing with a straight bow starting from the frog, and ending at the tip.

In this last day of playing exercises, we accomplish playing with a straight bow from the frog to the tip

Finally your skillsets are strengthened enough to play some classic songs! Lets learn the songs Amazing Grace, and Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

Learn about the range of dynamics staring from ppp to FFF, common terminology and markings in the music, and how to execute them using a combination of right hand and left hand techniques.

Now it is time to apply all of your skills in context by playing a short piece that demands that you use all of them!

Learn how to count dotted notes. Learn more about bow control, and how to use Bow Distribution techniques.

Review all of the material you have learned thus far. Go over anything that you feel can use more practice. Maybe you want to do some more mirror work with the bow, or practice your retakes!

Learn how to play and count 16th notes

Learn how to extend your fingers in order to reach notes in between positions. Spend 10 lessons focusing on this skillset.

Drilling extensions- and drilling open and closed hand positions.

Drilling finger extensions day 3 or 10

In this lesson we being applying finger extensions in a musical context with short etudes.

Stretching your fingers to use finger extensions can take some getting used to, and you might have to build some muscular endurance in your hand to play them a lot- This exercise will keep your hand in open position for the duration of the exercise to build endurance while using extensions in a musical context.

Now that you are comfortable using finger extensions in slow tempo, lets try using them in a faster tempo.

Learn how to extend your first finger back. We also slowly begin integrating the use of finger extensions in with our other skillsets

The last Extension Modules focus on integrating your finger extensions in with the rest of your skillsets in musical context.

We apply our skillsets together to learn a variation of J.S. Bach’s Minuet No. 2

In the first lesson of shifting, we learning how to shift to 2nd position. Replacing either our 2nd or 3rd finger with our 1st finger. All of the shifting positions are color coated. The color coated portion also resembles the duration you will stay in that position for.

Drilling 2nd position shifting.

We shift in a quicker tempo to 2nd position.

Practicing shifting to 2nd position in a musical context while also using all of your other skillsets.

We practice shifting while also executing slurs, extensions, and other skillsets.

Apply all of the shifting techniques learned in the previous lessons to the C string

An etude that drills your shifting to 2nd position at a faster tempo while performing string crossings.

We use the same technique used to shift to 2nd position, to now shift to 3rd position.

Practice using the “Ghost” finger. Or your first finger which you use to replace others! This “ghost” finger technique is the most accurate way to shift in tune! You will hear other teachers talk about the same technique perhaps with other terminology, but the idea of tracking your finger replacements is universal!

In this lesson we review more 2nd position shifts, this time on all of the strings.

In this lesson we get comfortable shifting to 2nd position without looking at your fingers.

In this lesson and the ones moving forward we will focus on shifting to 3rd position and beyond, applying all of the same principles we just learned to our new positions.

Using extensions applies to anywhere on the cello- just as we use extensions in first position, we will need to use them in the other positions as well.

In this lesson we learn about the Ghost Finger, or the strategy behind shifting accurately with finger replacements.

We learn how to shift while also slurring at the same time. We also learn another technique with the left elbow to make smooth shifts.

These exercises will drill your 3rd position shifts. (Your first finger replaces your 4th pinky)

On this final shifting module, you will be learning to shift to 4th position.

Now that you have played several etudes that drill your abilities to shift to 2nd-4th position, lets try playing a short piece in context.

Review to iron out our skillsets before we begin to learn Bach Suite No. 1

Playing longer pieces builds endurance in many ways. The ability to be accurate for the entirety of the piece takes endurance in concentration, and physical finger strength.

Review shifting to all of the positions with your first finger.

Bow Planning

A 2nd bow planning technique that you will need!

Practicing playing eighth notes in a quicker tempo consistently with shifts.

Etudes designed to train your hand to tackle specific sections throughout the Prelude of Bach Suite No. 1. Completing these etudes make learning the Suite easier.

