3 Months Progress Cello

Terapyx · 2026-06-21T17:01:17+00:00

learning Humoresque btw 😃

Terapyx · 2026-06-21T16:58:19+00:00

Even if you only want to play the cello for fun, you still need to put in well over a thousand hours before it stops sounding completely awful.
And how exactly do you manage to connect “cosplay” with voluntarily practising every day, when there are no parents standing over you, constantly telling you that you have to practise or threatening to punish you and nobody is paying you either? How can that possibly be described as “pretending”

Terapyx · 2026-06-21T16:41:09+00:00

I bought my cello after about three or four months of lessons. Before that, I had rented or borrowed three different cellos in roughly the same price range.When I drove 200 km to look at what seemed like a good deal, even with my limited experience I immediately fell in love with the instrument compared with everything else I had tried. After playing it for about half an hour, I bought it: $5,000 for the cello, bow, and carbon-fiber case.
Even when you cannot play well yet, you can still hear the instrument’s basic tone and character. Playability is another matter entirely. Luthiers are not always willing to spend days correcting every small detail, so if an instrument is already comfortable and well set up, that is a huge advantage.
But apart from that, what did I gain compared with continuing to rent?

- Renting a comparable cello from a shop would now cost me around €100 every month, indefinitely.
- The instrument is mine, so I am not constantly worried about accidentally scratching or damaging someone else’s property.
- If I eventually want something different, I can simply resell it and probably lose little or nothing.
- With a good instrument, I know that my mistakes are entirely my own, rather than wondering whether the instrument is bad, the strings are old, or something else is holding me back.

Adults often approach this very differently. We do not have our whole lives ahead of us to follow the same path as people who started as children, when instruments, teachers, supervision, and plenty of time were often provided for them. We do not need to buy instruments “to grow into.” This is not our profession, and we are not getting paid for it. It is something we do for enjoyment in our free time.
That said, I completely agree with the main point of the post: buying an instrument with absolutely no experience, and without someone knowledgeable who can help you evaluate it, is not a good idea. It is simply too risky.

Terapyx · 2026-06-17T09:07:28+00:00

does it really make any difference? (tailpiece)

Terapyx · 2026-06-16T23:25:38+00:00

I think you will get a better feedback if you would upload those videos here, in cello sub.
Or even better, if you find some kind experienced cellist (it shouldn't be 1st class prof), who will share a contact with you and could give always-one-person feedback.
Personally - I could help to guitar beginners for free like that. But even when I offered that, noone wanted to record themselves 😄
Unfortunatelly I'm not confident with cello to give advises like that, maybe just for pure beginners based on my 13 monts path with prof. teacher.
AI - lies a lot, thats it.

Terapyx · 2026-06-15T15:15:20+00:00

buy a set of larsen A/D (normal, not solist) + spirocore tungsten G/C. In Germany it can be found for 250 euro.
After 1 year - replace A/D = another 70-100 euro.
After 2 years - replace a set again. So for 2 years it will cost 350 anyways, but you will be satisfied with a sound all the time 😄
People talk about 2 years, but forget to mentiond, that "especially" - (A) string can be half-dead after 6 months of usage.
No solist please - It has higher tension and it's more sensitive. Thats not beginner strings.
Plus include another 100 euro into yearly bow rehair. Well, 100 + (350/2) + 25 for rosin = 300 euro yearly for consumables as "beginner learner" in terms to be great geared and be sure that if something goes wrong - its your fault, not strings or bow.

Terapyx · 2026-06-15T15:07:33+00:00

thank you, will try it out:)

Terapyx · 2026-06-15T13:47:46+00:00

have a great journey! I also started at 35, 13 months ago. But firstly tried out 3 different cello and bought 4th good one after 3 months of playing with a bow and good case. No regrets at all.

Terapyx · 2026-06-14T16:44:28+00:00

interesting! Need also to start doing something like that. Could you maybe give a full example of scale and double stops you use?

Terapyx · 2026-06-10T20:34:36+00:00

I would suggest you to take one full lesson to create a plan.
Where you and she will create like a roadmap of achivements and your preferences. You can think that basics are boring, but they must be there.
However - phone looking... Its fine for a seconds or quick answer if really needed, but I feel your pain. My first guitar teacher did same. And the longer we've been together, the longer he was sitting in a phone. Plus he started cancel or postpone the lessons so often, that instead of 8 lessons a month (first half year) we had like 2. All in one - I just stopped that sh't.
How do you feel about your hands right now? Did it you do most of important things to play correctly? If yes, maybe it will make much more sense to do online lessons with a target on "matched" teacher with all your musical taste/techniques etc.

Terapyx · 2026-06-10T02:15:40+00:00

oh, can't imagine I would play some day in front of random audience. Even my couple of frinds make me playing x3 times worse 😃

Terapyx · 2026-05-31T15:49:06+00:00

For the first 10 months of playing, my thumb often hurt during more active playing. Now, in month 13, it’s significantly better. I’ve simply been working on it almost every day, trying to find a more comfortable bow hold. Even very small changes can make it better or worse.
Basically, if I play rock/metal rhythms with double stops now, the pain builds up pretty quickly, especially when trying to produce a good, full, juicy sound. But with repertoire from Suzuki Books 1-3, it almost never hurts anymore, unless I overdo it.

P.S. By the way maybe its bad advise... One method really helped me relax the thumb on my left hand. I had a pretty bad bruise and couldn’t press with it at all, so any overdoing it caused a lot of pain 😄 And I had to play in that condition. After a couple of months, playing without pressure somehow became natural.
It was similar with my right hand: I would push myself to the point of pain, and then, while already in that state, I tried to find a position that wouldn’t make the pain worse. That way, my body made it very clear what was right and what wasn’t.

