Modern Method for the Violoncello: Volume I by Stephen De'ak for Cello Unknown Binding

This book as a must for advanced students and professionals alike. The etudes are interesting as well as extremely helpful and certainly enhance one's playing if taken seriously and learned well. The explanations are clear and very helpful.

I have been studying cello for 6 months. My teacher uses this book for all her beginning cello students and reports that adults love it and kids hate it. As an adult, I can confirm the loving part. It is what you would expect from a German publication with a 1929 copyright: a solid focus on the fundamentals- and it works. I can see the progression even in the 4 months I've been in it. You will want to balance this with more 'fun' pieces, but I believe my teacher's report that this one will give a solid foundation.

My cello teacher uses both De'ak books. I have finished both. I got this book when I first started taking lessons at the age of 13 (I'm 17 now). I hated it at first, but looking back at it now, I like what it has done to develop my skill. De'ak goes at the right pace, and progresses through the positions. In this book, he writes exercises that go all the way up to 7th position (thumb position to come in book 2), while incorporating scales, which helped me a lot. I find myself going back to this book, even after finishing the second one, just to review and practice. It can get really boring, and sometimes difficult for people going through it when they are beginners, but I definitely love that my teacher made me play through it. I definitely recommend this book!