FAQs
Isn’t the cello too big for small children?
Actually cellos are made in many sizes. Sizes are named 4/4 (full size), 7/8, 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/10 and 1/16. You can even attach an end pin on to a viola to go even smaller. We will help you find a cello that is proportionate to your child’s size.
What kind of time commitment should I expect?
Lessons occur once a week for either 30, 45, or 60 minutes, and we expect that a student will practice at least five days a week (more is recommended) for the length of the lesson. Of course, this varies for amateur adults with busy schedules and young children with shorter attention spans. More commitment is possible, as students can join a number of community programs for chamber music, orchestra, and solo events.
Will my child sound squeaky? How fast should I expect him/her to sound good?
We believe that no student should sound squeaky at home, even in the beginning of musical study. The main goal in our lessons is to play music well, and we will work with every student to help him/her draw out a beautiful tone from the cello at all levels of ability. We also believe in giving each student appropriate challenges; neither of us would make a student struggle to play a piece that was beyond his/her capability to play the music well.
Should I rent or buy a cello?
Renting is economical in the short term and a portion of rent payments can often be credited to a later purchase. Rental policies sometimes also provide insurance and easy size upgrades that are needed for growing cellists. However, in the long term (especially for a full-size cello) buying is the cheaper option. Some cellos are quite affordable, and we will certainly help you find one.
I’ve heard a lot about RCM (Royal Conservatory of Music) exams…
While performance exams are beneficial in many ways and can help motivate many students, they are not essential for serious music study and many students can set clear practice goals without them since there are so many other performance opportunities in the lower mainland. We leave the decision of whether to do RCM exams up to the students and parents. Some of our students, after years of study, decide to do a grade 10 RCM exam and they do fine. If you decide that you would like to start RCM exam preparation, we are fully committed to helping you or your child work towards that goal.
Is my child ready to start lessons? OR Is it too late for me (an adult beginner with no previous music experience)?
Some children can begin lessons on a string instrument as young as 3 years old! By the time they are about 6 years old, however, most children are ready to start playing a string instrument. The student should show interest in playing the cello, be able to sit still and focus on a teacher for a few minutes at a time, be able to take direction and have developed their fine motor skills (such as using a pencil or scissors). If you’re an adult who is just beginning to play an instrument then congratulations! It’s never too late to start. In fact, one of our favorite books is Never Too Late by John Holt, a man who began playing the cello at age forty. On a side note, his book How Children Learn is also a fantastic read and delves into the minds of young children as they naturally learn from the world around them.c1
Andrew Luchkow
604-376-6465
luchkow@gmail.com
Janelle Ragno
604-657-5456
janelle.ragno@gmail.com