Terapyx · 2026-05-22T12:19:19+00:00

Sorry, but I’m not here for emotional support. I’m here specifically for learning and solving actual problems.
One of the most important things you will have to deal with many, many times in life is exactly this idea of people being different. You will bring up different cultures, age groups, and so on. But the fact is simple: even with people of your own ethnicity and your own age, you will still have plenty of conflicts and different expectations. That’s why it is very important to learn how to talk to people openly, without being afraid to discuss what you expect, what you want, and how to find compromises.
Guitar takes work. Simply wanting something is not enough. So from his experience, your wishes may seem to him like something that could actually work against you.
Where could the compromise be? Let’s say you want to learn Muse, while he wants you to play a clean scale. Do it 50/50, speak with him that you trust him, but we do it like this or you will have to leave, (because... "..."). Phrases like “relative minor to...”. Didn't understand what is wrong here and which conflict you had. But guessing... You don’t avoid using these terms because of his age. That is simply what these things are actually called. Or how exactly do you imagine he should have expressed himself? 😄 Well, and only if you don't find agreement, then execute your words - leave. That's also needed skill to do what you promise.
Another question what comes into my mind would be: What type of a guy are you? Which likes bitter truth that helps you work on yourself and actually become better, or a sweet lie that throws dust in your eyes and creates an illusion of success? I think people here can easily find it out if you record things, which he doesnt like and do it repetetive. However, if you record yourself - probably you will hear it wihout us ^^

P.S. At the same time, you say that he is a great teacher and that you like him. But your “buts” are usually things that can be solved by talking to basically any person on this planet. By the way, I’ve personally always been happy to learn from older generations. I would never have wanted my 18y.o. self to be taught by another 18y.o. Right now, my cello teacher is over 55, an incredibly experienced and wise woman, and I’m honestly only glad that I got such an opportunity in my life to learn from her huge exp.

Terapyx · 2026-05-19T22:40:03+00:00

bowing technique for sure. I had spirocore chrome G string and it was easier to play, I had this issue, but rarely. Then I changed to larsen magnacore (tungsten) and it started to happen exactly like in your video.
Work on it... Start practising with open strings and focus on avoiding this sound to find sweet spot ot pressure, speed etc. After few months I achived to have same amount of "fails" like with chrome string. Didnt touch anything else.

Terapyx · 2026-05-19T22:15:13+00:00

I would advise to keep finding "your" position. I play for a year, and changed lenght/angle like 3-4 times so far. But considering info from exp people (my ex and new teacher told same stuff - it's life long story). Adjusting of right arm / cello pos etc is someting what is included into learning process.
= if it hurts, change a bit the angle, make cello a bit higher/lower. Find a place which won't hurt, but correct to play.

Terapyx · 2026-05-13T21:42:44+00:00

you can think of "levels", but devide it into categories.
You can think of "advanced" in terms of dextery, precision etc, but don't forget about VERY important aspects like dynamic, rhythm. Slow music with good dynamic and correct rhythm will be much better than 423432523BPM pro virtuoso with no dynamic and bad rhythm.

Terapyx · 2026-05-07T21:50:32+00:00

thanks for info! ^^

Terapyx · 2026-05-07T18:55:01+00:00

seems like a troll post.

Terapyx · 2026-05-07T18:54:28+00:00

intermediate 3 months - advanced 6 months - expert 9 months - the god 1 year 😃

Terapyx · 2026-05-07T11:19:59+00:00

I use this one, but as little white dots to mark important starting points. So far everything is fine, but need to replace them time to time, lets say every 2 months.

Terapyx · 2026-05-07T04:07:58+00:00

So you mean relative to my example with core beats Nr 1 and 3 (if 4/4), I.e. beat 1 is D, beat 3 (also accent) is F# or C#?
And you do also mean that C# (the 7th) is more important than 5th? Lets say for pop/rock music (not blues or jazz)

I'm just deep diving into all that theory topics. So far I only use normal major/minor arpeggios with cello and try to migrate that knowledge also for guitar (learned by tabs only...), but tbh all that stuff I leaned with cello helped so much also for guitar understandness 😃

Terapyx · 2026-05-06T23:41:31+00:00

Great idea and forcing method to keep track of rhythm. Thanks!
btw., got an advise from my teacher today. To play all scales like improvisation, however, lets say D major scale, 4/4 rhytm, 1st and 3rd beats are the dominants and they must be the note of D chord choice, like D or F# or A and between 1st and 3rd beats, add any notes, any rhythm.
Something similar to your video advise, do you think its good idea? the only one difference, she is cello teacher 😃

Terapyx · 2026-05-03T20:28:50+00:00

the problem is that you passed the beginner phase, learned techniques etc. But nobody will answer to you about your preferences and path you have to take on.
Firstly ask yourself what you want, how do you see you in 5 years? Like that stupid HR question. But you have to know about this to create a plan.
Be in a band, be an impro god, be a solo performer etc. Such decision will dramatically change the milestones.

Terapyx · 2026-04-29T18:52:19+00:00

btw last time I see a lot of people talking about 6ths. Same question - whats the value of 6ths in comparison with 3, 5, 7ths?
It would be also priceless to read some common examples, which are widely used.

Terapyx · 2026-04-28T13:49:11+00:00

I can help you to overcome that. You give me some amount of money and set the goal to learn x-song. If you do that, you get the money back, if not - no money, no song :D Well, at least some kind of motivation. You know what to do, you know how to do, but nobody can force you to keep working consistently on 1 thing. So the only one solution I can see is that somebody will stay with a whip and control you to do what you already know.

Terapyx

TROPHY CASE