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Posted on December 31, 2008 by Audrey Tan | Posted under Reference and Education
Purchasing a cello
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Some advice on buying a cello. Children 15 and older should be able to play a full size (4/4 size) instrument. Children between 11 and 15 years old should go with a one size down (¾ size) instrument. Children between 7 and 11 years old should go with a half size (1/2) instrument. Children between 5 and 7 can go with a quarter size (1/4) instrument, but children who are small for their age or even younger children, 4 and up, need to start with the smallest cello (1/8) size. Do not just go as a lay person to a music store to buy a cello. You need to make sure that you are in the company of a cello player or teacher. Make sure the potential purchase is being tested by somebody who knows what he is doing. A spruce top is one way of recognizing a decent cello. The back of the cello and the sides have to be made out of maple. A real quality cello will be made of wood that is only available in a few places on earth. It gives a better tone to the finished instrument and that does not make it cheap. Of course that is not the material you are looking for when you try to purchase an instrument for a young child that is just starting out. For these players, but really it should only be considered for these players, you can find cellos that are cheap laminate version. Those to one instrument glued wood pieces will not give you the same tone perfection. Keep in mind that maple laminate is also maple and many stores will not specify when they introduce you to an instrument. Tuning pegs can be made of different materials as well. Ebony seems to be the best thing on the market when it comes to tuning pegs. Rosewood pegs seem to be working fine too. The shape of the tuning pegs is far more important than the material, because the shape of the pegs and slots is responsible for an important aspect of the tuning. A cello needs an adjustable endpin so ensure that that is the case before you purchase the instrument. Some cellos are being sold without an endpin and carefully checking the instrument makes an extra run to the music store unnecessary. An endpin is a necessary attribute to have the instrument rest on the floor. It makes the instrument stay up higher. Some cellos are manufactured by machines and others are handmade. For a layperson it is not always possible to see the difference, so it is very important to take a knowledgeable cello player with you to the music store to buy the cello. After all tone and strength are highly affected by how the instrument was made. The bow is one more thing that can affect the tone so check this attribute out to before purchasing a cello. A bow that is included in the price is not necessarily the one you want to use. Cellos are not cheap so evaluate how motivated the player is before you buy an instrument. If you are not sure that the cello player is highly motivated and maybe very young than you should definitely go for a cheaper instrument. You can also rent an instrument if you are not convinced that the player is motivated enough to warrant the purchase of a high quality cello. Some professional cello players will try to find the best cello that is available, but for many proficient players it is sufficient to just look for quality. Some music stores include fine tuners, replacement strings, and rosin, but others do not. Some music stores will give you a good deal on lessons. Always check for discounts of any kind when you buy a cello in a music store. About The Author: SingaporeViolinLessons.com is the No. 1 Leader in providing Professional Cello Teachers to help students achieve their potential in playing the cello. Looking for a cello teacher, find a suitable one at http://singaporeviolinlessons.com/cello-lessons.html |
Tags: CELLO
