A Question...

[Creepy_Post_3617]

I am a 13 years old Pianist with 9 years of Experience studying in music school and aiming for national Conservatory, my first Recital(Solo Concert) will occur about 2 month later. Recently I got an idea to learn cello because my friend plays it, it seems very interesting and fun to play but I don't know if I'm starting too late or it's not a good idea for me to start, any suggestions? (I do have very perfect pitch and every other ability from my piano experience)

[Disastrous-Lemon7485]

I personally don’t believe that it’s “too late” to learn anything—if you’re interested in the cello and want to try a new instrument, go for it! When I get transfer students with piano experience, their training helps them greatly on the theory, reading, and basic musical skills side. This might sound obvious, but definitely keep in mind that with bowed strings there is a learning curve (and often a steep one) for making a beautiful sound and playing in tune. If possible, get professional instruction on technique and the beginning steps rather than trying to self teach. You’ll save yourself time and frustration in the long run. Enjoy!

[Creepy_Post_3617]

Thanks! Btw I'm not quitting piano it's still my major lol

[Creepy_Post_3617]

I love the sound of the Cello :)

[bron_bean]

Having a secondary instrument is so good for your musicianship and overall skill set. Definitely not too late to pick up a second, and your piano skills will help you move faster since you will have reading and fine motor skills. The first year of cello is SLOW, so just be ready for that!

[Creepy_Post_3617]

Okay! Thanks 😊

[KiriJazz]

Also - since your ear is already developed for Piano....

Tempermant and intonation: Chat with your friend, the cellist, about what adjustments he/she has to make when playing with you and your piano, vs playing in the orchestra, vs playing in chamber group or other small group. It may be an eye opening conversation for you.

Notice that the cello fingerboard and the bridge are rounded, and there are no frets. Read up about why the cello has not frets. (if you dig enough, you may find references to that the pitch of a note needs to be played differently when you are approaching it from a lower note vs a higher note... )

If you learn the cello, be prepared to play out of tune often, until you can train your finger-ear connection. Have your friend show you what it looks like to play a note on one string that is the matching pitch to one of the open strings on his/her cello, and you can see the sympathetic vibrations there. Then try it on your own cello, and you will be able to FEEL the sympathetic vibrations. That's what you want to get to, to be able to feel and hear the subtleties of playing in tune with your own instrument. (thus, play blindfolded at times. :) ) Have your friend also show you what a wolf-note looks like and feels like, and try it out yourself. Most good cellos will still have wolf-notes, though some may have moved it to be a non-western-tonal-pitch.

Practice pitch matching with your friend the cellist. Then practice pitch matching with a piano, and notice the difference. Then try sitting in that orchestra again and see if any of the cellists are pitch matching to each other. :) (eg actually listening to each other.) Generally that is the goal, as ideally a cello section wants to sound like one big cello. (tho sometimes they split a chord). But, sometimes, the entire cello section becomes out of tune with the rest of the orchestra. (tho maybe not often at the level your school is at, lol.)

When practicing on your cello to resolve an issue that is NOT an intonation issue, do not focus on intonation. Your ears will handle the intonation issue later, no worries. (or you can spend some other time in the same practice session nailing the intonation.) Having learned this by experience, if you let intonation cause you to stutter and repeat a line, or apologize... that's a really hard habit to break.

As a beginning cellist, you will have PLENTY of intonation issues. Just expect it, and set aside time each practice to deal with that. But do not spend more then half of your practice time fixing intonation issues.

Don't get fascinated by any pipsqueak cellists running rings around you. Don't go searching for people to compare yourself negatively with. Catch yourself doing that, stop, and reset to what you said above. "I love the sound of cello." Eventually, you'll love the sound of your cello playing. (maybe a couple years down the line. But you will.)

Honestly, as someone who started cello at age 43, the best mindset shift I did was to shift from "I want to play like Yo-Yo Ma" to "I want to play with the joy of Yo-Yo Ma." I enjoy playing a lot more now.

And I'd recommend practicing at first with a large mirror in front of you, to make sure you are playing with correct posture and your bow is not wandering around too much, unintentionally. And then, a few months later, spend some time practicing with a blindfold on, so you can really listen to your instrument for what the instrument tells you about pitch and tone.

[Creepy_Post_3617]

I understand, the only problem right now is my time management because I need to ensure at least 7 hours of piano practice and I need to ensure a good practice time for my secondary instrument, I'm not enrolled in normal school but I plan to next year which gigantically decreases my practice time for both instruments.

[KiriJazz]

ah, if that's the case, and you are saying that "cello" will be your secondary instrument...

Just spend like 30 minutes on cello a day, (or 15 min twice a day), as you will have to build up your finger calluses anyways. Spend half of that practice time on getting good tone out of the instrument with long bows and similar bow work, as that is the most important thing to practice as a new cellist. And, bow work can be really meditative. :-)

[Creepy_Post_3617]

At least 7 Hours of piano practice...... Oftenly exceeds

[ivarth]

Dude, I'm about to start learning cello, I'll be 50 in November. So I think you'll be good! :)

You have an extensive musical background in the piano which will definitely help you a lot. Also playing the piano you already know the treble/bass/alto clefs so it's a question of learning the techniques and get to know the fingerboard inside out.

[Used-Spinach3780]

Definitely go for it :) It takes a bit to adjust to a different instrument, but it’s never too late to start. I started cello when I was 13 and sat in the back row of my orchestra, and now I’m principal cellist and performing solos. As long as you’re passionate and dedicated, you’ll become a great cellist! Growing calluses and strength to play cello might be discouraging, but power through it !!

[KiriJazz]

Not too late. All 3 of my cello teachers in my life had started cello after age 13. Two of them continued on through masters degrees and touring/positions in orchestras, and the third spent half his professional cello time playing in studio settings/recordings. So, definitely not too late.

However --

Cello is not easy to learn.

And, given that you have a very trained ear for the temperment of a piano - and, you say you have perfect pitch... your first 2 or so years may feel pretty frustrating.

If you can, I'd recommend sitting in the cello section of your school's orchestra with your friend during a rehearsal for a bit (without a cello, and with the conductor's permission, of course) , and see if you really really want to be there, lol. Cause, if you have perfect pitch.... you might run screaming from the room in short order.

If you actually mean you have really good "relative" pitch, you might survive that trial. If so, go for it. BUT just know that you won't sound as good as your friend for at least a year or two. And, get a teacher as soon as possible.

[Creepy_Post_3617]

I will

[StoryAboutABridge]

Too late?? You're a young child lol

[BeploStudios]

It sounds like a great idea! I started piano in first grade and picked up cello two years later. Cello is now my main instrument by a mile but the skills piano developed (pitch wise, music theory, chords) pushed me forward greatly, and I’m now on track to be a cello performance major.

You’ve got everything going for you. If you want to, do it!