So turns out the tip of my bow is broken, and you can see it in the picture. It's carbon and apparently very hard to break. The teacher was quite shocked that this could happen; they said it needs a lot of force to break.

Does anyone have any ideas as to how it happened?

Also, a friend's cat has been staying with us for a few weeks now. She does not like the cello, but has been a bit curious about the bow, and I put the bow in a kind of hard-to-reach place. Could she have done this? From what the teacher said, I assumed a cat does not have enough force to do it.

Hello, I am a composer looking to write some harmonics for cello in a piece.

I know how to notate common harmonics with diamond note heads and string instruction and such, but I'm curious about the natural harmonics past the second octave node, or fourth finger in first position.

I know this passage is technically possible with the E through A played on the D string and the G and F played on the G string. I myself, an amateur cellist, have played it, albeit poorly, like this. This would be up past the finger board or played in the same area as first position but the nodes are in between notes and backwards, meaning going towards the ground with fingers produces a lower pitch instead of higher because it is harmonics.

I prefer playing it up past the finger board, but I'm curious how professionals would do it. Also curious about what the notation would look like or how this kind of thing is handled in standard or famous cello repertoire. I will notate the string to be used for each note, but that's all I know what to do. Also, if this is just kind of dumb and should be played with artificial harmonics instead, just let me know.

I do know that it won't be extremely loud but it's a soft section so it should be fine.

IYKYK

I have a cheap bow from temu because it's carbon fiber. Also a £50. Can't seem to get a clear sound on either, the £30 might be a bit old. It came with the cello which was used. Would it make a difference and also, can anyone recommend anything?

I have a set of unused Jargar classic medium strings that are 15 years old. Bought when I had more disposable income (having kids will do that…). They have literally never been uncoiled from their packet.

Obviously I don’t break a string very often. But the sound of my current set is bugging me. They stay in tune fine, but they sound, for want of a better word, too “rough”, like I can’t get good contact with the string to get a smooth sound. Beyond wiping them down with a cloth I have not tried cleaning them. Is it worth doing that first?

How long do you think unused strings stay good for? I figure it’s worth trying the old unused ones before shelling out for a new set, isn’t it?

I play a couple of hours a week on average. Local amateur orchestra, mostly.

The song is Popper 22

I'm interested in learning the Bach violin works for cello. Anyone have an idea of a good ranking or progression for these? And how they'd sequence them with the actual cello suites?

I’m sure yall get a bunch of these requests but I’d really appreciate it. I’m having trouble getting any sound out my G and C string so I’m just checking all my bases. If more pictures are needed, let me know. Thank you!

Adult beginner here. Extended first position is no problem. For some reason contorting my hand into extended third position elicits a lot of strain in the tendons/muscles between my thumb and first finger. I'm not even using my thumb to press. I'm afraid if I push it too much, I'll injure something.

Any advice, warm ups, or resources you would recommend?

From La Mer Debussy. Notes are straightforward but playing constant string crossings? What should I think about in terms of my arm and wrist and hand? I can never get it relaxed enough to hit each string in the right pattern.

Last time I often see such cases, where one long legato contains another one. What does it mean?

Apologies for a slightly misleading title! I’ve always had a vague interest in classical music (my partner is a pianist) and I’ve always wanted to learn an instrument but could never find the “right” instrument for me. I dabbled in piano and guitar for a little while but I keep on coming back to the cello. For Christmas my very sweet parents have decided to gift me cello lessons for 2027; I’m very excited and very eager!

As someone with very little practical musical background, I’ve started studying music theory and looking into ear training. I’m not expecting to learn anything of incredible value over the next few months, but I want to fall even more in love with the cello before I get my hands on one.

What would you recommend to become more comfortable with an instrument you’ve never played? For adult learners, what are some things you wish you knew before beginning? Is there anything I can do to physically prepare myself for the cello?

I don’t expect to become Jacqueline du Prè or anything through blind self-study (or even at all!) but I’d like to have even a somewhat decent baseline than absolutely nothing going into it!

Hello all! I have an interesting issue.

I have recently begun teaching a new student who is around middle school age. I taught them about posture and grip and went to teach them how to pizzicato, but they were unable to get a sound. Their form looked correct so I was a bit puzzled, but when I pushed down a little bit on their finger they were able to play.

