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Cello Repertoire Initiative

Cello Repertoire, Preparatory Level (The Royal Conservatory Cello Series)

by Various

Instrumentation
Cello, Piano
Composed
2013
Publisher
RCM Publishing / The Frederick Harris Music Co. (VC0; ISBN 978-1-55440-536-7)
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About this piece

The Royal Conservatory's first cello repertoire book, set for its Preparatory exam and divided into slower, singing pieces (List A) and faster, energetic ones (List B). Folk songs arranged mostly by Canadian arrangers, among them Christine Donkin, Nancy Telfer (Land of the Silver Birch) and Akiko and Forrest Kinney, sit beside short original pieces by Elissa Milne (Ten Toads), Caroline Lumsden and Anita Hewitt-Jones. Piano accompaniments are included, and recordings are available online.

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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