Scribd
Upload
272 views6 pages

Georg Mertens - Cello Method: Contents of Volume 1: RD TH

The document outlines the contents of Volume 1 of the Georg Mertens Cello Method. It covers a range of beginning cello techniques and pieces, including the open strings, bow directions, notes and rests, fingering technique, and several children's songs. It provides instruction on proper left-hand fingering, bow hold, and producing a clear sound. The pieces gradually increase in complexity and introduce new techniques like slurs and shifting positions.

Uploaded by

Pacho Ramirez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
272 views6 pages

Georg Mertens - Cello Method: Contents of Volume 1: RD TH

The document outlines the contents of Volume 1 of the Georg Mertens Cello Method. It covers a range of beginning cello techniques and pieces, including the open strings, bow directions, notes and rests, fingering technique, and several children's songs. It provides instruction on proper left-hand fingering, bow hold, and producing a clear sound. The pieces gradually increase in complexity and introduce new techniques like slurs and shifting positions.

Uploaded by

Pacho Ramirez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

Georg Mertens - Cello Method: Contents of Volume 1

0
1
2
3

The open Strings on the Cello


The 2 Bow Directions
One, two, three, four, One
Minims or 1/2 Notes
The Fingers of the left Hand
Rain, Rain, go away

4
5
6
7
8
9

Accompaniment to "Twinkle, twinkle little Star"


Twinkle, twinkle little Star
French Folk Song
Tica-tica, Tuc - tuc
Frere Jacques
All my little Ducklings

10
11
12
13
14
15

Scale in D major
Exercises to play 3rd finger close to 4th
Lightly Row
Song of Joy (Beethoven)
Fox Song / Song of the Wind
Bee-Baa Bootzelman

16
17
18
19
20
21

The Notes in G major


Scale in G major
Andantino (Carcassi)
Silent Night (Gruber)
Happy Birthday
Arpeggio Study for 2 Cellos (G.M.)

22
23
24
25
26
27

Slurs
Quick Tune (G.M.)
Arpeggio-slur Study (G.M.)
Rigadoon (Purcell)
Nun ruhen alle Waelder (Bach)
Down in these Woods

28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35

Scale in C major
Study in C major (G.M.)
Nimble Fingers (G.M.)
The Hippopotamus (G.M.)
Maytime (Neidhardt)
Scarborough Fair
Sakura, Sakura
Intonation Study (G.M.)

36
37
38
39
40

Hartikvoh
The Ashgrove
Pavane (Milan)
Study in C (Sor)
Early one Morning

41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48

Staccato Exercise
Double Stop Exercises
Morning Stroll (Gretchaninov)
Rigadoon II (Purcell)
We wish you a Merry Christmas
Andante (Dotzauer)
Hornpipe
Double-Double Stops for 2 cellos (G.M.)

49
50

Sound development Exercises


Tuning with Harmonics

VOLUME 2
51
52
53
54
55
56

Exercises for the extended positions (b)


Dona, Dona
Choral: Christus, der uns selig macht (Bach)
Spagnoletto
Passamezzo
Exercises for the extended position (#)

57
58
59

Scale in D major
Variation on "Frere Jaques" (G.M.)
Minuet in C (Petzold / Bach)

60
61
62
63

Scale in D melodic minor


Gilderoy
Danza
Greensleeves

64
65
66
67

Exercise for the Half position


Dotzauer
Tis the last Rose of Summer (Morley)
Minuet in C Accompaniment (Petzold / Bach)

69
48
70
72
71
73
74
75
76
77
79
80

Exercises for 2nd position


Jingle Bells (Pierpont)) to 2nd pos
Aria (Lully)
Hungarian Dance
Dominion
less Ornaments / Trill Exercise
Bianco Fiore (Chilesotti)
Exercises for 2nd position extended
Minuet II in C (Petzold/Bach)
Old Reel
Star of County Down
Irish Washerwoman

