Watts: Cello Method Book

Category: Educational Materials, String Orch Arr ** Composer: Watts, C. ** Title: Cello Method ** Book/Part: Cello ** Publisher: Mel Bay Publications ** Comments: For the beginning cello student. Covers basic cello methods and uses many popular songs.

Now newly revised and updated, the new version of Cello Method offers more playing material and insight into technique. This is a method for the beginning cello student offering a progressive series of lessons and practice pieces, including duets for student and teacher. The author, a Curtis Institute graduate, begins with the fundamentals of string technique with ample attention given to sitting position and left-and right-hand positions. Note and rest values are introduced together with the playing of notes on open and stopped strings in first position. The author then uses nursery rhyme tunes, folk melodies, symphonic themes, and short original tunes and exercises to develop the student's sight, reading ability, and musicianship, gradually introducing more complex rhythmic concepts over a broader range. Many of the melodies in this book have been altered slightly to illustrate a point, or simplified to be easier and more fun for the beginner.