Jackaroo

About this piece

Jackaroo, subtitled 'fantastical pieces for absolute beginners', is a book of short pieces for cello and piano by Caroline Lumsden and Pam Wedgwood, with illustrations by Drew Hillier. Faber Music published it in 2002. Faber says it 'teaches fundamental string technique using only open strings and first finger.' Each piece introduces a new rhythmic or technical point and has a suggestion box for the teacher. Wedgwood added words and 'lively accompaniments' so that each piece can be sung before it is played, and pupils are invited to draw their own imaginary animals. The pieces have animal-hybrid titles such as Zebraphants March, Crocodillo Snap, Humming Cat, Grunting Boarkey and Pythonippotamus, and some build humming, singing or spoken noises into the cello part. The closing piece, Jungle Footprints ('scream optional'), is set for ABRSM Initial Grade from 2024. Faber publishes the book in separate cello, violin and viola editions.

Technical overview

Thirteen short pieces, plus a draw-your-own 'Imaginary Animals' page, in a 16-page score with separate cello part. Jungle Footprints lasts under a minute. The pieces use open strings and the first finger. In the sample, Humming Cat ('quality of sound; harmonics') uses natural harmonics with hummed phrases, and Grunting Boarkey ('bow control; glissando') has accented open-G and D-string notes, repeated down-bows and a first-finger glissando on the G string.

Technical focus

• Harmonics
• Dynamics
• Bow Retakes
• G String Notes
• D String Notes