Hi all! I`m so excited that there are so many cello enthusiasts out there.
I`ve been dying to learn to play the cello but couldn`t find the time until now.
How should I go about finding a good teacher for a complete beginner like myself? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

That depends on where you live. So where do you live?

I live in San Francisco Bay Area. I`ve given up my car and started relying on the transit so I would prefer to find a great teacher from the city (San Francisco). I have no clue how to start the search. Don`t even know anyone who plays the cello.

The problem with the transit system is that it doesn`t go everywhere. Heres what I found. You could always call any of these people and ask if theres anybody close to you.

California
Trina Hodgson, 1180 Palm Terrace
Pasadena, CA USA 91104
Email: info@acellorondo.org Website: acellorondo.org
Comments=Teaching students of all ages. A program that incorporates individual cello lessons and group/ensemble/technique classes.
Betty Wu, 59 Alvarado Rd., Berkeley CA USA 94705
Email: bettywu13@hotmail.com
Dieter Wulfhorst, California State University, Fresno
Department of Music M/S 77
2380 E. Keats Ave.
Fresno, CA. 93740-8024
USA email: dwulfhorst@csufresno.edu
Phone: (559) 278-7547 Fax (559) 278-6800
URL: www.csufresno.edu/music/Bios/Wulfhorst.html
Maria Royce,8949 Herrick Avenue, Sun Valley, CA 91352 USA
Email: MariaRoyce@aol.com
THE CELLO PATH is an original, as well as traditional, approach to learning to play the cello. Students of all ages are welcome. Beginning adults, of any age, are encouraged to enjoy the adventure of musical exploration through the beauty of sound. Along with learning the basics of cello technique and musicianship, there is also an emphasis on imagination development which then allows direct creative expression on the instrument.
Maria is a concert and recording cellist. She is a recipient of a Coleman Chamber Music Award and was a member of the Berkeley Master Class given by Pablo Casals. She has performed solo, chamber, and new music concerts, including her own music and original scores she created for theatical and dance productions. Maria has performed with Ishtar and Buto, two free-improvisational ensembles,as well as several world fusion groups. She has done extensive recording for films, records and television and served for four years on the Board of Directors of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS). Maria also plays a 5-string electric Cobra cello. Her teaching career spans over thirty years.
Annie Yeh, 1261 Broderick St. # 303, San Francisco, CA 94115
Email Address: annie@anniescellostudio.com
Website Url:http://www.anniescellostudio.com
Heidi Larson, 6673 Sora Street, Ventura, CA 93003
Email: Heidi_49ers_rule@yahoo.com

Robert Howard, 895 24th Ave Apt.4, San Francisco, CA 94121 Email: inglewilde1@aol.com
I am currently pursuing an Artist Diploma at the SF Conservatory. I have attended several festivals including, Tanglewood, Verbier, and the Machester International Cello Congress. I have several years experience in private teaching and chamber music coaching. And I am currently looking to develop a studio in the Bay Area.

Sandra Beane, 1730 N. Gramercy Place, Los Angeles, CA 90028, United States
Email: Cello_77@yahoo.com, Website: http://www.angelfire.com/wi/pikaichi
Comments=I have been teaching for 6 years. I have taught 4th grade through adult. I have a degree from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. I have played in many orchestras including the Spoleto Festival Orchestra in Charleston, SC.
Paul Tseng, DMA, San Diego, CA 92128
Email: stradvcl@musician.org and website: http://paultseng.ontheweb.nu
Comments=Taking on a very limited amount of students for my class (by audition only).
Jerry Pence, 3685 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92501
Email: conservatoryofthearts@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.geocities.com/artsconservatory
I am a `cellist and the director of the Conservatory of the Arts in Riverside. We offer classes for all of the stringed instruments - private lessons and ensemble.
Victor Sazer, 2119 Glencoe Avenue, Venice California 90291
Email: vsazer@earthlink.net -- URL: http://home.earthlink.net/~vsazer/
Cellist/Teacher and author of New Directions in Cello Playing, subtitled: How to Make Cello Playing Easier and Play Without Pain
Ruthann Sutton, 1618 S. Holly Canyon, Ridgecrest, CA 93555
Email: suttonr@ca.freei.net

Michael Knapp, Bolinas/San Francisco
Email: Mrknapp@jps.net
Comments=M.M. (Cello Performance), S.F. State University; M.A. (Music Composition), Mills College. Studied cello with Lazslo Varga, Janos Starker and Ralph Kirschbaum. Composed and performed music for 3 CDs, in collaboration with Silvia nakkac, "Seeker", "Poema Invisible" and most recently "Ah".

Eric Gaenslen, 1422 6th street, Santa Monica,CA 90401
Email: egaenslen@aol.com
Comments=New to the Los Angeles area and accepting students. Yale, Juilliard graduate. Member of world-touring string quartet, soloist. Taught privately in NYC, and at the Mannes College. Former teachers include: Joel Krosnick, Aldo Parisot, Irene Sharp, and William Pleeth.

Oh and you can always email these people for

Sean...
Wow. Thank you much for all that great information. I had sort of given up looking for an instructor because I was getting frustrated not finding any leades.
I`ll definitely give your list a try. And let you know if I succeed. Yay! I`ll get to play the cello!!!!!

I found it on: www.yahoo.com

You could look for teachers in your area on any search engine.

My email address is celloprof@hotmail.com, so I dont know why this site keeps on putting my email as comcast.net?

I am looking for a teacher to take me through grade 8 and beyond. I am 18 years old and live in Nottingham England, but have been struggling to find teachers in my area. Let me know if you can help. Thanks

I also need help finding a cello teacher. I live ~50 miles north of Dallas, Texas...a teacher in the Richardson, Plano, McKinney, or Sherman area would be great. Any help is appreciated! Thanks

I`m looking for a beginning cello teacher in the San Diego (north county) area. Cost is important, and I`m not sure where to look. So if there is any experienced entrepreneur student cellists out there looking for an infant student please let me know.