Skip to content

The First Summer Study Book for Cello

by Cassia Harvey

Instrumentation
Cello
Publisher
C. Harvey Publications
More by this composer

Purchase or download

Cover of The First Summer Study Book for Cello
Cover courtesy of C. Harvey Publications

About this piece

The First Summer Study Book for Viola uses short exercises and familiar songs to give the first-year student material they can play on their own; teachers can assign this book during vacation breaks. Including some patriotic tunes and bugle calls, this is a great book to take to play at summer camp. Please note: this book is not compatible with the other instrument books in the series.

Technical overview

Fun easy fiddle tunes and exercises for beginning cello.

Level rubric

Early Beginner

Left Hand

  • Basic setup: open strings & 1st-finger in 1st position.
  • No shifting or extensions.
  • No vibrato; harmonics only as open-string effects.

Right Hand

  • Proper bow hold with straight strokes.
  • Basic détaché on open strings.
  • Mid‑bow focus; clean start/stop exercises.
  • Simple adjacent string crossings.

Bow Strokes

  • Détaché.
  • Stopped notes
  • Continuous string contact.

Rhythm & Musicality

  • Simple rhythms (quarters, 8ths, repeated patterns).
  • Short pieces in 2/4 or 4/4.
  • Minimal phrasing (1–2 bars).
  • Steady dynamics for clear tone.

Levels are approximate guides, not strict requirements.