Modern Cello Method, Grade 1

105 Pages·2015·12.87 MB·English

by  Renata Bratt

MB21499M
Online Audio
by Renata Bratt
by Renata Bratt
www.melbay.com/21499BCDEB
Contents
Audio
1 Tuning the Cello (A, D, G, C) 17 Grizzly Bears Don’t Fly Airplanes 45 G Minor Pentatonic Scale 73 Accompaniment for Fair Jean
2 Counting Quarter Notes All Cows Eat Grass 46 What Shall We Do with the Tired Sailor 74 Mouth Music
3 Counting Quarter Notes with 18 Flying Fingers Played Slowly, Introduction, 47 Arpeggios for G Major and AMinor 75 Accompaniment for Mouth Music
metronome beat added Tune, Variation 1, Variation 2 ADorian Minor Scale 76 ANatural Minor Scale
Counting Eighth notes 19 Flying Fingers, Entire Tune Played Faster 48 Processional 77 If He’d Be a Buckeroo, Moderate Tempo
Counting Quarter Rests 20 D Major Scale 49 G Arpeggio If He’d Be a Buckeroo, Fast Tempo
(with eighth note subdivisions)
21 Au Clair de la Lune 50 On Top of Old Smoky 78 Cielito Lindo
4 Prelude to Counting Dotted Quarter Notes
Counting Dotted Quarter Notes 22 G Major Scale 51 Skip to My Lou 79 Bach’s March
5 Apple Dog George Charlie 23 Sweet Betsy from Pike 52 Largo – Theme from The New World Symphony 80 G Major Scale Marcato, G Arpeggio, D
Changing Strings 24 D Major Scale in 3/4 Time 53 G Major Scale with Dotted Quarter Notes Arpeggio, AMinor Arpeggio
Walking Fingers 25 The Vicar of Bray and Slurs 81 Highland Laddie
Great Big Elevator
26 Four Quarter Notes Staccato, 54 ASailor Went to Sea 82 The Southwind
6 D Blues Bass #1 Four Quarter Notes Marcato 55 Blow the Man Down 83 Accompaniment for Highland Laddie
7 G in Left-Hand Position Tune Four Quarter Notes Legato
56 D Major Arpeggio, D Scale in Eighth Notes 84 Accompaniment for The Southwind
Fsin Left-Hand Position Tune 27 D Major Scale with Hooked Up-Bows
F in Left-Hand Position Tune 57 Joshua Fought the Battle with Swing Eighth Notes 85 The Joe Turner Blues
28 Drink to me Only with Thine Eyes
E in Left-Hand Position Tune 58 Joshua Fought the Battle 86 D Blues Bass #2
8 Counting 29 G Major Scale in 3/4 Time with Straight Eighth Notes 87 Billy in the Lowground, Moderate Tempo
Hot Cross Buns 30 Lavender’s Blue 59 The Erie Canal 88 Accompaniment for Billy in the Lowground
First Finger and Up 31 Fast Fingers on the G String 60 D Dorian Minor with Syncopation, first with 89 Half-Step Blues
Up and Down the D String 32 G Major Scale in Eighth Notes swing eighths, then straight eighths
Metronome Beat for Up and Down 90 D Blues Bass #3
33 Cold Cross Buns on All Strings 61 Pop Goes the Weasel
the D String 91 America
34 Aura Lee 62 6/8 Time: Quarter to Eighth-Note Rhythm Study
9 Hot Cross Buns – All Strings 92 F Major Scale
35 Aura Lee with Metronome and 63 C Major Scale and Arpeggio Upper Octave
10 Mary Had a Little Lamb 93 Fisher’s Hornpipe with Straight Eighths
Counting Syllables 64 Old MacDonald
11 Bass Line Rhythm #1, Rock 94 Fisher’s Hornpipe with Swing Eighths
36 C Major Scale, Lowest Octave 65 F Major Scale
12 Bass Line Rhythm #2, Fiddle 95 Accompaniment for Fisher’s Hornpipe
37 Cluck Old Hen 66 Swing Low Sweet Chariot
13 Bass Line Rhythm #3, Blues
38 Accompaniment for Cluck Old Hen 67 F Major Scale with Slurs
14 Octave Harmonic Study
39 D Minor Pentatonic Scale 68 Pop Goes the Weasel an Octave Lower
15 Harmonic Blues
40 Driving Rock 69 C Major Scale and
16 Left-Hand Placement, AString Fingers
41 Marcato Rock Arpeggio Lower Octave in 6/8 Time
Left-Hand Placement, D String Fingers
Left-Hand Placement, G String Fingers 42 Rock Tune # 1 70 Las Mañanitas
Left-Hand Placement, C String Fingers 43 Rock Tune # 2 71 C Major Scale Upper Octave in 6/8 Time
44 All Four Rock Tunes Played at Once 72 Fair Jean
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
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Table of Contents
Table of Diagrams ..................................................................................................................................................4
Overview ................................................................................................................................................................5
Taking Care of the Cello ........................................................................................................................................6
Taking Care of the Bow..........................................................................................................................................6
The Staff................................................................................................................................................................10
The Clef Sign........................................................................................................................................................10
Measures................................................................................................................................................................10
Notes......................................................................................................................................................................11
Time Signature......................................................................................................................................................12
Cello Strings..........................................................................................................................................................13
Tuning the Cello....................................................................................................................................................14
Counting Notes......................................................................................................................................................16
Playing on Open Strings ......................................................................................................................................18
D Blues Bass #1 – A, D and G Open Strings ......................................................................................................20
Left-Hand Position – Notes on the D String........................................................................................................22
Playing with the Bow............................................................................................................................................24
D String Fingers....................................................................................................................................................26
Hot Cross Buns ....................................................................................................................................................27
Hot Cross Buns – All Strings................................................................................................................................29
Mary Had a Little Lamb-Accompaniment Using Chord Symbols ......................................................................30
Playing the Octave Harmonic ..............................................................................................................................32
Harmonic Blues ....................................................................................................................................................33
Left-Hand Placement on All Strings ....................................................................................................................34
Flying Fingers ......................................................................................................................................................36
