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Cello Repertoire Initiative

Cello Time Sprinters

by Kathy Blackwell and David Blackwell

Instrumentation
Cello, Piano
Composed
2005
Publisher
Oxford University Press
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About this piece

Book 3 of the Cello Time series by Kathy and David Blackwell, following Joggers and Runners. Thirty-six pieces in many styles, mostly original compositions plus arrangements of Mozart, Rameau, Stölzel, Elgar, Handel and Schumann and traditional tunes, consolidate extended first position and introduce fourth position. Duets have parts of equal difficulty, performance and backing tracks are available from the OUP companion website, and a separate piano accompaniment book is published.

Technical overview

Extended first position and the first pieces in fourth position (shifting); duets of equal difficulty.

Technical focus

  • Shifting

Level rubric

Late Beginner

Left Hand

  • Mostly 1st position with small extensions.
  • Early shifting to 2nd/3rd positions.
  • Controlled vibrato on sustained notes.

Right Hand

  • Expanded bow technique for faster passages & wider dynamics.
  • Longer slurs (3–4 notes).
  • Hooked bowing for dotted rhythms.
  • Practice basic martelé accents.
  • Increase speed in string crossings with minimal arm movement.

Bow Strokes

  • Standard détaché; add staccato, martelé, short slurs, hooked strokes.

Rhythm & Musicality

  • Incorporate dotted figures, compound meters (6/8), triplets & syncopation.
  • Develop subdivision sense; introduce rubato in small measures.
  • Slightly longer phrases.
  • Introduce basic dynamic shading.

Levels are approximate guides, not strict requirements.

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