Brooklyn Cello Studio

Sometimes studying the cello can feel frustrating, because the more advanced you get, the more you realize that you still have to learn.

This is, we suspect, why there's a lot of burnout amongst adult learners. You want to learn alllllllllll of the things, but can end up feeling plain old overwhelmed.

As an adult student, you've likely spent years thinking about taking lessons (or getting back into playing). You're someone who already takes time out of their day to appreciate music (you might even have certain pieces or playlists on repeat or you'll stop in the middle of your busy day to appreciate an exceptional performer on the street). Basically, you know what you like. And you definitely do NOT like to sound like a "dying cat."

And that can be humbling as an adult learner, especially when many of the skills we need to hone as string players take dedication and consistent effort to develop (and do require a certain tolerance for shrieky sounds in the early days of playing).

Which is why we think that a few specific ingredients are ESSENTIAL to any adult who wants to hone their cello skills AND enjoy the journey, too.

These are:
a creative community of people who are equally as obsessed with the cello as you are... you'll meet people to play with and you'll find support + similar experiences in community
consistent, actionable feedback from teachers who know how to work with adult students
time specifically reserved for learning HOW to practice

You get all three and more in Play Cello This Year, our digital program for people who are obsessed with the cello but who'd rather study without the intimidation, elitism, and shaming from the old-school ways of learning.

If you want to learn more, just send us a DM.

We had a total blast in our Play Cello This Year (PCTY) program's October workshop, "Listening In... To Cello Practice."

The theme of this month inside PCTY is "Listening" and we've spent the past few weeks learning to listen like musicians by building our deep listening practices through various listening meditations, journal prompts, body mindfulness exercises, and studying the work of Pauline Oliveros.

Student Janice said that she "can't believe how many sounds there are that I never knew where there...it's really fun!"

In the workshop, our PCTY students learned a four step process to bring their listening work into their cello practice so that they can stop being frustrated and instead soften into curiosity and problem solving when they practice.

If you join Play Cello This Year, our digital program, you get access to three in-depth courses on musical foundation, building healthy cello technique (and playing real music that isn't lame), and effective practice strategies. You also get bimonthly feedback from our experienced + badass faculty, and get access to exclusive monthly playlists, workshops, and presentations.

PCTY is basically a high quality cello education program and club for cello-obsessed people, rolled into one.

If you love the sound of the cello but feel like stepping into the string playing world might intimidating or elitist (aaaand it totally can be...which is why we decided to be different.)or bring up memories of piano lessons gone by, you should slide into our DM's and ask for more deets on PCTY.

[Score pictured is "in manus tuas" by living composer Caroline Shaw]