Habits of a Successful Young String Musician Book 1 - Cello

Habits of a Successful Young String Musician Book 1 is a comprehensive beginner cello method designed for the first year of instruction and beyond. The field-tested method includes 220 sequenced exercises that develop tone, pitch, technique, tonal literacy, and rhythmic reading through familiar melodies, scales, warm-ups, and sight-reading activities.

Tone and Technique

Students begin using the bow early while familiar melodies encourage development of pitch and tone by ear. High-quality photos and online instructional videos demonstrate proper instrument position, left-hand setup, bow hand technique, hooked bows, slurs, tone production, shifting, and lower-string positions.

Musicianship and Reading

All four open strings are introduced early, with new notes supported by fingerboard diagrams and visual references. Rhythmic exercises introduce long notes, rests, counting, subdivision, and 3/4 meter, while dedicated sight-reading exercises reinforce independent tonal and rhythmic reading.

Specifications

• Instrument: Cello
• Level: Beginner
• Book: Book 1
• Series: Habits of a Successful Young String Musician
• Authors: Sarah Ball, Margaret Selby, Christopher Selby, Scott Rush
• Exercises: 220 sequenced exercises
• Format: Softcover
• Item number: G-11052
• Supplemental resources: Online accompaniment tracks, instructional videos, and performance videos
• Online resources: habitsstrings.com
• Digital platforms: MusicFirst PracticeFirst and MakeMusic Cloud SmartMusic

A practical first-year cello method that combines tone development, technique, music reading, and engaging repertoire with extensive online learning resources.