Berklee Practice Method for Cello

by Mimi Rabson, Matt Glaser
available from Amazon.com

Get Your Band Together This is the first-ever method that teaches you how to play in a rock band. Learn what all the great musicians seem to know intuitively—how to listen, interact and respond, improvise, and become part of the groove. The book and play-along CD will help improve your timing, technique, and reading ability. Become the great player that everyone wants to have in their band.

Lessons throughout this book guide you through technique that is specific to playing the cello in a contemporary ensemble. Learn to play melody and improvise over chord changes—essential techniques for any violinist playing with a band. Daily practice routines are designed for practicing by yourself or with other musicians. The accompanying CD features outstanding Berklee players and covers a variety of styles including rock, funk, jazz, blues, swing, and bossa nova.

Topics include:

warming up
establishing a practice routine
learning by ear
theory and technique
rhythmic interpretation

This series coordinates methods for many different instruments, and all are based on the same tunes, in the same keys. If you know a guitarist, bassist, drummer, keyboardist, etc., have them pick up the Berklee Practice Method for their own instrument, and jam together!

"Teachers are invaluable, practicing by yourself is critical, but performing in a band is the most valuable experience of all. That's what is so special about this series: it gives you the theory you need, but also prepares you to play in a band. This series will help you master the skills you need to become a creative, expressive, and supportive musician that anyone would want to have in their band."

—Gary Burton, Executive Vice President, Berklee College of Music, Multi-GRAMMY® Award Winning Jazz Vibraphonist

"True to the tradition of Berklee College of Music to thoroughly train students to be professional musicians, this method is a great workout. It is an excellent practice book covering many styles."

—Carol Kaye, Bass recording Legend, Educator at the Henry Mancini Institute-UCLA

"The Berklee Practice Method is an effective and impressive combination of music and methodology for beginning-level players, emphasizing the practical aspects of Berklee's approach. This book expands the student's understanding of music theory, improves instrumental skills, and develops an ability to perform and improvise. I highly recommend it to anyone considering a career in contemporary music."

—Hal Crook, Jazz Trombonist

"I am sure that students working with the Berklee Practice Method will find their proficiency increasing dramatically."

—Phil Wilson, Jazz Performer/Composer/Arranger

"What a great idea—a basic book for all the instruments that form a combo. This offers students an opportunity to play together and develop a sense of teamwork, while at the same time, learning technical details about their instruments. I feel it is very correct to insist in training the ear, the ability to compose, and especially to read music. I am pleased how this method combines technical aspects, such as the use of articulation, with concepts that are purely artistic, whether playing as part of the rhythm section or as a soloist."

—Paquito D'Rivera, Three-Time GRAMMY Award Winning Saxophonist/ Clarinetist/Composer