Cello - Phase 1

This book belongs to: _________________________

Room: ______ School: _______________________

METAMORPHOSIS
A Method for Elementary Strings

Color the Butterfly

Prepared by the Instrumental Music Staff

Garden Grove Unified School District
 Cello - Phase 1

Name: _________________________

Room: ______ School: _______________________

METAMORPHOSIS
A Method for Elementary Strings

Prepared by the Instrumental Music Staff

Garden Grove Unified School District
This book is the result of a collaborative effort among the elementary instrumental music
staff, Garden Grove Unified School District.

Stacy Harris, Coordinator, Visual and Performing Arts

Dixie Otters, Administrative Assistant
David Martyn, Project Coordinator
Lonnie Bissell
Ann Brenton
Tony Carinio
Robin Cecil
Brett Erskin
Savannah Faranal
Jennifer Gohn
M. Kent Gregory
William Gutaskus
Cindy Hammond
Jennifer Hughes
Michael Johnson
Quanisha Jones
Ivan Ling
Sarah Moulton
Jan Paul
Heriberto Ramos
Scott Reese
Eric Simons
Lynette Van Voris
Daphne Wagner

We want to express our gratitude to the hundreds – even thousands – of string students who have
entered our classrooms and shared in the adventure of becoming a musician. Our experiences with
you have helped to shape this method book. It has been a privilege to watch you transform from
baby caterpillars to brilliantly colored butterflies!

Thank you to our Board of Education for their continued support of the music programs in GGUSD.

George West, Ed.D., President

Teri Rocco, Vice President
Bob Harden, Member
Lan Quoc Nguyen, Member
Linda Reed, Member

Gabriela Mafi, Ed.D., Superintendent

All rights reserved. 2016

Permission to duplicate granted only with written permission from the
Department of Visual and Performing Arts, GGUSD.
 Our music classroom is a place of

Respect
Listening
Excellence
and
Beauty.

We are glad that you will be a part of our school’s musical family this year.

What will we be learning?

Vocabulary .................................................................................4
Instrument Care .........................................................................5
Posture and Instrument Position ................................................6
Playing the Open Strings ...........................................................7
Notes on the D string ................................................................8
Pieces using all five notes ........................................................10
Notes on the A String ..............................................................12
3/4 Time...................................................................................14
Eighth Notes ............................................................................15
Fourth Finger A ........................................................................16
Notes on the G String ..............................................................17
Concert Music ..........................................................................18
Bonus Music .............................................................................19

My music teacher’s name: _________________________________________

My music teacher’s email address: __________________________________

Our class days and times:

____________________________________ ____________________________________

Our Concert dates:

____________________________________ ____________________________________
Vocabulary – Learn the Lingo of Strings!
Parts of your instrument and bow
Tip
Tuning pegs
(for teacher only!)

Fingerboard
Scroll
(the black part)

Neck
(under the
fingerboard)

Bridge
Grip

Frog

Fine tuners
F holes
Adjusting
Tailpiece screw

Which clef sign will you use with your instrument?

& B ?
“Treble clef-“ “Alto clef-“ “Bass clef-“
For violin (and Just for viola! For cello, bass, (and
many high-pitched many low-pitched
instruments.) instruments.)

What are the names of the four strings on your instrument? _____, ______, _____, and _____.

Metamorphosis – Phase 1 - Cello

4
 Care and Feeding of your Prized Possession
You….
Eyes on the Listening
Teacher

No food
or gum
Clean hands;
Short fingernails

Bow: Not too loose, not

too tight. (The stick
should be slightly curved).

…and your equipment.

Pencil,
Rosin,
End pin stop Store indoors –
(away from sun, rain,
or in your car!)

Loosen your
bow before
putting it away.
Name tag
(with room #)
This is a violin
case, but the
same rules apply
Before you open the case, to cello!
make sure it’s facing toward you.

Metamorphosis – Phase 1 – Cello 5

Line it up! How to hold your instrument.

“Rest Position” “Playing Position”

“Water bottle”
Left left hand.
hand on Bow and
upper strings make a
bout. “plus sign.”
Sit up tall and don’t use the

Bow on
your
right
back of your chair.

knee.

Sit on front
Feet flat edge of chair.
on the
floor.

Get a Grip! How to hold your bow.

Open space
Start with the “bunny rabbit.” between thumb
and hand.

Tip of thumb next to frog.

Metamorphosis – Phase 1 - Cello

6
 Open Strings When you play a string without using any fingers of
your left hand, we call that an "open string."

CHECKLIST: R LOOK FOR:

¨ Stand (or sit) correctly. ¨ Quarter notes and quarter rests.
¨ Hold your instrument correctly. ¨ The 4/4 time signature.
¨ Hold your bow correctly. ¨ Down bow and Up bow marks.
¨ Place your bow between the bridge and ¨ Repeat signs.
fingerboard. ¨ An open G string.
¨ Move your bow in a straight line, and ¨ A bow lift mark.
only touch one string at a time.
¨ "Say it, then play it!"

