Tuning
The biggest problem for the young cellist’s parents is tuning the instrument.
“Viola-cellos” usually stay tuned well, the eighth and quarter cellos much less so.
As soon as the child can concentrate on the sound, he should be made to listen to intervals of a 5th, 3rd and 4th, on an open string. The teacher should then explain how the peg box works and how to turn the pegs – if he does not know already.
Parents should however buy an electronic device (complete with a metronome, if possible) for tuning to A.
The metronome should be used whenever possible, even if the child does not particularly like it.
The instrument must have:
- The strings near to the fingerboard
- A short C peg
- A sufficiently long spike
- A well curved bridge
- Very good pegs
- A strong bow
- The best sound possible, so it must have been made by a good cello maker
- Good quality strings.
Special strings must be used for small instruments. Each school or teacher must have a stringed instrument maker who is familiar with children’s instruments. Children nearly always refuse to play instruments that are not in a good state of repair, or whose sound is not pleasant.