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Cello Repertoire Initiative

First Chair in First Position: a musical story

by Monte Keene Pishny-Floyd

Instrumentation
Cello
Composed
2018
Duration
5'
Publisher
Canadian Music Centre (unpublished; CMC print, call no. MI 3113 M677fir)
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About this piece

A one-page musical story for solo cello, written for the composer's grandson when he made first chair in his school orchestra's cello section. As the title says, it stays in first position. The Canadian Music Centre rates it Beginner.

Technical overview

No technical overview is available yet.

Level rubric

Beginner

Left Hand

  • 1st position on all strings with fingers 1–4.
  • Understand whole/half steps
  • No shifting; notes stay in 1st position.
  • Focus on accurate finger placement.

Right Hand

  • Consistent détaché for simple melodies.
  • Extend bow (mid‑bow) on a straight path.
  • Introduce short (2–3 note) slurs.
  • Begin basic string crossings; occasional open‑string double stops.

Bow Strokes

  • Détaché and on‑string staccato.
  • Introduce simple legato (short slurs) and bow retakes.

Rhythm & Musicality

  • Simple rhythms with basic subdivisions.
  • Short phrases; limited dynamic contrasts; echo dynamics.
  • Develop a singing, accurate tone.

Levels are approximate guides, not strict requirements.

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