Cover -- Table of Contents -- Introduction -- Quick Start -- Chapter 1 Your Cello -- The Parts of the Cello -- The Scroll and Pegs -- The Fingerboard, Neck, and Bridge -- The Tailpiece and End Pin -- The Body -- The Bow -- Selecting a Cello and Bow -- Choosing the Right Cello Size -- Check List -- Equipment You Will Need -- Rosin -- Case -- Electronic Tuner -- Music Stand -- End Pin Holder -- Metronome -- Extra Strings -- Fingerboard Tape -- Mute -- Wolf Suppressor -- Humidifier -- How to Put On New Strings -- Chapter 2 Getting Ready -- The Cello Chair -- Positioning the Cello -- Tuning Your Cello -- Using an Electronic Tuner -- Tuning to a Piano -- Tuning by Fifths -- Tuning by Harmonics -- Large Adjustments with the Pegs -- About Tuning and Intonation -- Taking Good Care of Your Cello -- Setting Down the Cello and Bow -- Loosening and Tightening the Bow -- Cleaning the Cello -- Using a Soft Case -- Carrying the Cello -- Simple Repairs You Can Make Yourself -- Repairs That Should Be Done by a Qualified Technician -- Chapter 3 How to Use the Bow -- Applying Rosin -- Holding the Bow -- The Bow Hold Using a Pencil -- How Not to Hold the Bow -- Moving the Bow -- The Sounding Point -- Down-Bow and Up-Bow -- The Regions of the Bow -- The Angles of the Bow -- Moving from One String to Another -- Using the Right Arm and Shoulder -- Bow Speed and Pressure -- Speed Variations -- Playing Loudly and Softly -- A Bowing Checklist -- The Flexible Right Hand -- Slurs -- Staccato -- Playing Pizzicato -- Advanced Bowing Techniques -- Playing Double-Stops and Chords -- Col Legno -- Tremolo -- Bowing Exercises -- Exercise 3.1 -- Exercise 3.2 -- Exercise 3.3 -- Exercise 3.4 -- Exercise 3.5 -- Exercise 3.6 -- Exercise 3.7 -- Chapter 4 Fingering with the Left Hand -- The Arched Shape of the Left Hand -- The Guitar Player's Deformity -- The Left Arm, Wrist, and Elbow.

The Left Hand Death Grip -- Numbering the Fingers -- The Other Fingers -- Playing in Tune -- Fingerboard Tape -- Vibrato -- The Extended Hand Shape -- Shifting to Other Positions -- The Numbering of the Positions -- Half-Position -- Position and Finger Numbers in Sheet Music -- Advanced Techniques -- Trills -- Double-Stops -- Harmonics -- Thumb Position -- Fingering Exercises -- Exercise 4.1 -- Exercise 4.2 -- Exercise 4.3 -- Exercise 4.4 -- Exercise 4.5 -- Exercise 4.6 -- Exercise 4.7 -- Chapter 5 Reading Music -- The Musical Alphabet -- The Staff and Bass Clef -- Ledger Lines -- Sharps, Flats, and Naturals -- Learning Intervals -- Major, Minor, Perfect, Augmented, Diminished -- Chords -- Key Signatures -- Keys and Scales -- Minor Keys -- Finding the Cello's Notes on the Staff -- Note Rhythm Values -- Repeated Single Notes -- Rests -- Time Signatures -- Pickup Notes -- Counting -- Tempo -- Dots and Ties -- Triplets -- Grace Notes -- Other Marks on the Page -- Dynamics -- Articulations -- Repeats -- Tenor and Treble Clef -- A Glossary of Musical Italian -- Chapter 6 Music You Can Play -- Tips for Practicing -- Bow Direction and Counting -- "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" -- "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain" -- "Long, Long Ago" -- "Joy to the World" -- "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" -- "Oh, Susanna" -- "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair" -- "Ode to Joy" -- "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" -- "Turkey in the Straw" -- "Home on the Range" -- "Blues in G" -- "William Tell Overture" -- "The Entertainer" -- Suggested Method Books -- Chapter 7 Happily Ever After... -- What's Next? -- The Cello Literature -- Playing with Other Musicians -- How to Find a Good Teacher -- Famous Cellists -- Pablo Casals (1876-1973) -- Yo-Yo Ma (1955- ) -- Mstislav Rostropovich (1927-2007) -- Jacqueline du Pré (1945-1987) -- Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805).

Gregor Piatigorsky (1903-1976) -- Jacques Offenbach (1819-1880) -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q-R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W-Z.