1. Fours and Fours

≥
?4 œ œ œ œ Œ Œ Œ Œ œ œ œ œ Œ Œ Œ Œ ..
4
Next, try "Twos and Twos," and "Threes and Ones!"

2. Song for DAD [test piece]

? 4 ≥œ œ≤ œ œ œ œ œ
4 œ œ Œ Œ Œ œ œ œ Œ
D D D, A A A, A is high, D is low.

?œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ Œ Œ Œ œ œ Œ
D D D, A A A, Song for Dad, D A D!

,
3. Open String Hoedown

? 4 ≥œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ
œ
œ Œ Œ Œ ..
4 œ œ
(lift, rest, repeat)
Need an extra challenge? Play any of these pieces pizzicato!

Metamorphosis - Phase 1 - Cello 7

 D-string notes: E & F# Now we will use the fingers on our left hand
to make different pitches on the D string.

Start by pretending to hold an empty water

bottle in your left hand. CHECKLIST: R
¨ Posture and instrument position.
¨ Bow hold and placement.
LOOK FOR: ¨ Press the string with the tips of your fingers.
¨ Whole rest. ¨ Thumb in the correct spot - keep it relaxed.
¨ A sharp sign (#). ¨ Short fingernails!
¨ Use your ear to match the correct pitch.
It applies to the entire measure.

F-sharp (F#) uses your 1st, 2nd, & 3rd finger. E uses just your first finger on the D-string.

4. Who's on First, What's on Second.

? 4 # ≥œ œ œ œ ∑ œ œ œ œ ∑ ..
4

,
5. Three's a Crowd

? 4 ≥œ œ œ œ œ Œ œ Œ #œ œ œ œ œ Œ Œ Œ ..
4

# œ œ œ Œ , ..
6. Hot Cross Bunnies

? 4 # ≥œ œ œ Œ # œ≤ œ œ Œ ≥
œ œ œ œ
4

8 Metamorphosis - Phase 1 - Cello

7. Merry Christmas, Little Lamb

? 44 # ≥œ œ œ œ #œ œ œ Œ œ œ œ Œ #œ œ œ Œ

? # œ≤ #œ œ œ ≥ ,
œ œ œ Œ œ œ #œ œ œ Œ Œ Œ ..

Another D-string note: G

When you play the note G,
should your fingers be evenly
spaced?

LOOK FOR:
¨ New note G. Is it the same as the
open G string from page 7?
¨ Skipping notes- move two fingers
at once.
¨ A half rest.

8. Palindrome

? 4 ≥œ œ œ œ #œ œ œ œ œ œ #œ œ
Our very first scale!

4 œ œ œ œ

9. Dorian Grey

? 4 ≥œ œ œ Œ ≤
œ œ œ Œ
≥œ # œ
œ œ œ Œ œ Œ ..
4

10. G Whiz!

? 4 ≥œ œ œ œ œ Œ œ Œ œ œ #œ œ œ Œ œ Œ
4

? # ≥œ œ œ œ #œ Œ œ Œ œ #œ œ œ œ Œ Ó

Metamorphosis - Phase 1 - Cello 9

Using all Five Notes
Here is a great collection of pieces that use all
5 of your notes. Use them for concerts at
school or at home.

LOOK FOR:
¨ Key signatures (The sharps signs at the beginning of the line). What do they mean?
¨ String crossings (switching from one string to another).
¨ Tunnels (keep your fingers on the note G when you play the A-string).
¨ First and Second ending. (Your teacher will explain.)

11. Snow Angels (Main theme)

? # # 4 ≥œ œ œ œ ,
What's the first note? How do you know?

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ Ó ..
4

? # 4 ≥œ œ œ œ
12. Candlelight (Main theme)

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ œ Œ
4

?# œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ œ Œ

13. Good King What's-his-name

? # 4 ≥œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ ≤
œ œ œ œ œ Œ œ Œ .
.
4

14. St. Nick's Pal

? # 4 ≥œ œ œ œ ≤ ≥œ œ œ œ
Play along with Jolly Old St. Nick (page 19) to make a great duet)

œ œ œ Œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ Ó
4

?# œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ, Ó .. œ œ œ œ œ Œ Ó
1. 2.

10 Metamorphosis - Phase 1 - Cello

LOOK FOR:
¨ Half notes. Half notes last for
two counts, so think "slow bow."
¨ Two famous melodies, and a
fiddle tune named after a popular
vegetable.

15. Boiled Cabbage - Yum!

? # # 44 ≥œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙
slow bow slow bow

? # # ≥œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙ ..
Try playing this piece slow, medium, and fast!