Au Clair de la Lune ..............................................................................................................................................38
Sweet Betsy from Pike – Hooked Up-Bow and Pickup Notes ............................................................................40
The Vicar of Bray – Marcato and Legato Bowing ..............................................................................................42
Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes – Repeat Marks, Slur and Tie......................................................................44
2
Table of Contents
Lavender’s Blue – Eighth-note Runs....................................................................................................................46
Cold Cross Buns – Using the Second Finger and Flatted Notes..........................................................................48
Aura Lee – Dotted Quarter Notes ........................................................................................................................50
Cluck Old Hen – Second Finger and Chord Symbols..........................................................................................52
Rock Bass Lines....................................................................................................................................................54
What Shall We Do with the Tired Sailor – Cut Time ..........................................................................................56
Processional ..........................................................................................................................................................58
On Top of Old Smoky and Skip to My Lou ........................................................................................................60
Largo – Theme from The New World Symphony by Antonin Dvo˘rák..................................................................62
Sailor Songs..........................................................................................................................................................64
Joshua Fought the Battle and The Erie Canal – Syncopation and Swing Eighth Notes......................................66
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Pop Goes the Weasel – Time..............................................................................................................................68
Old MacDonald ....................................................................................................................................................70
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot ..................................................................................................................................72
Pop Goes the Weasel an Octave Lower................................................................................................................74
Las Mañanitas ......................................................................................................................................................76
Fair Jean................................................................................................................................................................78
Mouth Music ........................................................................................................................................................80
If He’d Be a Buckaroo..........................................................................................................................................82
Bach’s March........................................................................................................................................................84
Highland Laddie and The Southwind ..................................................................................................................86
The Joe Turner Blues............................................................................................................................................88
Billy in the Lowground ........................................................................................................................................90
Half-Step Blues ....................................................................................................................................................92
America ................................................................................................................................................................94
Fisher’s Hornpipe..................................................................................................................................................96
Fisher’s Hornpipe Accompaniment ......................................................................................................................98
Scales Used in The Modern Cello Method ........................................................................................................100
3
Table of Diagrams
Diagram 1: Parts of the Cello and Bow..................................................................................................................7
Diagram 2: Correct Cello Sitting Position..............................................................................................................8
Diagram 3: Left-Hand Position ..............................................................................................................................9
Diagram 4: Right-Hand Position............................................................................................................................9
Diagram 5: Types of Notes and Rests ..................................................................................................................11
Diagram 6: Notes on the strings ..........................................................................................................................13
Diagram 7: Tuning with tuning pegs....................................................................................................................15
Diagram 8: Tuning with fine tuners......................................................................................................................15
Diagram 9: Measuring the end pin length............................................................................................................18
Diagram 10: Left-hand finger placement on D....................................................................................................22
Diagram 11: Bow balance point ..........................................................................................................................25
Diagram 12: Bow-angle on strings ......................................................................................................................25
Diagram 13: Octave harmonic..............................................................................................................................32
Diagram 14: Side view of good playing posture..................................................................................................60
Diagram 15: Backwards Extension ......................................................................................................................92
4
Overview
The Modern Method for Cello is a step-by step method written for beginning cello students of any age, with or
without a teacher. If there is a teacher in your town or anywhere near you, it’s always best to consult a teacher.
