Cello?

DrummerBoy

Anyone here play cello?

Dizzyblabla

I can play Pachelbel's Canon on the Cello, but that's all... it's such a fab instrument, I had to learn the silly violin...

DrummerBoy

Yeah I hear ya. I'm looking for some info on where to start, advice on buying etc as I'm looking to learn how to play one.

Dizzyblabla

They're expensive enough to buy, I know that much... check out your local school of music, where are you living? Even if you get in contact with the colleges in your area.
My sister kept up the violin and is doing a BMus now, so she teaches in her spare time, you'll get some lessons cheaper from students than you would anyone else I'd say...

DrummerBoy

The price doesn't really deter me, compared to drums it's a little bit cheaper! (between €400 - €1500 is what I've found so far, but I imagine they go much higher in price than that) I've had a look at a few schools in the area and most you have to actually be able to play the instrument already to a certain level to get onto a course. They don't really seem to go into details about private lessons etc.

I do plan on starting out with a starter/student cello though, learning how to play it first. It would just be a waste of money to splash out on a serious cello when just learning.

Dizzyblabla

ooh totally, specially if you find you don't like it afterwards (happened to me after years of the violin, my mom was NOT impressed!)
suzuki ones are generally cheap, but they can sound very tinny, the tone is not great at all.
PM me and let me know where you're based, I'll see what I can find out for you!

DrummerBoy

Thanks very much

Yv

I really want to take it up too, I'm saving up lots of money for it now. After loads & loads of searching I found out that Galway VEC organises lessons with an instrument rental scheme, which'll be great if it works out, but it's seriously difficult to find teachers for instruments sometimes. Took me about 5/6 weeks' research to find that out.

I also found http://www.learnmusic.info/ - Irish directory of music teachers, you can search by area, instrument, genre etc. Haven't followed up on any of the teachers there so I can't give feedback on it really but I think it's a great resource.

DrummerBoy

What Dizzyblabla has also told me in a pm was to look for music schools/colleges in your area and post up an add that your looking for a teacher. One of the students taking cello (or any instrument for that matter) may be looking to make some cash on the side teaching. Lets face it, it would also be cheaper for lessons too and I guess you could be very lucky and get a really good teacher.

edit
Thats a pretty good site. Cheers Yv

BigStupidGuy

If your looking to get a cheap enough starter cello, go to Crehan's in the Dublin area. I got mine there 2.5 years ago and it sounds beautiful now with good strings, plus because I've been playing it so much. Seriously it's better than some €6000 odd cellos I've been looking into buying recently.

Patricide

Just starting playing cello myself now, i got an alfred stingl by hofner off thomann. Itd rob sound terrible to a cellist ear but i figure its a good place to start paying 500 rather than 1200 which was the nearest i could find down in kerry!