The cello is an elegant string instrument, suitable for musicians of all ages to learn. Apart from attending cello lessons - whether online lessons or at an institution- the best cello books can make the learning process remarkably easy. They are also one of the best gift ideas for a cellist.
Not sure which cello book to buy? No need to worry as we’ve got you covered. Here we have provided a list of the most top-rated cello books in the music industry.
Some of these books are tailored for beginners while others are best-suited for intermediate and professional players..
Reviews of the Best Cello Books
1. Suzuki Cello School by Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi
Want to introduce the cello to younger players? If this is your aim, the Suzuki Cello School book is the perfect accompaniment.
As implied in the title, the book is based on the Suzuki teaching approach that was invented in 1945. This technique is based on the premise that if a student listens to the music they’re hoping to learn many a times, they’ll find the instrument easier to play.
Important to note though is that this cello book is best suited for teachers or parents looking to train their kids. It does not include any instructions on how a learner should sit, hold or play the cello.
Rather, it contains songs that can be played with a cello. So it’s primarily for supplementing other teaching resources.
Have you been searching for the best cello book for students? If you have, you should check out The ABCs of Cello for the Absolute Beginner.
One thing you’ll love about this book is that it’s a one-stop shop for everything. Whether you’re looking for some warm-up exercises, recommendations for duets, or a glossary of cello jargon, this book is perfect.
The best part is that you get so much more than just a guidance book. Once you purchase, you’ll have the freedom to download MP3s of different performances, along with a PDF file.
Is this your first time learning to play the cello? If it is, Essential Elements for Strings is the book to buy.
This text includes all the basics that you need to learn when you’re a newbie. Everything from the parts that make up a cello to how it should be set up and held are all explained in this book.
Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals, the authors then take you into more advanced concepts of reading music. Considering how these concepts are arranged in order, it is no wonder that EE is recommended to both students and teachers.
Have you always wanted to learn from some world-renowned cello composers? If you answered yes, the Easy Classical Cello Solos is an excellent buy.
This book gives you a front row seat to study compositions from the likes of Ludwig van Beethoven, Mozart, Handel, Bach just to mention a few.
We particularly love how each lesson is presented in an easy-to-understand manner. Better yet, you will learn a variety of things starting with improving your articulation, intonation and rhythm.
The Easy Classical Cello Solos lets you learn at your own preferred pace. You simply pick one song and practice it as often as you like till you get the hang of it.
Yet another book that would be great for a beginner is Cello Playing for Music Lovers, written by Vera Mattlin Jiji.
One thing you’ll love about the book is that it contains numerous graphics, illustrating the correct playing techniques. However, the best part of this deal is the CD that it comes with.
The CD includes a whopping 97 tracks, illustrating the easy exercises, scales and melodies already highlighted in the book. So as you study, you’ll be able to listen to your own creation and compare it or play along to the examples demonstrated in the CD.
If you’re curious, some of the topics covered in this book are music theory, the correct posture for playing cello, how to tune your instrument and play in an orchestra.
One aspect that newbies struggle with is figuring out how to hold the cello correctly. If you’re having a hard time with this, Position Pieces for Cello is for you!
Rick Money, the author, has invented an exciting and simple technique that helps learners to better understand the fingerboard. He introduces every hand position with exercises titled different, such as “Target Practice”, “Names & Numbers” and “Geography Quiz”.
In addition to the exercises, the book also includes cello duets tailored specifically for the hand positions. This gives you an opportunity to put the theoretical concepts into practice. Overall, this book offers such a fun and unique way of learning this instrument.
For the past few weeks (or months), you’ve devoted your time to learning the basics of a cello. The only question that you have left is, “what kind of songs can I play with this instrument?”
Well, Hal Leonard Corp. offers an in-depth answer to this question in their book, First 50 Songs You Should Play on Cello.
One thing we like about this list of songs is that it includes a variety of music genres; from folk songs to pop hits and classical music.
So whether you’re a beginner, advanced or intermediate player, you’re sure to find a couple of songs that you can play. And a decent number of these songs featured this instrument in their original production, giving you an excellent reference point.
Examples of the songs included are:
Do you have a little one who is learning to play the cello with the hope of becoming a solo artist? If you are, you should check out The Big Book of Disney Songs: Cello.