16. Butterfly [test piece]

≥ œ≤ ≥
? ## 4 œ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙
4
≤ ≥œ ≤
? ## œ œ ˙ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ
œ Œ Ó

In German, this song is about a little boy named Hans.

In English, it's about rowing a boat.
But in Japanese and Korean, it's about a butterfly!

You can make up your own lyrics to fit the melody if you want.

, ≥œ œ œ œ
17. Jingle Bells

? # # 4 ≥œ œ ˙ œ≤ œ ˙ ≥œ œ
œ œ ˙ Ó
4

? ## œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ œ œ œ œ œ
Œ .. œ Œ Ó
1. 2.

Metamorphosis - Phase 1 - Cello 11

 If you put your fingers on the A-string with
The A-String Notes the same spacing as you did on the D-string,
you'll be playing three new notes!

LOOK FOR:
¨ A new note (or two)!
¨ A miniature French lesson.
¨ Your hand should look like the pictures on pages 8 and 9.

18. First Finger B

? # # 4 ≥œ œ œ œ œ œ Ó œ œ1 œ œ œ œ Ó œœœœ œœœœ œœœœ œŒÓ

What does a B look like? How many B's are in this piece?

? # 4 ≥œ œ œ œ œ≤ œ œ œ
19. Vieux Fermier

œ œ œ Œ œ Œ Ó ..
4
20. Au Claire de la Lune

? # # 4 ≥œ ˙ œ ,
4 œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ ˙ Ó ..

21. Ah! Vous dirai-je Maman

≥œ œ œ œ
? # # 4 ≥œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ≤ œ œ œ œ œ ˙
Mozart wrote a famous piano piece based on this French melody.

œ œ ˙
4
≤ ≥ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ≤ œ œ œ œ œ ˙
? ## œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ
22. Déja Vu

≥ œ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ ,
Haven't I played these before? Now they use 1st finger B and 3rd finger C#!

? ### 4 œ œ œ œ ˙
Ó ..
4
≥œ œ œ≤ œ œ ≥œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ,
? ### 4 œ
4 ΠΠΠ..

12 Metamorphosis - Phase 1 - Cello

 Another D
4th finger on the A-string make a high D,
one octave higher than the open D-string.

LOOK FOR:
¨ An octave.
¨ The complete D-major scale.

23. Scaling New Heights

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙
? ## 4 œ œ œ œ
Before you play this, try playing #8 Palindrome on 3the A string!

4 ˙

24. Our Musical Alphabet

œ œ œ œ
? # # 4 ≥œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
The D Major Scale, two different ways!

œ œ œ œ
4
˙ ˙ ˙ ˙
? ## ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙

≥œ
25. Seconds, Please
œ œ œ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙
#
? ## 4
4
≥œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ œ
? ## # ˙ ˙ ..

≥˙ œ ˙
26. B Minor Melody

œ ˙ ˙ œ œ ˙ , ≥˙ œ œ ˙ ˙ œœ ˙
? ## 4 Ó ˙ Ó
4

≥˙ œ œ
27. English Countryside

˙ ˙ œœœœ ˙ œœ ˙ ˙
? # # 44 ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ Ó

Metamorphosis - Phase 1 - Cello 13

 3/4 Time
The 3/4 time signature tells us to count LOOK FOR:
three quarter notes in each measure. ¨ Rehearsal numbers.
¨ Dotted half notes.
(They get three counts)

œ œ œ œ
28. Scale Du Jour

? # # 3 ≥œ œ œ œ≤ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ Œ
4
≥œ œ œ œ œ œ
? ## œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ Œ Œ

≥œ œ œ
29. Mystery Folk Song [test piece]

? # # 43
œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙. ≥œ œ œ œ œ œ

≥ ≥ œ œ
9
? ## œ œ œ ˙. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙. œ

≥œ œ
17

? ## œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙. œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙.

≥
30. Sea Chanty

? ## 3 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ . ˙. ˙. œ œ œ ˙.
4

? # # ≥œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ . ˙. ˙. œ œ œ ˙.

It's not too early to be thinking about next year!

PBand or Strings?
PHave you passed your level 2 note reading test?
PAre you caught up on your playing tests?

14 Metamorphosis - Phase 1 - Cello

 Eighth Notes
Dividing beats into 8th notes is
the heartbeat of music. Count
them with the word "and."
31. Pepperoni Pizza Scale

œ œ œ œ œ ,
? # # 4 ≥œ œ œ œ œ œ œœœœœ œ
What type of food would fit the rhythm in the second line?

œœœœœ œ Œ
4
≥œ œ œ œ œ œ
Count: 1 + 2 + 3+ 4+

? ## œ œ œ œ œœ œ œ œ œ œœ ≤
œ œ œœ Œ
Count: 1+ 2 + 3+ 4 +

32. Are You Sleeping?

Look for a surprise note on the G-string.

