Tetratunes for Cello
- Instrumentation
- Cello
- Composed
- 1980
- Publisher
- Boosey & Hawkes (BH 1200093; ISMN 979-0-060-03938-6); piano accompaniment published separately
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About this piece
Sheila Nelson's first reading book for young cellists, the companion to her Stringsongs. It teaches note reading in small steps: the first tunes are written as rows of open-string letter names to bow in rhythm, and then each string is learned as a block of four neighbouring notes before the next is added. As the publisher puts it, the system "develops physical skills slightly ahead of note-reading" [1], so children play with confidence while the reading catches up. Swingalong from the book is set for the ABRSM Initial cello exam.
Technical overview
The opening pieces are open-string letter tunes on D, A and G that practise bowing and string changes. Later tunes are in staff notation on one string at a time, in first position, using four-note groups such as G-A-B-C on the G string, in 3/4 with crotchets, quavers and dotted minims.
Technical focus
- Detaché
- Dynamics
- G String Notes
- Rhythm
- String Crossings