Why You Should Learn to Play the Cello 

Have you ever considered playing a musical instrument? Then, why not choose the cello, a versatile and mysterious instrument that has many abilities and also countless reviews of cellos online that will help you make a good choice. There are plenty of great aspects about playing the cello that you can only discover once you actually take up this activity. If you want to find out more, read on and discover why you should learn to play the cello.

The Cello Is a Versatile Instrument

There are, of course, plenty of other instruments you could learn to play, so why choose the cello? Well, for starters, there are already too many guitarists out there, aren’t there? Also, if playing in a band is not quite your dream, you might be more tempted by a classical instrument that enables you to join an orchestra.

However, as highlighted at the beginning of the article, the cello is quite versatile. Therefore, especially if you opt for an electric cello, your activity will not be limited to playing in an orchestra. An electric cello is a great addition to different types of music bands and genres.

The Cello Produces a Wide Variety of Sounds

The cello is a popular musical instrument, it has been around for the past 4 centuries and people can’t seem to get enough of it. The first thing you need in order to be able to learn to play an instrument is to actually enjoy the sound that it produces.

Of course, this is an arguable matter as people have different preferences; however, most musicians do appreciate the rich tones produced by the cello. There is a strong resemblance between the ‘voice’ of the cello and that of our own voice, which makes this instrument so attractive.

Moreover, the cello has a significant ability to produce a wide range of sounds, both in the upper and the lower register. Most musicians would describe the sound of the cello as dark and hollow and the most common feeling that comes to mind when thinking about it is melancholy.

However, this instrument, which has a lower pitch than the viola, can also produce different other types of sounds as it has a wide range of tone colors. Some of them can be described as vibrant, round, mellow, full, open, warm, incisive, sweet, powerful, lyrical, bright. You will learn more about them once you start taking cello lessons.

Playing the Cello Can Be Engaging 

If you are looking for a challenge, then let it be the cello. This instrument requires effort and many hours of study for someone to be able to play it correctly. You will definitely not get bored while playing the cello; on the contrary, there might come times when you will struggle to dominate this instrument.

The cello might be the right choice for you if – 1: you love music, and have a predilection for classical music as many of the pieces you will start your training with are classical and 2: you love challenges and don’t give up easily. 

If you are wondering what makes playing the cello challenging, let us start by talking about the position this instrument requires. If you have seen professional cellists playing, you probably think that holding on to that ‘huge violin’ is an easy job. The truth is that, especially in the beginning, it is not easy at all.

You need to spend a lot of time with your cello to get used to handling it correctly and this requires effort. To play this instrument, you have to hold it between your knees so that you can balance it. At the same time, the instrument’s body will rest on your chest. With one hand you have to hold the cello’s neck, and with the other, you have to manage the bow.

While holding the cello, you have to find its balance point and for this, you also need to learn how to adjust its endpin or spike which is the part of the instrument that has contact with the floor. Moreover, you have to use your knees to balance the instrument, not to hold it firmly without allowing it to move.

At the same time, you need to concentrate on your bow and on touching the strings with your fingers because this is how you produce the sound. Bottom line is that you will learn how to coordinate your body to get in tune with the instrument and this doesn’t happen in a matter of weeks or months.

Most professional cellists agree that mastering the art of playing this instrument requires years of practice. But if you are looking forward to a long-term engagement, the cello can rise up to your expectations.

You Can Earn a Living Playing the Cello

If you are looking for more than a pastime, you can play the cello as a job or turn your ability into a nice extra income. Here is how.

The cello is a classical instrument that’s an important element of any orchestra. The average orchestra has around 8 to 10 cellos. So, virtually, in each orchestra, there are 8 to 10 available jobs for you if you consider pursuing a career as a professional cellist. This job can provide you somewhere around $50,000 per year if you play for an orchestra.

The amount is higher for professional cellists who have an excellent curriculum, lots of experience and, of course, skill. All these come with time if you are ready to give the cello a try and start playing at a young age. This is a recommendation you shouldn’t overlook if you want your child to learn to play the cello.  

Becoming a jazz cellist is also a possibility if you prefer this music genre. This type of work is more flexible as compared to playing for an orchestra. Most jazz cellists playing in bars or clubs are solo artists, their job can be compared to that of a typical freelancer.

The income might not be steady in case you want to become a jazz cellist, but you could still earn around $15,000 a year which can represent a great addition to your income. Moreover, you’ll be making money while having fun and indulging in your passion.

Furthermore, you can use your skills to produce original music and sell it online. Your creation can be used for movies, videos, or advertisements. There are plenty of people who make a living from the comfort of their home, recording and selling their own music online.

Bottom line is that you can do plenty of things once you’re good at playing the cello. This instrument can help you pursue a career as a professional musician, or it can simply help you make an extra income.

Of course, if you only want to learn to play the cello as a passion, there is nothing stopping you from devoting time to this instrument without pursuing any financial goal. In fact, in the beginning, this is the best approach as you will not feel any pressure. 

Playing the Cello Can Boost Your Brain’s Health

This actually applies, in general, to any type of musical instrument. Playing the cello can help you boost your brain’s health as studies conducted on professional musicians suggest. These people seem to have a larger volume of grey matter in the motor control area of the brain. This leads to several mental advantages such as having a better memory or better language skills.

Moreover, musicians typically have great attention and enhanced empathy and all these qualities seem to be linked to their profession.

Playing the Cello Can Improve Your Overall Health

When you play an instrument or indulge in an activity that gives you pleasure, your body produces more of those precious happiness hormones that account for a good mood. Furthermore, they also boost your immune system which helps you keep infections at bay.

Playing an instrument is also a means of reducing your stress level which, as you already know by now, can be a contributing factor to developing different chronic diseases. Just listening to music can help you relax – imagine what making music feels like.

All in all, there are multiple reasons why you should consider the cello if you want to learn how to play an instrument. The beauty of this instrument can fully reveal itself only once you are able to play it.