Art of Scales (for Cello)

This book was recommended by my cello instructor as a good resource for scale practice.

This is a great book of scale work for INTERMEDIATE cello players. It begins with a page of "acceleration patterns" to use with scale practice in order to develop speed. The next section contains two-octave scales and arpeggios in each of the major and relative minor keys. This works as a transition point for less experienced players to the work that follows. The third section comprises the bulk of the book, with two pages devoted to each of the major and relative minor scales. Each key has a three octave scale and a four octave arpeggio, with appropriate fingerings. There are exercises in arpeggio acceleration by using a variety of rhythmic patterns (each key has different patterns) as well as additional "optional" scale and arpeggio work. The fourth section, intended to be studied after proficiency has been gained with each of the scales in the previous section, has three-octave scales in a variety of rhythmic patterns (which could each be applied to any other scale, just as with the arpeggio rhythmic variations). The fifth and last section is labeled "Advanced Studies," as it has double stop scales in thirds and tenths in the upper (thumb) positions.As other reviewers have said, this is definitely not a book for beginners. It does not have the kinds of instruction found in materials meant for less experienced players, such as broken thirds, fourths, and fifths, chromatic scales, octaves and thirds in lower positions, etc. This book is designed for serious students of the cello, and it will assist them in gaining proficiency in the frequent shifting, with its intonation problems, often encountered in orchestral, ensemble and solo cello music.

I have been using Klengel and Yampolsky (in that order) for years. These are still wonderful resources but I think that Mr. Cunningham has arranged a book that is more pertinent to my students and my own playing. There are two octave scales for less advanced students and 3-octave with exercises for advanced students. Exercises for 3rds (as well as octaves and 10ths!) are given for just one upper octave but require you to play a scale, arpeggio, intervals and different rhythms in 3rds. The Yampolsky method presents 3rds for 4 octaves played through as a scale only - this is great but the 3rd octave is where we really need to have mastery and simply playing up and down the scale may not facilitate that.

This book is a marriage of Flesch and Galamian ideas, and has some good ideas of its own, but if I had known about the Galamian book for cello, I would have bought that instead, much more comprehensive.Still, if you collect cello pedagogy books, can't hurt to own both if you like.

I love this book. Collects all the significant scale and arpeggio exercises and fingerings for each key into a couple pages. Every intermediate or advanced cello student should have a copy of this.NOTE: Plan on rebinding the book when you get it. The binding is awful; it's a flat spine binding, like a paperback novel. As it is, you can't really open the book on a music stand. I recommend taking the book to a cheap print shop to get it spiral bound. (I got my copy rebound for less than $10).Once the book is rebound, it's an essential part of a cello student's collection. It's a 5-star book in spite of the hassle of rebinding; I've never seen another cello book like it.

"Your intonation needs work." I'd hear that every lesson, but could never fix the problem. The reason - I didn't practice scales. The scales book I had was hard to understand, and was very boring. When I opened "The Art of Scales" I knew I had stumbled upon a jackpot. With everything from 3 octave scales to arpeggios (3 different steps, plus Flesch Arpeggios) to octaves, this is a scale book I'd recommend to any cellist.

I ordered this after seeing Mr Cunningham playing cello and violin on YouTube (the impossible duet). His book is excellent - very well written and easy to follow. It actually makes scales fun to play. I attended a cello camp for a week and this book was also mentioned as a good resource for students and experts alike.I would recommend to anyone who plays cello.Kind regards, Lena Smart.

My daughter has been playing cello for the past 8 years and her private teacher recommended this book for her. He has his master's degree in music and says that this is the best scale book that he has ever seen... and I agree!

Livro bem impresso, material de ótima qualidade. Uso para estudos.

Actually I just use few pages for practicing scales, but I checked all pages, it made me feeling to challenge my skills.

Hervorragende Studiensammlung für das Cello (Tonleitern).

Pour les violoncellistes plus avancés. Utile pour le consulter et de mettre de bon doigtés.

If you aren't afraid of positions, but need dexterity and confidence, then this book of scale is for you. You may have to sort out some of the fingering yourself or with a teacher, but it is good for moving from intermediate to advanced. I was looking for the Mazzacurati scales but they are only available from a Parisian shop, so I bought this instead. It was a very good purchase and does exactly what I want. The acceleration scales exercises are fun and work well, as do the variations on arpeggios. I'm tackling a different key a week. I spend about 45 minutes a day on it. I'm playing somewhere between grade 5 and 8 but don't plan on taking any exams. I emailed Mr Cunningham to say thanks and ask if he would consider making it with a spiral binding so that it lies flat open (unfortunately the publishers won't) and he gave me the courtesy of an immediate reply. All in all, a great find.