i want to take up the cello and want to progress fast!!
i am wondering with my musical experience and work hard, can i get grade 8 in 2 years???

I don't know if its possible - there is always possibility - but probably that's quite optimistic - but good for you - what a really good challenging goal to set yourself - I hope you do manage it!

Good Luck!

I don't really think there's a definitive answer to your question... but I'll try and answer it. I have just done G5 cello after 2yrs of learning. On top of cello I play clarinet now to the same standard although I was G2 when I started cello, and I have done G6 piano, I was G4 when I started cello. I am in yr9, so I also have schoolwork etc and I have found it a lot harder as I progressed on cello to grasp cello-specific techniques, mainly bowhold, although I find fine tuning the strings difficult, position changes, and playing in tune aren't so much of a problem. I think workload is a big issue, but you obviously are older and a better musician than me so you probably COULD do it. Sorry for rambling and best of luck.. the cello is a great instrument .

What's your musical experience?

If you haven't played a bowed string instrument before, I'd say not. It can take quite some time for the quality of tone to appear and a decent vibrato. Plus there are all sorts of bow tricks to get the hang of, which can seem a bit like rubbing your belly while patting your head at the same time sometimes It isn't so much about aptitude as some rather hazy concepts and subtle muscle awareness which need to kick in.

I'd never say never though. Just make a start and see what you think about playing .

EDIT:
Just saw your profile.......How are you doing on the viola? I'd use that experience to gauge how you might do on the cello.

i think its unlikely, but you can always try. Having said that, I think that you'd ahve to put a lot of time into practicing, and it says in your sig your working for grade 8 theory, clarinet and piano so do you think you ahve the time to get to grade 8 cello in 2 years?

x

I have been playing the celllo for nearly four years, with a background of playing piano and recorder to a good standard. I passed grade 4 last March, which my teacher says is very good progress. Strings present a very different challenge to piano or woodwind - it's much harder to find the notes for a start! Anyway, why rush? There is so much good material at the lower levels and it's important to get a really solid foundation. Take your time and enjoy the journey to grade 8.

I don't play strings, but this sort of post seems to come along fairly regularly, so I'm going to take the liberty of commenting.

I guess it depends, as others have said, how much time you can put in and how much aptitude you are likely to have. it's a little like asking 'can I run a marathon by this time next year?' Or 'can I complete a PhD in 18 months?' It all depends ...

But I wonder why you would want to do this? Why not just enjoy making music on those instruments you already play? And if you want to play cello, why not (as someone else said) just enjoy the journey? Exams are only a means to an end (playing music well and enjoying it) not an end in themselves ... If you're completing a music degree you probably know that ...


My 2p ...

nick

Speaking as someone who played the violin for many years before taking up the cello, I would say your quest is a long shot.

I got to about Grade 8 standard on the cello in a little over 18 months, but, I was studying violin performance at music college full-time. I had both the time to put in maximum practice alongside access to highly acclaimed performer/teachers as well.

As a violinist I found the cello journey a lot easier than I would have done if I'd approached it as a woodwind player or pianist, and I am also very certain that eleven previous years of string playing was the key to making so much progress in a very short space of time.

As others have said, why are you in such a rush?

You could but it's best to take your time

I've been playing violin for nearly a year and am doing grade 6 next term, then grade 8 next summer which will have been about a year and 9 months after i started so you could, but i practise for about 2 hours a day, but i really don't reccommend it... it's better to take your time as there's some technique stuff etc. that you're bound to miss along the way - i've only just properly got the hang of playing in different positions easily, as things like that take time - no matter how much you practise!

I know i'm in no place to speak about rushing but music isn't about getting the best grade as soon as possible and if that's your main aim in cello you probably won't enjoy it that much

ffliwt, do you think its possible to go from grade 6 to grade 8 in 2 terms?
x

Possible, because I've had students do this, or rather forced by their parents to do this, but it's not recommended, unless you're one of those people who will only have ever played exam pieces when you get to grade 8.

ffliwt, what range of repertoire have you managed to study in your short time playing the violin, or will you a be a grade 8 on exam pieces only? Truly competent violinists with a full compliment of developed bowing techniques and a secure left hand are not created by this method, no matter how much practice they put in, and, why were/are you in such a hurry to get to Grade 8 as well?