There are three different ways to learn every tune, study or scale in this book.
1) On the left page you can read all about the tune – where the hard spots are and all the various techniques
that will help you learn how to play the cello including music theory (rhythms, notes, scales and arpeg-
gios), left-hand technique (fingering notes) and right-hand technique (holding the bow, different bowing
styles).
2) On the right page you can read the actual notes that make up the tune starting with easier to read notes.
These notated music pages have different bowing patterns and a line of music at the bottom showing you
all the notes that are used in the tune. Scales and arpeggios are included with most tunes.
3) Using the audio tracks you can learn all of the tunes, studies, scales, and arpeggios in this book by ear.
The way to get the most out of this book is to use all three methods as well as finding a teacher, but you can still
learn even if you just use one or two of the suggested methods.
All of the rhythms, scales and notes used in this book are suitable for the first year student and follow the
American String Teachers Association guidelines. The tunes and scales are also useful for cello students using
other methods who are looking for another set of tunes to accompany their method book.
You will learn how to read notated music in the first position of the cello, playing classical, American, Celtic and
blues tunes as well as how to follow a chord chart and accompany other musicians. All kinds of rhythms are
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included – tunes with four beats to the bar, three beats to the bar, some rhythm and some syncopation. You will
learn pizzicato, marcato, staccato, legato, hooked and slurred bow strokes as well as a little bit of chopping.
This book is dedicated with my heartfelt thanks to the cello teachers who taught me how to teach – Glen
Campbell of San Diego, California, Richard Mooney of La Verne, California, Margaret Rowell, formerly of
Berkeley, California and Evangeline Benedetti of New York City.
Thanks to the models for the illustrations – my students Haven, Kiah and Asha.
The cello on the front of the book was made by Jonathan Cooper. Thanks especially to Lee Ray for diagrams,
photography and editing and to Mig Gianino and everyone at Mel Bay Publications for their help in making this
book easier to read and use.
5
Taking Care of the Cello
Your cello is a very sophisticated musical instrument. Its design has evolved over a few hundred years. However,
it is not particularly sturdy. Even acoustic guitars are more robust. To avoid damaging your cello, here are a few
things to keep in mind.
• Keep your cello out of direct sun and heat. The glue used to make your cello could melt and you could
find yourself with a detached fingerboard.
• Don’t bump your cello on anything or let anyone else bump it. The bridge is held up by tension of the
strings, so if you knock the bridge, it might fall. Under the “A” string foot of the bridge, between the top
and bottom plates of the cello, is the sound-post. This is also held up by tension and needs to be replaced
in a violin shop with a special tool if it falls.
• If you leave your cello on its side, always push in the end pin. Most folks are not looking out for an end
pin and many cellos have been damaged by having their end pins kicked or tripped over.
• Better yet, always keep your cello in its case when you are not playing it.
• Be careful where you store the cello when it is not in its case. Never lean the instrument up against a wall
or a chair where it is only standing on its end pin and could easily fall all the way to the ground.
• Clean off any rosin or dust on the body of the cello with a soft cloth after playing it and before you put
it away.
Taking Care of the Bow
• If you have a soft case, always take the bow out first, before taking out the cello. Always replace the bow
second, after the cello. This will help prevent the bow from breaking accidentally if the soft case bends
with the bow in it.
• Before you play with the bow, tighten it so that your little finger can slide between the hair and the stick.
Make sure that your hands are clean when you play.
• Always rosin the bow before you play.
• Wipe off the rosin dust from the stick with your soft cloth before you put it away.
• Make sure that you loosen the bow hair before you put it back into your case. Due to changing temper-
ature and humidity conditions, bow hair can actually tighten so much that it snaps the stick. So don’t for-
get to loosen the hair.
6
scroll
peg box
pegs
nut
neck (where your
thumb touches) fingerboard (where the
fingers stop the strings)
strings
purfling
upper
top
bout
F hole
C-bout
(waist)
sssooouuunnnddd pppooosssttt (((iiinnnsssiiidddeee bbbeeetttwwweeeeeennn
bridge
ttthhheee tttoooppp aaannnddd bbbaaaccckkk)))
lower
bout
tailpiece
fine tuners
end pin screw
end pin
adjusting screw
bow grip
stick
tip hair
ferrule
frog
Diagram 1: Parts of the Cello and Bow
7
Diagram 2: Correct Cello Sitting Position
8
Diagram 3: Left-Hand Position
Diagram 4: Right-Hand Position
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