Are there any recommendations for a video series to help learn cello. I am a first year violin student and I also want to learn cello but I can't afford both lessons. Any suggestions for material?

Thanks

Cello is a very difficult instrument to learn with a teacher, let alone without one. I've been playing cello for 13 years now, and recently, out of curiosity, bought myself an old violin to try out. As it was only for fun, I didn't bother with lessons. I bought Abracadabra Book 1, as it also has a CD to play along with. I found this very easy and enjoyable, although if you can already read the music easily, then you'll move on very quickly. Abracadabra also has a cello book with CD, so perhaps you could try this out.
Personally I wouldn't recommend teaching yourself cello, but if that's your only option, and it's just for fun, then enjoy!

<Added>

I keep having to edit my posts for not concentrating! I meant to say that I haven't heard or seen any teach yourself videos, but that's not to say they don't exist. There are also some interesting videos on the Youtube website. Have a look there.

<Added>

Oh, I just saw a link at the top of the page called www.cello-academy.com
Seems to be videos of how to play cello. You have to pay...

Hi Everyone
This is a first for me!
I'm 51 years old and have been teaching myself the Cello for the last year or so. I live at least two hours away from any teacher so getting lessons right now is not a possibility. I tune into this forum every now and then to see what info I can pick up to help me. I love playing and even help out playing on the church worship team. Nothing spectactular - just add the base sound to the music they play. Anyways, just thought I would let people know that I am also alone here! and would appreciate any helpful tips (except - get a teacher)
Wynnsumgirl

That's really great. I happen to play classical guitar and play with our worship tema as well. I would love to have cello playing with us. Something to shoot towards.

Hey I'm in college and a first year violinist also. Since i'm in college I can't afford lessons for either instrument, nor have the time, so I'm teaching myself. I personally think that going from violin to cello was a fairly easy transition. I have musical background and I've played many instruments, and violin to cello was the simplest. I don't care what anybody says, yes they are different instruments and techniques do vary, but they are also EXTREMELY similar. I actually control the bow and initiation better on the cello than I do violin.

Anyway, a good cello series is called cello chat. Go on youtube.com and type cello chat into a search. Also search for "make it count." One other site that helped me learn both violin and cello was violinmasterclass.com They have videos for violin techniques, but I've found that if you can do them on the violin you can figure out how to do it on the cello. Anyway, good luck!

The only online cello instructional videos I have found are on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cello+chat

This guy is really good and while it won't replace an actual instructor it might help keep you from picking up bad habits that will later hinder rather than help your playing.

Good luck!

one of my first books when i started playing was Essential Elements 1, 2, etc, for cello, it's an excelent way of starting on your own, but you need a lot of practice and a teacher to perfect your position and style...but it's a start!! good luck!!

I've had a cello for about 2 years now and I am teaching myself to play it, but it is difficult especially with my work schedule as I work for a wholesale tour operator Monday to Friday. On the weekends I sing and play guitar with my church choir. I am unable to take lessons or even find a teacher. I have the Essential Elements 1 with the DVD and CD and I found that it has helped with the basic elements. I just wished that I had someone to practice with, that way I would be motivated to keep up with regular practices. Any other students in east end Toronto?

Hi,I'm a middle-aged(36) guy from Finland. I'm also planning to teach myself to play cello. I started training the violin about a year and a half ago, I know about a dozen songs so that someone else besides myself recognizes themI started with an electric violin and bought an acoustic one last autumn. My non-violinist friends have even said it sounds ok,though of course it probably would sound horrible to any "real" violin player. I'ts been on my want-to-do list to learn to play the cello for some time, and now I ordered myself a very cheap chinese made beginner-grade cello in order to start training. My violin is also the cheapest possible chinese job,but I've been very pleased with it,not knowing any better I've been wathcing those cello chat videos on YouTube and they seem very useful. I've also read a couple of books on the subject.I'm very impatient to get my hands on the cello,hoping in won't be too hard to learn after the violin.Is it difficult to play both cello and violin, them been similar but still also rather different? does playing one cause difficulties vith the other or does it even help? I only intend to play it for my own amusement(and the horror of others,being too old to get any good.

Update: got the cello on monday. The quality seems ok, considering the price of only 400 euros, all solid wood, no laminates, real inlaid purfling,not painted etc. Been playing C-major scale, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star etc. also learning some Finnish and Russian folk songs. Sounds nice too when I hit the right note. seems I'll probably be able to learn this, does not seem excessively hard after the violin. Pizzicato is nice, I alvays thought the violin sounded horrible when plucked, but the cello sounds good, a little like a bass guitar. The middle strings are easy to play, but the C-string is a little hard to get to sound properly,being so thick, and the A-string sometimes sounds a little harsh. I guess it's mostly the technique, but would other kinds of strings help? Hardest part seems to be to learn to move the left hand quickly and precisely enough, with violin there's not much need for that. I'm very happy I got the cello, just love the sound, the thing is big and cumbersome to handle though, compared to the violin

Good for you. You'll probably do well at it as you have experience with the violin. I play the guitar mostly, only chords, but I don't think that I do too badly on the cello as I tend to hit the right notes most of the time.

Good luck. If you discover any useful techniques let me know.

i am also a violin student who will be a junior in high school this september...i was interested in learning cello because i have found that i LOVE the sound in my orchestra. After playing violin for 5 years, i thought i should try out cello..the undertaking for me however is tremendous with a very busy school schedule and sports afterwards..i also don't want to have to pay for private lessons, as i have never before in learning violin.does anyone have any suggestions for me?? i really really would love to learn. thanks =]

Hi
At the age of 41 I've just started to learn to play the cello again (I've not played since High School)
I got the following DVD from Amazon - you can get it for other instruments too
"Ultimate Beginner" Series - Its a Warner Bros. publication
The ISBN No: is 0-7579-9297-8