As far as quality is concerned, on all instruments there is Grade 8 and then there is GRADE 8. I know which of those I'd rather be.....

I want to do the same too. I definately think it's possible. You've just got to be determined and put in the hard work.

I want to do the same too (on viola) but I'm sure it's impossible.

Its not impossible, on viola I've gone from beginner to grade 8 standard in ~6 months, but i did play the violin first so it was really only a matter of learning the clef. Yes its possible, but it depends on previous musical knowledge. Violin (obviously) helped enormously in learning the viola.

x

Well, yes, but I don't think transferring from violin to viola really counts!

i thought you might say that...

The only reason for my hurry was that i'm leaving school for uni next september and most probably won't be able to carry on violin lessons after that so my teacher and me wanted me to get my grade 8.

I've covered a fair bit of repertoire but obviously not as much as most grade 6/8 players would have... but i've done almost all the pieces from the grade 2, 3, 4 and 6 syllabus, one from grade 5, 3 or 4 from grade 7 and some from grade 8, and some other concertos and studies and just practise pieces. Again - i'm not saying i play them well, just saying i've learnt them >_<

I think my technique is up to scratch for grade 6 - but as it's been said it probably won't be for grade 8. But i do trust my teacher, she's an incredible violinist and a fantastic teacher and would never put me in for something she didn't think i was 100% capable of

I wasn't trying to suggest that i was remotely good i was just saying what i did >_<



As for learning the cello and the others who wanted to, i'd say to go for it cause you definately seem capable and it's defo possible if you're that determined

thanks everyone.

i am going to get a cello next week and start my grade 8 journey

Great

What cello are you getting?

Hope you have fun!

the lessons and repertoire are much more important than the exams. The 2 viola players in our area both abandoned exams at about grade 4, but both now enjoy playing Beethoven string quartets,and both play very well.
I do exams to make myself do the scales and technical exercises that I'd otherwise gloss over, but other than that, the pieces may( just) be played to a particular standard, but there's so much more to it than that.

My next door neighbour, a lady in her 60s, took all her piano exams, to Grade 8, which she passed when she was 17, she hasn't played much since, and now, although more qualified than I am, can't really play the piano much at all. So much for grade 8. She'll tell you herself, that all she ever learned were her exam pieces.

Don't hurry , enjoy the lessons and learning and whatever else happens along. like chamber music or orchestra.
R

I have been teaching myself to play the cello for 18 months. I can honestly say that there is no way on earth (except maybe with a professor of cello and no school/life/other instruments) that I could get to anywhere near grade 8 in the next 6 months. Maybe grade 5 at a push.

Something which I hadn't realised would be a problem but was in tranferring from woodwind to strings is that you put more fingers down to get higher notes rather than lower ones. This sounds silly, because scientifically it makes a lot of sense, but it was very confusing at first because I kept doing cello fingers "back to front" because pitch goes the other way round!

i am glad that i will be learning with a professional cello teacher in my uni as they offer me free lessons

To be honest i think it is impossible to get that far on a string instrument in 2 years, there is so much that can be learned but will need a long time of practice such as a good vibrato and shifting, good sounds and bowing techniques.
I have got to grade 6 cello in 4 years starting with being fluent in bass clef and alot of experience in music. However i think with alot of work you would be able to get to grade 5.

On violin i was starting grade 5 level material at the beginning of last summer. Then i did not play for ages becuase I could not find a new teacher.

Eventually found one, even a member of the london symphony orchestra! Anyway half a year later I am on grade 7 level material.

But before I came to him I had a good knowledge on 2nd and 3rd positions. You will not know how to shift, ibrato or anything. year one I reckon grade 3 at best. By end of year 2 grade 6 standard. Thats if you do not do exams but just cover enough to progress. Not the best way to do it.