Abracadabra Cello (Third Edition)
by Maja Passchier
- Instrumentation
- Cello
- Composed
- 2009
- Publisher
- Collins Music (HarperCollins; formerly A & C Black). Pupil's book ISBN 9781408114636; pupil's book + audio ISBN 9781408114629
Purchase or download
About this piece
Abracadabra Cello is a beginner tutor by Maja Passchier in Collins Music's Abracadabra Strings series, now in its third edition. It teaches through songs and tunes in 20 graded steps, with words under many melodies so pupils can sing before they play, and duet parts, trios and rounds throughout. New notes are shown in boxes with the string and finger to use, and some pieces have a teacher accompaniment printed underneath, including a swung one. Companion tutors for violin, viola and double bass let mixed groups play together, and an edition with performance and backing tracks is available.
Technical overview
Early steps add one first-position note at a time on the D, A and G strings, with fingerings and note names printed under the music. Melodies use quarter and half notes in 4/4 and 2/4, and many have words to sing first. There are pizzicato pieces, a duet with open D and A double stops, and Frere Jacques ostinatos that the pupil plays against the teacher's tune.
Technical focus
- D String Notes
- A String Notes
- G String Notes
- Pizzicato
- Double Stops
- Rhythm
- Ensemble Skills