81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88

Exercises for 3rd position


Alman
Those were the Days (Fomin)
Swedish Tune (Romberg)
Minuet in d minor (Petzold / Bach)
Study for 3rd position extended (G.M.)
Hook stroke Exercises
Theme from "Nutcracker" new

89
Scale in G major
90
Exercise for 4th position
91
Study in G (G.M.)
92
Choral: Jesu, meine Freude
94
Systematic Exercise for Position 1-4 (G.M.)
93
Study for Harmonics (Kummer)
96
Spiccato Exercise
97
Hundred Kisses
98
Autumn Leaves (Kosma)
99
Introduction into the tenor clef
100
Giga (Dalla Bella)
Major Scale Patterns

GETTING STARTED

The open Strings on the Cello

Reading music for the cello is easy !


The open strings are in convenient positions of the stave,
easy to remember:

A (1) is on the top line.


The D (2) is on the middle line.
The G (3) is on the bottom line.
The C (4) is underneath the stave.
The

Keeping the NAMES OF THE STRINGS in mind:

Dear

Giant
or

All Drivers Go

Cello
Crazy

The 2 BOW DIRECTIONS:


The bow has two ends.
The one end is called the Nut or Frog.
The other end is called the Tip.
When we start from the nut we call it
down bow (because of the violin!)
the sign symbolises the square end:
When we start from the tip we call it
up bow, the sign is a pointy tip:
(c) Georg Mertens, Katoomba - email: [email protected] - website: www.georgcello.com

One, two, three, four, One

* These notes are called crotchets or 1/4 notes;


they are one beat long, a quarter of a 4/4 bar.

* Next to the bass clef we find a C.


The C stands for 'C'ommon beat,
which is a bar with 4 beats, also called 4/4.

__________________________________________________
In the same way as we measure the sounding notes in beats,
we measure the silence between the notes in beats as well.
The silent beats are called rests.
Below are the rests with a length of one and two beats:

Rests:
(1 beat rest)
(a crotchet or 1/4 rest)

(2 beats rest)
(a minim or 1/2 rest)

__________________________________________________
* Count the numbers of the beat loudly: 1,2,3,4, 1 and whisper the beats during the rests - 2,3,4
* Start every new string with a Down bow (
)

(c) Georg Mertens, Katoomba - email: [email protected] - website: www.georgcello.com

Minims or 1/2 notes

* The "Minim" or "half note" has 2 beats.


To make a good sound consider that every string needs a different amount
of bow:
* The A string is thin and needs to be played lightly, not too slow.
* The D string take a bit heavier.
* The G string needs some weight and be taken slower.
* The C string play very slow and heavy, especially start slow.
There is no rule how much bow to use for 2 beats, because it is different.
Dont try to rush to the end of the bow, but stop where it naturally stops.
The bow needs to be played 100% straight and slightly tilted inwards.
Try out, on which spot of the string it sounds best.

Accompaniment to

& 2

(too advanced for students at this level)

(c) Georg Mertens, Katoomba - email: [email protected] - website: www.georgcello.com

The Fingers of the left Hand


The fingers of the left hand are numbered without counting the thumb,
who has its own sign.

Technique of the left hand:


* Put the thumb underneath the second finger
* The wrist needs to be straight.
(A bend in the wrist makes the action of the fingers less effective)

* Naturally the 2nd and 3rd finger stand more upright whereas
the 1st and the 4th finger play flatter.

______________________________________________

Rain, Rain, go away

traditional

(pizzicato = plucked)

* Put the 1st and 4th finger on the stars (if you have any).
* Compare the 4th finger on the A string (note d) with the open D string.
The open D string will vibrate, when the 4th finger on the A string is well in
tune.

* Stretch the 4th finger each time far enough.


* Push the fingers firmly down until the sound is clear.

3a

Accompaniment to Rain, Rain go away

(c) Georg Mertens, Katoomba - email: [email protected] - website: www.georgcello.com

You might also like