Etude to help train your fingers for Bach Prelude No.1 mm. 5-11

These etudes work to specifically help you learn mm. 11-13 more accurately in Bach’s Prelude of Suite No.1

Play an etude that helps with keeping the chromatic passage in Bach suite no. 1 mm. 24 in tune.

Learn how to plan your bow for the long slurs needed for mm. 33-37

Practice an etude that simplifies a complicated passage that uses a pedal tone. Learn the pattern before introducing the pedal tone.

Learn and practice your hand positions to play the final chords of Bach’s prelude from Suite No.1

We learn the game plan on how we will learn the entire Bach Prelude from Suite. No.1

Follow along with each instructional videos to break down the Bach Suite No. 1. Each video covers a section of the piece. Learn a “Game-plan” as to how to learn the entire piece, and insights into how to play each section more accurately. Weave together sections you have practiced with the videos to achieve fluidity throughout your performance.

Follow along with each instructional videos to break down the Bach Suite No. 1. Each video covers a section of the piece. Learn a “Game-plan” as to how to learn the entire piece, and insights into how to play each section more accurately. Weave together sections you have practiced with the videos to achieve fluidity throughout your performance.

We break things down into simple, manageable parts so you never feel overwhelmed.

Follow along with each instructional videos to break down the Bach Suite No. 1. Each video covers a section of the piece. Learn a “Game-plan” as to how to learn the entire piece, and insights into how to play each section more accurately. Weave together sections you have practiced with the videos to achieve fluidity throughout your performance.

Follow along with each instructional videos to break down the Bach Suite No. 1. Each video covers a section of the piece. Learn a “Game-plan” as to how to learn the entire piece, and insights into how to play each section more accurately. Weave together sections you have practiced with the videos to achieve fluidity throughout your performance.

In our final breakdown lessons, we go more into depth with each passage. It is time to apply all of your skillsets and practice techniques.

Apply new phrasing techniques.

Follow along with each instructional videos to break down the Bach Suite No. 1. Each video covers a section of the piece. Learn a “Game-plan” as to how to learn the entire piece, and insights into how to play each section more accurately. Weave together sections you have practiced with the videos to achieve fluidity throughout your performance.

In our final breakdown lessons, we go more into depth with each passage. It is time to apply all of your skillsets and practice techniques.

Follow along with each instructional videos to break down the Bach Suite No. 1. Each video covers a section of the piece. Learn a “Game-plan” as to how to learn the entire piece, and insights into how to play each section more accurately. Weave together sections you have practiced with the videos to achieve fluidity throughout your performance.

Follow along with each instructional videos to break down the Bach Suite No. 1. Each video covers a section of the piece. Learn a “Game-plan” as to how to learn the entire piece, and insights into how to play each section more accurately. Weave together sections you have practiced with the videos to achieve fluidity throughout your performance.

Follow along with each instructional videos to break down the Bach Suite No. 1. Each video covers a section of the piece. Learn a “Game-plan” as to how to learn the entire piece, and insights into how to play each section more accurately. Weave together sections you have practiced with the videos to achieve fluidity throughout your performance.

Follow along with each instructional videos to break down the Bach Suite No. 1. Each video covers a section of the piece. Learn a “Game-plan” as to how to learn the entire piece, and insights into how to play each section more accurately. Weave together sections you have practiced with the videos to achieve fluidity throughout your performance.

We break things down into simple, manageable parts so you never feel overwhelmed.

Watch the video of Hawai’i’s most adored musical ambassadors Ukulele Virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro accompany the prelude.

Perform the Bach’s Suite I Prelude in Duet with Ukulele! The tracks moves at a deliberate pace for you to following along with, and helps you keep rhythm in a natural away. Playing in duet is a wonderful way to practice playing musically, and in time. You will find it easier to then play on your own in a controlled quicker tempo!

Congratulations on finishing the cello accelerator course! Have fun playing and learning new music!