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Open-String Bow Workouts for Cello, Book Three

by Cassia Harvey

Instrumentation
Cello
Publisher
C. Harvey Publications
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Cover of Open-String Bow Workouts for Cello, Book Three
Cover courtesy of C. Harvey Publications

About this piece

One way to maximize your cello practice is by adding a short bowing study on open strings! Open-string studies on the cello can help you focus on your bow and how it interacts with the string. Good bow technique is essential for creating beautiful sound. This third book of new and exciting bowing workouts for the cello gives you 99 exercises to train your bow on open strings before you begin the rest of your practice. The main focus of Book Three is bow control. The exercises in this book help you develop bow control using long sustained bow work, string crossing, staccato, and spiccato, as well as special exercises for bow starts and bow landings. Since there are no left hand notes, you can focus entirely on improving the dexterity and control of the right (bow) hand. This book gives cellists a tremendous resource for developing an all-around bow technique that meets the demands of the cello repertoire, as well as a path to creating better tone. Note: The main focus of this book is on bow control. Smooth, connected bows and string crossing are covered in Book One and articulated bowings are the focus of Book Two.

Technical overview

Daily open string exercises for better cello bow control.

Level rubric

Intermediate

Left Hand

  • Fluent in positions 1–4 with confident shifts & reliable intonation.
  • Introduce 5th position via scales/études.
  • Learn tenor clef for higher passages.
  • Early exposure to thumb position basics.
  • Refine combined shifting & extensions.
  • Advance double stops (two‑note chords).
  • Refine vibrato for expressive shaping.

Right Hand

  • High control over multiple bow strokes.
  • Advanced spiccato for fast passages; reliable sautillé.
  • Apply martelé at frog and mid‑bow.
  • Execute rapid string crossings with minimal arm movement.
  • Adjust contact point to modulate tone.
  • Introduce complex bow patterns & chord rolling.

Rhythm & Musicality

  • Faster tempos & varied meter challenges.
  • Tackle compound meters, intricate ornaments & syncopation.
  • Deepen expressive phrasing; analyze piece structure.
  • Clear dynamic contrasts; introduce slight rubato.
  • Enhance ensemble sensitivity.

Levels are approximate guides, not strict requirements.