This book is also created by Hal Leonard Corp., which is not too surprising given its depth of information.
Hal Leonard Corporation is a firm that’s based in America, but with a reputation that spans globally. It’s known for publishing and distributing quality music learning resources, and this text is a good case in point.
The book contains a collection of up to 72 Disney songs that your mini-cellist can relate to. It includes prominent hits like Aladdin, Tarzan and The Little Mermaid.
Connecting your child to something that they already know and love makes it so much easier to learn cello. It also helps to reinforce what they’re learning while helping them improve on their weak areas.
If you have a bit of experience playing cello, then you have a rough idea of its versatility. It’s a string instrument that can be used to play a variety of music genres.
But if you’re looking for some classical cello hits that you can play to wow your audience, this is the book to invest in.
101 Classical Themes contains some of the most iconic cello tunes ever composed. By the time you’re done reading this book, you’ll be able to play famous works like “Theme from Swan Lake”, “The Flight of the Bumble Bee”, “Ave Maria”, and “Rondeau.”
Important to note though is that this book is best suited for intermediate or advanced players. It does not contain the basic information of how to get started playing cello. As such, it’s only a great supplement to other cello beginner books.
Are you a newbie cellists looking to gain a basic understanding of cello scales? If you answered yes, then First Position Scale Studies is an excellent book for you.
The authors here use a thrilling and radiant approach to training cello. Its pages are full of colorful diagrams and bold fonts, making it easy to read and understand.
To be a little more specific, you’ll find simple cello scale exercises and bowings on the different strings. We like the way the author follows up each scale with several pages of alterations with bowings and rhythms meant to boost your technique.
Are you a cellist who also loves watching Star Wars movie series? If yes, then consider this cello book whose theme is based on the same.
The package comprises the cello training book and a CD offering solo tracks to practice on. The outline for each solo track is well described and it’s based on a specific star war movie. To be more specific, the guidelines provided include the scales, strings and text-based details.
Star Wars fanatics will be particularly impressed with these tunes. This is because the songs have sounds which are very similar to what you’d experience when watching the movie in a live theatre.
Have you been searching for a book that you can use to teach cello in a private or group lesson? If you have, check out Orchestra Expressions, Book One.
One thing that makes this book stand out is that the topics are well-organized. This makes it easy to move from teaching one concept to another.
But, teachers aren’t the only group that would benefit from reading this book. Students - both beginners and intermediate- will find the tips and instructions provided to be indispensable too.
The book provides simple guidelines on how to read notes, choose between different bowing methods and hand positions. You will also learn how to play from first position and switch to different positions if you wish.
We also like the extras that you get from purchasing the book. These include access to online audio of 183 tracks, and a detailed glossary of musical terms.
Searching for a book that can take your cello playing skills to the next level? If you are, then New Directions for Strings is just the book to buy.
For starters, the book is written by a team of music professionals who have specialized in string instruments. So you can rest easy knowing that you’re learning from the best.
The books contains heaps of instructions, tips and methods that will help you play cello like a pro. Even better, the authors have include CDs to assist in your practical training sessions.
Some of the concepts you’ll learn entail improving your left-hand techniques, hand positioning, and how to create a great ensemble. Readers are particularly impressed with the dozens of pictures and illustrations that make it easier to understand the theory conveyed.
The bowing lesions taught in this book are another thing that sets it apart. If you’re a student, you’ll find it so easy to practice consistently, and ultimately master the bowing methods used by expert cellists.
Is this your first time learning to play a string instrument? If it is, you’ll quickly realize that reading music is no small task. This is where Knowing the Notes for Cello comes in handy.
Written by a prominent music author, Cassia Harvey, this book simplifies the process of learning different cello notes.
It utilizes short exercises and tracks, whereby each activity is centered on helping you learn a particular note. By the time you finish reading, you’ll find it quite easy to remember the notes in first position.
Conclusion
Although each of these books is an excellent buy, the one that we recommend for beginners is the Suzuki Cello School.
The reason why we consider this one of the best cello books is that it contains very detailed information. Besides, it’s written by a cellist who’s had years of real-world experience playing this instrument.
Plus, it comes with a CD that contains several tracks. This gives you an opportunity to practice the theoretical concepts you’re learning along the way.
