I'm nearly 18 years old and I've wanted to start playing the cello for a very long time. My mum doesn't seem to think it's a good idea, so I've told her I'm going to look into it before I fully commit. I have a few questions:

Can the cello strain your wrists? I've been playing guitar for a few years (I'm not very good) and I find it difficult to practice regularly because I get a lot of pain in my wrists and fingers/thumbs.

I also have poor circulation, so I have very cold hands- can this affect cello-playing?

At age 18, am I too old to learn?

And can anybody reccommend a very comprehensive guide to cello? Perhaps with information about the history, actual instrument (like the body, neck, etc- sort of thing you get in many guitar books) technique, ear training and cello musical theory. My knowledge of music theory and ability within ear training is very little.

Thanks

18 is certainly not too late! Using your hands properly should prevent problems.

Do look at the book, Cello Playing for Music Lovers, available through Amazon. It comes with a CD of each of the ninety or so exercises in the book, so you can get instant feed-back, and is very comprehensive.

18 is definitely NOT too late to start learning the cello. I started last year at age 54 and I love it. I'm also making good progress. Learning to play the cello is challenging but I think it is certainly worth it. I suggest you talk to somebody the plays the cello and learn about it. Go to a musical instrument store (preferable one that specializes in string instruments). It's probably best to start off with a rental instrument. I would also suggest that you take lessons as well and practice regularly. Finally listen to cello music. Some of my favorites are the Bach suites, the Haydn Cello concertos and the Vivaldi cello concertos.

I can just join to the previous responses. 18 is not late, I started last year (at age of 23). Wrist can be injured, if You don't do everythoing properly. It happened to me, and probably it will to You as well. But You'll adjust Yourself to the instrument don't worry. I don't play the guitar, but I sometimes "play" with it when I'm at my parents. For me, holding a guitar is much more "complicated". (I know, if I would do that properly, it would be much better, but still, cello is kind of "natural", at least so far...). I'd also suggest a teacher, from pictures, movies, it is hard copy things properly. Probably You will not. But a teacher can always corect You, the book won't give You a feedback, only Your body with some pain after couple of minutes.

I started cello about 6 months after I strated violin, at 50, no your not too old. But I do so wish I had strated violin in 3rd grade. So never too early to start. Just bought my grand daughter a violin for Christmas, she's 4. SHe's up to lesson 9 in just 4 weeks. It isn't easy, but if it were easy, it wouldn't be much of an accomplishment either.

Hi, I'm a cello teacher, and I teach lots of adult students all the way through to the age of 65.

Your wrist shouldn't be too much of a problem if you have a good teacher, make sure you ask if it hurting if you are holding your arm and hand correctly. Ask around, don;t just assume that every teacher out there is good, try and find one who people in your area reccomend. Good teaching of technique is important to prevent injury,but you are young and will find it physically fairly ok, just be prepared to work hard at it to begin with.

There aren't many books out there specifically on technique that I have found to date, but I would say that it easier learnt from a teacher than from a book. But once you find a teacher she will recomend a good book to you.

If you want to play the cello now, you'll want to play it when you're 40 and when you'e 50, so why not start now, just be prepared to work hard and not to quit, then enjoy