This book from Rick Mooney features easy classical music as well as folk songs, fiddle tunes and Mooney originals composed to address specific technical points. A second cello part throughout promotes a student's ability to hear and play accurately.

Position Pieces for Cello is designed to give students a logical and fun way to learn their way around the fingerboard. Each hand position is introduced with exercises called "Target Practice," "Geography Quiz," and "Names and Numbers." Following these exercises are tuneful cello duets which have been specifically composed to require students to play in that hand position. In this way, students gain a thorough knowledge of how to find the hand positions and, once there, which notes are possible to play. Using these pieces (with names like "I Was a Teenage Monster," "The Irish Tenor," and "I've Got the Blues, Baby"), position study on the cello has never been so much fun!

Double stops provide excellent learning material for the young and advancing cellist in this Rick Mooney book. More than 60 familiar folk songs—many in the Suzuki repertoire—help the student learn skills such as hearing intonation, shaping the hand correctly, shifting, extensions, and preparing for future repertoire.

CelloMind is a two-part pedagogical method book that focuses on intonation and left-hand cello technique. The coauthors of the book are Hans Jørgen Jensen, Professor of cello at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University and Minna Rose Chung, Associate Professor of Cello at the Desautels Faculty of Music at the University of Manitoba. Part I: Intonation. The mystery of intonation is revealed by defining and explaining the scientific principles that govern it. To know and understand how to combine the three primary intonation systems has never before been expounded in a methodology publication--and for good reason. Playing with exquisite intonation has mostly been reserved for those who possess a strong intuitive sense; however, CelloMind breaks down this taboo using a systematic approach with a highly attuned manner. The three systems of intonation that string players most commonly use today--equal temperament, just intonation, and Pythagorean tuning--are each explored and explained in great detail. All chapters in the book include many practical samples and listening exercises that bridge the gap between the theory and its application. The chapters on intonation conclude with practical examples from the following repertoire: "Intonation Performance Practice in the Bach Solo Cello Suites" and "Intonation Performance Practice with Piano." Part II: Left-Hand Technique. The left-hand technique chapters in this section complement the study of intonation by providing a solid foundation of skills for essential cello playing. The topics and exercises have been selected to cover a wide range of technical skills that include playing with a light left-hand touch, speed, coordination, balanced vibrato, agility, finger independence, and efficient shifting. Original exercises developed for students over many years have also been incorporated into these chapters, as well as studies from Julius Klengel, Bernhard Cossmann, Louis R. Feuillard, Jean-Louis Duport, Yakov Rosenthal, and Fritz Albert Christian Rudinger.

As with the other books in his ...for Cello series, Rick Mooney has made the learning of a specific technique easier and more enjoyable than ever before. Book 2 continues where Book 1 left off and includes classical music, folk tunes, and original pieces by Rick Mooney such as "Around the Gypsy Campfire," "Harry the Hirsute Housefly," "Petite Partita" and much more. As in Book 1, all of the pieces have been arranged as duets, with a second cello part for the teacher (or other students in a group class) to play.

This book is a note-by note introduction to thumb position on the cello. Beginning with shifting to only the thumb, then adding one finger at a time, the exercises allow the teacher to introduce thumb position to the student gradually and easily. The book teaches the transition to thumb position in every exercise, then focuses on "high" second finger, playing across strings, and ends with moving the thumb to different positions. This book can be used in conjunction with Thumb Position Duets for the Cello, Book One, and can be followed by Thumb Position for the Cello, Book Two. This book is intended for use with an instructor.