? # # 4 ≥œ œ ˙ œ ˙
1
œ œ œ œ
2

4 œ œ œ œ œ

≥
? ## œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
3 4
œ œ ˙ œ œ ˙ ..
1

33. Flyin' Fiddles

Look at the repeat signs. You will repeat back to measure 3, not the beginning!
≥
? # # 4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ .. ≥œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
4

? # # œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ , ..

34. Oe'r the glassy waves

≥ œ≤ œ œ œ œ œ
? ## 4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œœœœ
œœœ
œœ
œœœ
Œ
4
≥œ
? # # ≥œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ œœœ œœ œ œ œœ œ œ œ
œ œ
˙

Metamorphosis - Phase 1 - Cello 15

Fourth Finger A (just for violins and violas)
Our cellists have been using their pinkies all
year. But using the fourth finger is a big and LOOK FOR:
important step for violinists and violists. ¨ Dynamic markings (loud and soft).

, ≥œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙
35. Pinky Stretch

? # # 4 ≥œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙
Ó
˙
˙
4

36. The Old Grey Goose

? # # 4 ≥˙ œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ œœ˙ ˙4 œ œ ˙ ˙ œœœœ ˙ Ó
4

37. An die Freude [test piece]

The famous "Ode to Joy." Violins and Violas won't need the A string for this piece! L. v. Beethoven

? # # 4 ≥œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ≤ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙
4
4

? # # ≥œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ 1 œ≤ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙
˙

œ ≥œ œ œ ˙ , ≥œ
? # # 4 ≥œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ Ó ,
38. The Fox and the Goose
œ Ó œ œ œ
4
f p f
≥
? ## œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ , œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ Ó

If you haven't tried playing pizzicatio yet,

now would be a great time to learn.
Your teacher will show you the correct technique.

16 Metamorphosis - Phase 1 - Cello

 The G-String
The G-string notes are as
easy as"A, B, C!"
(get it?)

≥0
39. Down to the Basement

?# 4 ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ Ó
4 ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙
4

˙ ˙
3

˙
1

40. The Dreidle Song

?# 4 ≥ , ≥
After you've learned this piece, go back and try it using 4th finger on the G-string for the note "D."

4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ Ó œ œ œ œ

?# œ , ≥
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ Ó œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

, ≥
?# œ œ œ Œ Ó œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ Ó
œ œ

41. Long, Long Ago

?# ≥ œ œ ˙
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ ˙

?# ≥ ,
œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ Ó
œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙

? # ≥œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙

?# ≥ œ œ ˙
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ Ó

Metamorphosis - Phase 1 - Cello 17

A Concert Piece!
Holiday Dreams ("A" Part)
œ œœœ œœœ œ œœœ œœœ œœœœ œœœ
Jan Paul
œœœœ œœœ
? # # 44
pizz.

Œ Œ Œ Œ

≥ ≥
? # .. ˙ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ, ˙ ˙ œ œ œ œ ˙ Ó , ..
arco

˙ ˙
1

˙ ˙
2
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
pizz.

? ## Œ Œ

œ œ œ œ œ
? ## œ œ œ Œ œ
Œ
œ
Œ
œ
Œ Œ œ œ œ Œ

Holiday Dreams ("B" Part)

? ## 4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ
pizz.

≥ , ≥˙ ˙ ,
1
.. ˙ ˙
arco

?# ˙ ˙ œœœœ Œ ˙ ˙ œœœœ Ó ..
œœœ ˙
0

2
œ œ œ œ
pizz.

? ## œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ œ œ œ Œ œ œ œ œ

? ## œ œ œ Œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
Œ Œ Œ Œ œ œ œ œ œ Œ

18 Metamorphosis - Phase 1 - Cello

 Bonus Music!
42. Jolly Old St. Nick
≥
?# 4 œ œ œ œ œ≤ ˙
James Pierpont, 1881

œ œ ˙ œ œ œ
4 Ó

? # ≥œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ œ œ ˙ Ó .. œ œ œ
œ œ
Œ Œ
1. 2.

œ
>

œœœœœ
43. Can Can Jaques Offenbach, 1858

? # # 4 ≥œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ
4

? # # ≥œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

œœ œœœœœ œ œ œ
44. D Major Scale and Arpeggio
≥
? ## 4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œœœ œ œ œ œ œ ..
4

45. G Major Scale and Arpeggio

?# 4 ≥ œ œœ œœœœœ œ œ œ
4 œœœ œ œ œœœ œ œ œ œ œ ..

45. Congratulations, Graduate!

Edward Elgar, 1901

? # 4 ≥˙ ,
Pomp and Circumstance

œ œ œ ˙ ˙
4 ˙ œ œ œ ˙ Ó

≥ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ
?# œ œ œ ˙ ˙ Ó
˙

Metamorphosis - Phase 1 - Cello 19