I went through a couple of exercises to try to get them to realize how to apply the weight of their arm to the strings, such as having them pretend their right arm is a finger board and trying to apply pressure to their arm so they can actually feel it. Then when trying to transfer it to the cello it didn't seem to do anything.

Their form seems correct, they just aren't applying enough pressure to get the string to contact the finger board. The action on the cello also seems perfectly fine.

Has anyone else dealt with something like this before? I asked a violin teacher I know but they said that young students just have to pinch to get a sound, but I'm hesitant to suggest something that is technically bad technique and has to be unlearned later.

I inherited this cello and really want to play it. However it has a large crack in the front. Hope you can see it well in the picture. Should i be worried? Will it be further damaged if I play on it? Should I take off the string tension? If it needs to be fixed can it be fixed and how much would it likely cost?

Gonna preface, I've been playing cello for about 6 months but I'm a classically trained flutist of 20 years. I know my way around music, I'm just switching to strings because I love the voice that a cello has in comparison to my flute.

So I'm currently playing on Prelude C, G, and D, with a Kaplan A. The reason for this is I wanted to start with cheap strings until I could hear the nuances of my sound and better approach nicer strings. I'm glad I did because when I started everything sounded fine and I couldn't hear a difference in strings. How the heck would I know what I want if I'm not hearing differences at all? The first issue I noticed was my A string... now 6 months later I'm noticing my lower register. Now that I'm hearing the nuances I finally feel prepared to invest in strings I want to listen to.

Anyway, I noticed a shrill scratchy cat-on-blackboard sound to my prelude A after about a month of playing so I replaced it with a Kaplan to make it warmer. I love my Kaplan A (although I'm not married to it) but I'm now hearing issues with the rest of the preludes. Specifically my lower register. My bowing obviously needs work as I've been playing less than a year, but no matter what I do I can't get rid of this ever so slight harmonic sound to my lower register. It's definitely not my left hand, that has always felt great surprisingly. I think it's because I originally tried bass guitar when I first started exploring strings. Regardless, left hand is good. When I first started researching lower register strings, I found I love a deep, earthy, grumbly, old world sound. The first time I noticed it was actually in a cannone set. So I started looking at magnacore arioso and il cannone warm/broad. As I was looking at these, I made sure to compare it to my upper register to prevent the split where it would sound like I'm playing 2 different instruments. Eventually I decided to do magnacore C, and cannone G with a Kaplan D and A to get the sound I'm after. It gradually blends the old world grumble to the bell side of things if I'm right. (key words being IF I'm right)

Then out of curiosity I looked to see if Jargar had anything to say since I was primarily looking at Larsen and D'Addario. I found the Jargar evoke. from what I read... it sounds like it might blend the Larsen lower register with the Kaplan A.

Gonna slip this in here: before you ask if my cello itself is bright/dull/muddy/etc.... I don't know. I won't know for a while until I test out different strings on it. So far I've only played it with the preludes and the one Kaplan. It's absolutely possible that this cello leans to the brighter side... but it's also possible that it's just the fact I'm using cheap-beater strings. It's an "oxford made-in-china" used rental I got for $400ish from an actively closing music shop. I'm not expecting greatness, but I want to give it the best shot it's got.

I want to hear feedback here. I... have gone so far down the rabbit hole I can't see sky anymore. What do we think of the (magnacore arioso C, Il cannone warm/broad G, Jargar evoke D, Kaplan A)? (bolded that to make it easy to find) I'm not married to the Kaplan but it's a young string so I want to play it till its time to change it. Are there cheaper options than what I've listed? I read about the helicore but I'm not sold on them since I've heard the cannones and magnacores and I like them. Remember, goal is old-world earthy lows blending into silverbell-like singing highs.

My son has recently been obsessed with the idea of playing cello. He’s 5 and right in the middle of the size range for a 1/4 sized cello. We found one in great shape on marketplace, but it doesn’t have a case/bow/rosin. I know he doesn’t need the bow right away, but want to be prepared.

Suggestions for a case, bow, and rosin? Should I purchase a 1/4 sized bow as well? I’m a music teacher but in the band/choral world so I want to make sure I set him up right!

Im currently working on the JC Bach cello concerto for junior year but I’m already starting to think about senior year. I want to play something really challenging for my last year so I’ll probably start on it a lot earlier.

