8 Things to Consider BEFORE Learning the Cello as an Adult!

Comments · 104

• IN

  @indiamarispereira6944 · 1 year ago

  I've been playing the cello mentally for 5 years, I hope I can transfer all my mental ability to the instrument.

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• NO

  @notmyworld44 · 3 years ago (edited)

  Carolyn, you're awfully pleasant and helpful to watch and listen to!  I'm 78 now and in my 2nd year of learning the 'cello. However, 64 years of playing the violin and 40 years of professionally playing the double-bass kinda prepared me for this new self-teaching adventure. I still have the violin, but donated my double-bass to a deserving young man who was playing beautifully but didn't own an instrument. It's all good!

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• XA

  @Xaniker · 2 months ago

  I work in appliance repair. Was at this ladies house today working on her dishwasher. When I was about to leave I noticed she had a cello on a stand right next to her table. I expressed how I love the sound of the cello so much. It's typical of me to always notice something interesting in a persons house. It's a great way to express good public relations and make the day more interesting for me. To my amazement she offered to give me the student cello. I was taken aback! Lol. After a little internal deliberation I accepted the gift. I'm going to see how well I do 😂

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• JE

  @jenna2431 · 3 years ago

  I returned to cello at 63 in that oh-so-fun summer 2020. I had played 50 years (yes, class--half a century) prior in junior high school for 2 years in an experimental program. I was shocked at how much came back to me. I had kind of blocked it from my mind (I didn&apos;t choose to stop, but was forced to), but when the sales associate handed me the cello, I had to fight back the tears - I felt as though I had come &quot;home.&quot; My challenge was that I had spent much of that half a century in front of a keyboard. I had to battle what I call &quot;Praying Mantis Pose&quot; - that computer hunch-over, the foreshortened chest muscles and overly long weak back muscles. It really did affect my ability to bow properly, pronating the right hand, use the left hand across all the strings, lift the left elbow, all of it. I used a broom handle (behind the upper back, gripping in isometric stretch and also flexing the lats) to help, as well as some weight and thera-band training. <br><br>I began by playing out of Suzuki 1 on a rental, but took it back and purchased a just-over-plywood cello with the COVID stim. I&apos;ve been playing on my own for 3 years. Just through the Bach no 3 Sarabande and Bourees. Ready to step up from my starter cello. I sub to 8notes dot com to get some sheets and play-alongs. My only caveat is do NOT use ArtistWorks for remote instruction. That was unsatisfactory - is all I&apos;ll say. My best tip: Learn the fingerboard. REALLY learn it. I used to inch my way along every string with one finger, singing the note name from Half to the harmonic as part of my early daily. A-Bb-B-C-C#...... One thing that still amazes me is I&apos;ll have what I consider a totally terrible practice one day, but then by the next day, my brain has worked in the &quot;background&quot; and developed the neuro-connections in the meanwhile and the SAME music comes rather more easily and successfully.

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• DA

  @davidsanme1715 · 3 years ago

  Hola Carolyn disculpa que escriba en español. No domino el idioma inglés.<br>Tengo 66 años y un año de estar practicando el cello.<br>Obviamente no aspiro a metas profesionales, pero me ha sido muy util desde el punto de vista psicologico, fisioteraprutico, neurológico y hasta atletico (he reducido 6 kilogrsmos). Tus videos me han resultado muy útiles y espero que los sigas publicando. <br>Un punto dificil es el economico. En México es dificil encontrar academias donde enseñen el cello, se enfocan a instrumentos mas tradicionales (guitarra, drumms).<br>Mil gracias y que te encuentres bien

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• IA

  @ian-w6v4p · 3 years ago (edited)

  Great info Carolyn. Im 63, a lifetime musician and now learning cello. Cello is very physical so my goals are modest.. its hard.

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• Y.

  @y.martins2860 · 2 years ago

  I have been obsessed with the Cello since I was a kid, I&apos;ve been nurturing this passion through music listening and watching everything I can find with a cello in it. I am in no way in a position where I can acquire a Cello at the moment, financially. But I will live vicariously through those of you who can and are able to learn and play this marvellous instrument.

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• MA

  @maxxvidzs · 3 years ago

  This is it!!!! This is the video I have been scouring the internet for a year!!! I am 52 and All the Points Checked! I am starting next week!

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• DA

  @DanasWellnessHaven · 2 months ago

  I was gifted a student cello. This is something I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid and I am now 57. Tomorrow I’m going to the luthier to make sure it’s tuned and lessons begin August 1! I am so excited. 🎉

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• CO

  @corinneseaside2512 · 2 years ago

  I&apos;m 77, and I started to finally learn to play the cello. It&apos;s been a rocky journey. Been difficult finding a teacher that worked for me. .

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• DU

  @dustinbarber833 · 1 year ago

  First day playing the cello 4 solid hours this is now my favorite I also play guitar, bass,piano and drums

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• AN

  @AnneFrancke · 2 years ago

  I started the Cello as a adult late 2019 formal lessons at music teacher I always say he came from heaven man that was born with Patience a God given attribute bless him, in 2020 the world was hit with covid we had to stop our lessons but my teacher propose we go via zoom it was tough but we kept on trying at that stage we were doing book 1, unfortunately we couldn&apos;t continue cause the world was under locked down &amp; going to work was not possible so financially it was a strain my teacher suggested we stop but encouraged me to keep on practicing lesson by lesson &amp; he did monthly check in with me via zoom at no cost at all😢 when I started on the cello I was 55 so many people around me thought I&apos;m busy going off my rocker telling me I should try an instrument for old folks now my question is there an instrument out there specifically made for old people what a joke😅I like what Carolyn is saying about consistency that&apos;s the gospel truth my cello teachers first words to me when I started, I luv her video so much the 8 points echo in my ears exactly how my cello teacher taught me right from the start, I&apos;m from a music&apos;s background family was blessed with a mother that loved music our home was filled with Love, music, prayer &amp; lots of singing as well😊 I fell in love with the cello cause it kinda transport mu soul to a level of NO return brings comfort to a weary soul, I also play the piano, soprano recorder &amp; alto recorder All my musical toys keeps me busy enrichment for my soul &amp; keeps me out of trouble😮 I&apos;m now finishing off book 2 I&apos;m still going for lessons my goal is to join our church ochestra where I&apos;m currently playing the records sitting next to my daughter she&apos;s playing the violin &amp; we are mean team even at home practicing it&apos;s heavenly fun on another level my husband enjoys the crazy music mania😅music is soul food when I practice on any of my instruments I forget the aches &amp; pains of which we have at age 60 but who cares you only live once😂age is only the number of years the world was enjoying you let the music play on folks.Thank you Carolyn you&apos;ve inspired me more I&apos;m gonna share your video with my cello teacher his &nbsp;3yrs older than me but oh my goodness what an amazing man if it wasn&apos;t for my family &amp; my teacher&apos;s encouragement I would NEVER have come this far Thanks 2 you All I&apos;m TRULY blessed to have such a support system in my life God bless❤My name is Anne from South Africa... where there&apos;s a will... there&apos;s a way keep walking...🎉

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