Grade 1 cello help!, Which are good pieces to play? Options

[marianne]

Which pieces are good for a 10 year old? It's weird not having all pieces in a book like violin/piano, and there's a little cellist in school who's doing v. well indeed and should start to prepare for G1. We're short on cello teachers so I'm having to step into the breech (sp??) as a violinist, I don't know the pieces on the list. Please help! We're hoping a cello teacher will be found soon for her, but don't want to hold her back in the meantime. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[Halka]

My daughter took grade 1 six years ago so obviously the syllabus has changed since then, but one piece she particularly enjoyed is still on the A list:

5) Neidhart von Reuenthal;May Song. No. 1 from Violoncello Music for Beginners 1, arr. Lengyel and Pejtsik(Editio Musica Budapest Z.6312/FM Distribution)

She found lots of other good things to play in the same book, and I can see that some other pieces in it now appear in the B and C list, so might be worth a look.

[Hooplah]

Hi Marianne,

Here's the list of G1 pieces that I had learnt from the list, with what comments I can make as far as what's required for each piece, which might help you from what you know about your young Cellist (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif).

List A

Bach Minuet in C (Suzuki book 1) - Quite a bit of slurred bowing, with the odd F# thrown in. Stays between C3 and D4, no extensions. The only marked dynamic change is for a repeat, which of course won't be played, so it's just down to minor phrasing. No dotted rhythms, but there is quite a lot of accented/dotted notation.

Handel Minuet (Royal Fireworks. Time pieces for Cello 1) - Fun to play, being so well known! It's in C, ranging between C2 and C4. A few changes dynamically, no accidentals. The only slurred bowing comes right at the end, which also has a dotted rhythm. Is a nice, boisterous piece to start with as well!

Air, John Blow. (More Time Pieces for Cello 1). This is in Dmaj, and stays between A3 and D4 - no accidentals, quite a few quaver runs, with mixed slurred and separate bowing. Changes from mf, through p and f dynamically, and also has a two bar rest to be counted. Tempo is allegretto (mm mark is 56 for a minim)

List B

TH Bayly, Long Long ago. (Suzuki book 1). Moderato, in Gmaj. Stays between G2 and G3, no slurred bowing, no accidentals, dotted rhythms or accents . Some variation dynamically, it's quite a nice simple piece to play.

Adam Carse. Dance Steps (fiddlers Nursery). Allegretto, in C. Stays between D3 and D4. Some accented notation and slurs, a little bit more challenging than the Bayly, but livelier and more fun to play. One F# to deal with.

List C

Banaha (trad, Time Pieces Volume 1) moderato, in D. This has quite a bit going on as a piece, dynamics, dotted rhythm to start, slurs and some tied over quavers. Stays between D3 and A4, no accidentals.

I wish I knew (Tayloe, Mote time Pieces Volume 1) In F, but stays between C3 and D4 with no Bb to worry about. A few crotchet and quaver rests however. Not the fastest of pieces, but there's quiet a bit going on with the rhythm and changes to dynamics.

If the pupil doesn't have any books yet, Suzuki book 1, Time Pieces for Cello and More Time Pieces for Cello would be well worth getting, probably the AB publications as far as amount of grade music within their pages, the Suzuki book has a CD, but the piano accompaniment book is a separate purchase, whereas the AB publications come with paino part included. Those were the three that I used/have, and appear on the G2 syllabus for pieces as well (one piece from the Suzuki book, and a few from the more time pieces volume 1).

I hope this is some help to you (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[marianne]

Hooplah, that is very helpful indeed, thank you so much!

I will investigate all your suggestions.