Author Description

One Step At A Time is a five-part method of teaching the fundamentals of music on the cello. It is written in a way that is logical, sequential, and easy to understand. The success of this approach is in its simplicity. The writing of this series is the culmination of many years of teaching, and is based on carefully considered pedagogical principles. The music on the early pages remains simple so that the student can concentrate on reading music, and producing a solid tone. Theory will be introduced, as needed, after the student is reading music with fluency and ease. The fundamentals of cello playing are introduced, one at a time, on uncluttered pages, with a solid emphasis on finger patterns. SPECIFIC GOALS IN BOOK III The following concepts are introduced and developed with melodious exercises and songs: 1. Intermediate etudes and songs in the Key of D and G Major 2. The Second Finger Pattern 3. The C and F Major scales beginning with the 4th finger 4. The two-octave C Major scale using two patterns 5. Modulation 6. Time signatures of 6/8, 12/8, 3/4 and 2/2 7. The sixteenth note 8. The rhythmic pattern of the dotted eighth-sixteenth notes 9. Martelé 10. Accidentals 11. Accents 12. Portato 13. Pizzicato 14. Ties 15. Differing bow speeds 16. Musical phrasing