Developing Virtuosity bk. 2 - Cello: Cello & Piano Score & Part

Latham's sequenced approach respects the physical and cognitive demands of early intermediate cellists. Book 2 introduces sophisticated bow control and shifting without overwhelming students, and the pairing of score and part means you can play alongside your students to model tone and phrasing.

The pieces balance technical work with musicality, asking students to shape phrases and produce dynamic contrasts rather than simply execute technique drills. Playing through the book reveals steady growth in what your bow and left hand can accomplish.

Cellists in their second year or at the intermediate plateau who need structured development of bow control, rhythmic complexity, and left-hand expansion. Teachers who want a comprehensive single resource covering the technical breadth of this level will find all the pieces they need without hunting through multiple books.

• Record yourself playing the piano part, then play along with your own accompaniment to build independence and listen for balance between the two instruments.
• Work the string-crossing slurs slowly with a metronome, focusing on maintaining even pressure through the crossing rather than speeding up the bow.
• When introducing shifting passages, have students mark their finger positions lightly in pencil before rehearsal so they can visualize the path without hunting during playing.
• Separate rhythm study from bow technique: tap out the syncopated and dotted rhythms without the cello first, then add the bow work once the rhythm is secure.

Use individual pieces as warm-ups or concert selections throughout the year rather than as a single study sequence. Assign pieces that align with specific technical goals: use the string-crossing slur material during a unit on legato technique, then return to the syncopated rhythms when preparing a contemporary piece for performance.

• Long, controlled bow strokes with dynamic shaping
• Slurred legato and staccato articulation
• String-crossing slurs
• Complex rhythmic patterns including dotted notes, triplets, sixteenth notes, and syncopation
• Time signature reading in 6/8, 3/8, and cut time
• Extended left-hand fingerings and major and minor string patterns
• Introduction to octave harmonics and beginning shifting
• Coordination between bow and finger changes