I`m not much taller, about 5`3 1/2, And I play on a 4/4 size, and I have since I was about 5`. I`m actually extremely tiny for my height, I`m more like a 6`3 girl scaled down , so my fingers aren`t very big. I don`t think you`ll have any problem at all, I actually have problems over-stretching my fourth finger most of the time.

And some words of encouragement (err, hopefully! =P ) When I was in 6th grade and I played the viola, the bridge on my viola broke and for some reason when my teacher went to get it fixed, the instrument needed to pretty much be trashed or some such thing. I had no choice but to play violin because I was too small to play any of the other violas (I couldnt even reach my arm out far enough for the 3/4 sizes! I was insanely small for my age, about the size of a 3rd grader!) We weren`t allowed to play the cellos or basses until the second semester for whatever reason. When the second semester came I wanted to play the cello, and my band teacher told her to let me play it, so she did finally, and I had no problem on a 3/4 cello (it was still too big for me), and by my 8th grade year I played on a full size, and wasn`t quite 5`. Might not be advisable, but I had no choice at the time. My 6th grade year I even talked her into letting me play the bass, and she thought I was nuts, so I did it on my own and then came to her and was the best bassest we had (this WAS beginning orch tho...) She then forced me back to cello, which I am now glad (basses have boring parts! hehe)

Theres my long (and boring)... thing... about why you should have no problem learning the cello and should learn it! =D

thanks you robert !

Kathleen, don`t be afraid of the full size cello. I was your height when I started at the age of 12 and the only size available was full size. I used to carry it back and forth to school and carry my books too. Also later you won`t have to get used to a bigger one, you will already play one. I have a friend that is stuck with a 3/4 and can`t afford a full size and now he is twenty and full grown.

Kathleen, don`t be afraid of the full size cello. I was your height when I started at the age of 12 and the only size available was full size. I used to carry it back and forth to school and carry my books too. Also later you won`t have to get used to a bigger one, you will already play one. I have a friend that is stuck with a 3/4 and can`t afford a full size and now he is twenty and full grown.

thanks elisabet and bob too!