Books That Every Cellist Should Own

Learning the cello to a high level takes a great deal of time, and a wide range of targeted improvements.

Over the years, you will find yourself revisiting old issues and revising your technique repeatedly.

Having played for over 20 years, my collection of cello books takes up a large shelf.

Here are the books that I consider to be essential when developing a strong skillset on the cello!

Cello Sight Reading 1 – John Kember

Sight reading is the gateway to faster learning on any instrument.

The ability to absorb and execute all of the information presented to you on first sight speeds up the process of learning a piece of music, and allows you to sooner focus on the technical aspects of playing.

When preparing for exams, sight reading can often be the weakest aspect of your playing.

It also does not usually sound like you are doing very well until you reach a certain level with it.

Because of this, sight reading can have a lot of negativity associated with it, and is easy to shy away from.

Therefore, books such as this are a brilliant tool for overcoming this hurdle, by taking you step by step through the different tips and tricks of sight reading.

Completing this book will undoubtedly result in lifelong gains in your playing.

👉 View Cello Sight Reading 1 by John Kember on Amazon

How I Play, How I Teach – Paul Tortelier

French cellist Paul Tortelier published his cello method book in 1975, and it has since become a staple of the cellists library.

This book is a brilliant companion to budding cellists, with detailed explanations, useful exercises, and picture diagrams and examples.

This book is not suited to beginners, but is ideal for students learning multiple position playing and beyond.

Tortelier was a devoted teacher and a very respected player, and his methods, many of which appear for the first time in this book, are still widely used today.

This book works well for both students and self-taught cellists.

Plenty of teachers would recommend this book and refer to its chapters when teaching.

When practicing this book is incredibly helpful, as it will answer many of the technical questions likely to arise in the absence of your teacher!

👉View How I Play, How I Teach – Paul Tortelier on Amazon

Six Suites for Violoncello – J.S. Bach

A staple of the cello repertoire, Bach’s cello suites are a must-have for anyone above grade 4 level.

These works provide the perfect canvas for personalised interpretation and development of sound.

At all times when playing the cello, you should be ready to fall back on familiar ground for a break from the constant challenges of learning the cello, and the six suites are excellent for this.

As you progress, you will undoubtedly memorise some of these, making them even more relaxing to sit down and play in a quiet moment.

The suites also make for an excellent fall back in emergency performance situations.

There are countless tales in the cello world of cellists being called up last minute to perform, or having their accompanist run into travel issues.

At times like these, the suites are the best solution! I recommend the Barenreiter edition of the suites, and a sharp pencil.

👉 View Six Suites for Violoncello – J.S. Bach on Amazon

170 Foundation Studies for Violoncello – Alwin Schroeder

Studies and exercises are a crucial part of learning any instrument.

When applied without the correct intent, they can be dull and seemingly a waste of time.

They are, however, the ideal bridge between learning technique and applying it in performance.

Exercises drill you repeatedly on the fundamentals, whereas studies give you a hybrid of technical drill and composed piece.

Schroeder’s book is ideal for the latter, as it focuses a great deal on simple elements such as scales, but turns them into a more musical experience.

As the name suggests, this is an exhaustive collection of studies, which is perfect for anyone who doesn’t like repeating the same drills from one day to the next.

This book will allow you to pick one study per practice, and thus keep the momentum of new material from one day to the next.

👉 View 170 Foundation Studies for Violoncello – Alwin Schroeder on Amazon

Cello Time Duets – Kathy and David Blackwell

An essential part of cello repertoire takes the form of duets.

Playing with another cellist is the fastest way to train your ears and develop good sound control, and so having a good collection of duet pieces to hand is a great idea.

This book is good for players up to grade 4 standard, and there are plenty of collections available for more advanced players, but having a book such as this means you will always have duets ready to play should you wish to!

Your collection of cello books will always be expanding, so these books will only be a small part of it, but you can not go wrong by having these available to you in practice!

Remember to keep your approach fresh as much as possible, falling back on what you already know as often as you like.

With the help of these books, you will be able to supplement a healthy cello education!

👉 View Cello Time Duets – Kathy and David Blackwell on Amazon