I’m leaning towards either the third movement of the JC Bach or the first movement of the Dvorak. I’m wondering how those two compare and if they would both be too challenging. I’ve heard the Dvorak is one of the most difficult concertos but I’ve also heard that’s when looking at the entire thing not just the first movement.

For background I’ve played Allegro Appasionato, Saint Saens in A minor, and am currently working on the first movement of the JC Bach.

My mom really loves the Dvorak and wants me to play it but I also want to keep in mind that senior year I get to play my concerto with the orchestra and I don’t think the Dvorak would sound good in a string orchestra arrangement.

Edit: I’ve also played popper etudes 15, 19, and 22

Hi I’m an absolute beginner 25f. I’ve had like 5 lessons and am enjoying learning very much. But struggling to get a good sound and everything feels unstable. Moth hands are tired which I know is normal but I just am seeking any advice or criticism so I can make good progress. Am on Suzuki Book 1

Would anyone be willing to share any experience in comparing the different box stands? I see "high end" ones going for ~$300, a mid price around $150 (Gewa) and the lower priced (Amazon, etc). My instrument is stored in a hard shell case, but I'm looking for a stand for setup and staging during intermittent practicing during the day. I'm not afraid to buy once, cry once, but can anyone tell me if the note an appreciable difference in the different price tiers for these? I am certainly thinking ahead to something I will use for my "forever" instrument as well. Thanks in advance!

UHHHHH... My lunch was on a table, things happened, and the plate went flying and lunch landed on my cello. What do I do? It's just on the scroll but there may be a little grease.

I have an Eastman 305 Montagnana (from 2001) and it is having some minor maintenance work being done (seams, pegs, bridge work) at the luthier’s shop today.
I would also like to, ideally, choose some new strings (currently using super flexibles on the A, D, C, and an old Magnacore on the G because I broke the super flexible when I was tuning in a panic at a dress rehearsal).
I am in a quandry about which strings to try and need to decide today or defer. The luthier suggested the classic larsen and spirocore mix, and suggested Larsen A strong, Larsen D solo. Not entirely sure why he suggested strong for the A and solo for D. I asked about Versums because I was really curious about them. He was not familiar with Versums so could not comment, but sent an email to a colleague that has experimented with string combinations.
I would love suggestions / thoughts on what strings/string combos might work really well on a montagnana? I play in an orchestra with a large cello section (10 cellists). And I also dabble in playing cello-piano duets.
Right now, the Larsen Spirocore combo he is suggesting is ~503 CAD, and the regular Versums are ~400 CAD. A Versum regular and solo combo is another possibility I have heard of…Or versum regular plus Spirocore.
Some of my fellow cello section members use Jargar A, Prim D, Spirocore on G, C. I am fine with 500 if that is the best choice. But I am feeling overwhelmed and don’t have a clear sense of which option to go with…
Any advice would be wonderful. My head is spinning! :) I could always defer the string decision and just replace the old G (it was an old string someone lent me when mine broke and I didn’t have my back up strings handy). Thanks in advance!

*deep breath* ho-kay.

i played violin from 5th grade until 1st year of college (with my HS junior year playing viola) then eventually stopped, played a little in my early 30s, then sold her a couple years later.

i've had my cello (clara) for a year, & started lessons 6 months ago. ☺️ the lessons are bi-weekly, & a couple of them i missed due to $$ & a sick dog (who, in the vid, was bumping into my leg bc it was past Dentastix Time™️)

being honest, i only really buckled down month ago. i have 3 very conflicfing neurodivergencies & live most days on hinges, inside hurricanes. there's been a lot of performance/demand avoidance, anxiety over Being Perceived, not sounding IRL how i do in my head (bordering maladaptive daydreaming, maybe!), getting frustrated veryvery quickly at the smallest mistakes!

so anyway, i wanted to start recording to playback/critique! i already see my left hand needs work (fingers too high! hand = the Bent Neck Lady) & i'm overall stiff, but admittedly i was nervous recording, too.

also, rofl the last F with my 4th finger, wth 🤦🏻‍♀️😅 i wish y'all could see the drama unfolding with my dog there, haha she was not about to let me re-record!

i don't like where the phone holder is on my stand, the angle sucks, but it's about as high as it can go. maybe i should just set my phone ON the stand?

along with any practice critique, any suggestions on amateur phone recording, angles, etc?

thanks for reading, i'm sorry this is so rambly! nerves probably. i am more embarassed about this post than the video now, at least? 👀😬😅