StringTunes: A Very Beginning Solo (or Unison) Songbook: Cello Book & Online Audio

Michael Katz's accompaniment recordings transform early repertoire into something genuinely engaging. By offering three distinct style options (traditional, jazz, and rock), he gives young cellists real musical contexts to play into, moving beyond the thin sound of solo practice. Students hear themselves as part of an ensemble, which builds confidence and musicianship from day one.

Warm and encouraging. These are the melodies that have guided countless young string players through their first months, arranged to feel natural under the hand. With accompaniment, they transform into little performances rather than exercises.

First-year cellists working through the earliest stages of their instrument. The book pairs melodies Samuel Applebaum developed for his own teaching with professional-quality accompaniments, so beginners get musical payoff immediately rather than waiting years to play with others.

• Listen to the accompaniment track all the way through before rehearsing, so you understand the harmonic and rhythmic landscape you're entering.
• Start with the traditional accompaniment style first to lock in your intonation and timing, then experiment with jazz and rock versions to develop flexibility.
• Record yourself playing along with the track, then listen back to catch rhythmic soft spots and intonation shifts that don't show up during real-time playing.

Use this as part of your first-year studio recitals or ensemble gatherings, where beginners can perform with recorded accompaniment and feel like real musicians. The unison option also works well for introducing young cellists to ensemble playing within their peer group.

• Reading notes from open strings through first position across the full range of early pieces
• Playing with steady rhythm against recorded accompaniment
• Sustaining tone quality across longer melodies
• Understanding harmonic context and how their line sits in a musical texture
• Building performance confidence through accompaniment-supported practice