Up-Grade! Cello, Grades 1-2: Cello Book

Wedgwood refuses to treat transition books as filler. The stylistic variety here keeps students engaged across a short collection; you'll move from jazz-inflected rhythms to classical textures without the sudden difficulty jumps that derail many players between grades. A 16-page book this focused actually gets used all the way through.

You'll encounter the lightness of contemporary jazz writing alongside the clarity of classical melody. The collection feels like a conversation about different ways music can move, all accessible from where you're standing right now.

Cellists finishing Grade 1 work or settling into Grade 2 who benefit from exploring different musical languages without overwhelming technical demands. This is ideal for students who need confidence-building alongside skill development.

• Let the jazzy pieces breathe with a relaxed, almost conversational phrasing rather than formal classical articulation. The character lives in the groove.
• Anchor the classical selections with a steady hand position. Wedgwood's traditional writing still demands secure intonation, especially in first position work.
• Match the character of each piece to its style; avoid playing everything with the same dynamic approach. The variety is the point.

Pair this with your Grade 2 curriculum book rather than treating it as supplementary material. Individual pieces work well as recital options or concert fillers, while the full collection supports a semester-long transition without needing to hunt through multiple sources.

• Secure first position intonation across extended passages
• Stylistic flexibility between jazz articulation and classical legato
• Rhythmic confidence in contemporary syncopated figures
• Bow distribution in longer melodic lines
• Reading basic jazz notation and swing rhythms