Beginner cello courses

The London Cello Institute is undoubtedly the most suitable cello school in London where adults can start their cello education. Thanks to our profound understanding of adult cellist amateurs and a fantastic team of instructors, we are convinced that we can provide you with the highest cello instruction.

We understand that learning how to play the cello as an adult can be a daunting task, so we will do our utmost to make your journey as pleasurable as possible.

Cello

At The London Cello Institute, we always take great care of our pupils and ensure that they are learning in a manner that suits their wishes and personality. We carefully adapt our tuition to each individual and ensure that all cello lessons are both educational and enjoyable. Our cello lessons for adult beginners are available to all cello lovers, even those who have no musical background.

Learn how to play the cello in a wonderful environment and benefit from highly personalised advice

Tailoring our cello lessons to each is one of the main reasons why our instruction is praised by many. Each adult is different and requires a specific education. We will always aim to adapt to your particular needs and focus on both the areas in which you excel and those that require more attention.

As a beginner cello student at The London Cello Institute, you will:

  • Discover the cello with the role of each of its parts – sitting at the right height with the correct placement of the instrument
  • Locate the four strings and learn how to read the bass clef

  • Get familiar with the bow, stretch its hairs, put on the rosin, learn how to hold it to obtain a quality sound
  • Work on open strings as well as on the move from one string to the other

  • Learn to place the left hand in first position

We are proud to work with exceptional cello instructors who greatly enjoy passing their knowledge on. Their remarkable understanding of adult cello education makes them some of the most exceptional instructors from which you will surely learn immensely.

Course details

The London Cello Institute invites all cello enthusiasts to study in a wonderful environment with outstanding cello instructors who specialise in teaching adults.

Man playing a cello

Our cello lessons for adults take place weekly on a set day and time at our lovely premises in the City of London.

The lessons are provided for either 30, 45 or 60 minutes, and our cello courses can be joined at any time during the year.

As various slots are available, please contact our manager Stefan at enrol@londoncelloinstitute.co.uk to select the most convenient day and time for you.

As all our cello lessons for adults are highly personalised and tailored to the needs and wishes of each, you are welcome to decide whether you would like to sit the ABRSM or Trinity graded examinations.

We totally understand that you play the cello for your pleasure and enjoyment so this decision is totally optional.

We do not follow a set syllabus but rather adapt to each of our students as everyone is different and requires special attention.

We require an initial three-month minimum commitment as studying for a shorter period would not be beneficial for you. After this initial period, your cello course will continue as per normal on a rolling monthly basis at a set time and day.

In case you need to stop your course, we do require a month’s notice.

You are also most welcome to book additional improvement or intensive lessons should you want to make faster progress or prepare for an examination or performance.

If you want to do longer weekly sessions such as 90 or 120 minutes per week, please do ask and we will do our best to arrange a course tailored to your requirements.

Frequently asked questions

You are most welcome to join The London Cello Institute even if you are an absolute beginner without any prior musical experience. Our cello courses are designed for adults who are brand new to music so no previous knowledge is necessary to join. Learning how to read music notation and theory will be part of your cello course so there is nothing to worry about.

Definitely not. We believe that there is no age limit to learn and enjoy playing the cello for your own pleasure.

Of course! You are most welcome to give it a try and book an introductory lesson to find out if playing the cello is really what you want to do. Be reassured that there is no need to possess any talent to join The London Cello Institute. We believe that all adults are able to play the cello thanks to the expert guidance of our excellent cello instructors.

You do not need to own a cello to start your cello course as the purchase of the most suitable instrument for you to begin your education can be discussed with your instructor during your first cello lesson. He or she will be able to make a recommendation and advise on the best instrument to acquire.

Absolutely! The London Cello Institute is entirely dedicated to adults who wish to play for their pleasure and enjoyment so you are more than welcome to join.

You definitely need to practice if you intend to make any progress. Attending your cello lessons will offer you the guidance and feedback needed to improve in the right direction but a personal daily practice is necessary to enhance your cello skills.

It all depends on your current level. As a complete beginner, you can start with 15 minutes each day to get into the habit of practising on a daily basis. It should then increase to 30 minutes quite rapidly as you will need enough time to review and improve the material that has been studied during your cello lessons.

Not at all. All our cello instructors have been selected for their remarkable understanding of adults who play the cello for their own pleasure. They are, therefore, extremely patient, kind and supportive. We can assure you that your instructor will never judge, patronise or criticise you negatively.

Yes, we do offer preparation to the ABRSM grade examinations from grade 1 to grade 8, but sitting the exams is not compulsory.

It is an extremely difficult question to answer as it all depends on your abilities and the exact goal that you have in mind. As per our experience, we can, however, say that you should be able to play some exquisite simple cello pieces after a few lessons only.

The duration of your cello course depends on your personal goal after attending for a minimum of 3 months. Your lessons will then take place on an ongoing basis until you are satisfied with your cello playing or unable to pursue your education.

Of course. If you are a proficient cellist, we would certainly recommend that you inform us prior to the beginning of your course. It should, therefore, be booked with one of our senior cello instructors, who definitely possess the right set of skills and experience to help you improve further.

As we do not follow a set syllabus but prefer adapting to each in order to provide you with the most suitable cello education possible, the content of our cello lessons depends on your current abilities and wishes.

At The London Cello Institute, we understand that it can be difficult for some busy professionals to attend their cello lessons on a set day and time each week. We will be happy to accommodate you but please inform us before signing up as any special request is subject to an extra fee and availability.

How to enrol

Lady booking a course

It is very straightforward to enrol at The London Cello Institute by either contacting our manager Stefan Joubert directly at enrol@londoncelloinstitute.co.uk or via our contact form. We will endeavour to get back to you within one or two working days.