Playing & Teaching

Technique: Teaching rhythm and bowing to beginners

2019-11-13T15:41:00

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How to inspire very young musicians to learn new cello playing skills

Before children start to play an instrument, I believe it is essential that they learn to read simple rhythms and sing in tune. I recommend teaching very young children these skills for one or two terms before they first pick up the cello. After that, continued rhythm work can be used to help them develop their bowing skills before they start to think about pitch. When they have a well-established understanding of how to read different rhythmic patterns and how to play them with the bow, they can concentrate on the more diffcult task of pitch reading.

Read more in The Strad’s December 2019 issue…

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