The construction of the cello demands a large amount of time, concentration and years of mastery. How a cello is made - every part by hand A cello takes an expert, trained craftsman approximately 200 to 300 actual labour hours to make. But, this doesn’t take into account the whole process. In between tasks there will be waiting time, such as when parts have been glued, or during the varnishing process. This can add days and even a couple of weeks to the project. Below are some of the steps luthiers follow to craft a cello. To begin with, the mould is made. This framework is used as a guide for shaping and sizing the body parts, and is also used for securing the body during its gluing process. It is made to the exact internal measurements of the cello, as the ribs are fitted to this for setting in their final shape. Templates are also made for use in shaping the back and top plates. Once the mould is made, the four corner blocks and two end blocks are cut, then shaped to fit their location on the mould. Six ribs are cut to dimension and bent into shape, very carefully using heat to soften the wood just enough to bend without fracturing it. A heating iron is used in conjunction with a bending strap. The ribs are assembled and glued together with the blocks, then secured to the mould by a combination of clamping methods and left for the glue to set. The linings are now cut to size, bent on the heating iron and when the ribs are set, the linings are glued in place. They provide the extra support needed to secure the ribs to both back and top plates. When all is set, the edges of the sides are made perfectly level with planes and sanding. The special glue used by luthiers, throughout the making process, is called hide glue. Back and top plates The backplate is usually made from two blocks of wood, joined together. They must be carefully matched so the flame and grain align as closely as possible because this affects the flow of soundwaves. Once the pieces have been matched, the next step is to cut the basic shape to fit to the template. The back and top plates are measured to fit the sides, not vice-versa. Both plates are hand-carved using gouges, planes and various other hand-carving tools. Correct arching of both plates is very important for strength as well as sound production. The plates start very thick (approx 25mm) to allow for this arching. Thickness gauges are also used, because the plate is not just one thickness. It is thicker and thinner in parts. The plates are also tested for resonance. The spruce top plate is considerably easier and quicker to shape than the harder and more unpredictable maple back. This is a very time-consuming task and requires great concentration. One simple mistake and the very expensive piece of wood becomes useless! When the bottom plate is ready, it is glued to the sides and clamped until it is set. The f-holes are drawn in place and then cut in the top. When the top is ready, the bass bar is cut and shaped to fit, then glued into place. When ready, the top is glued into place. All edges and corners are trimmed and made straight, ready for the purfling tool. The purfling channel is carefully cut first with the purfling tool, then completed with gouges and chisels. Purfling is bent into shape on the heating iron and fitted into the the channel, then glued into place. Further trimming and shaping is carried out: the purling, the edges and both top and back plates. Neck The neck, complete with pegbox and scroll is roughly cut out of a large block of maple, then hand-carved using a variety of tools including planes, chisels, scrapers and others. The nut is glued in place - just a blank at this point. It will be shaped later. The fingerboard is attached with very weak hide glue. It will be removed for the varnishing stage.The neck is now very carefully fitted to the body. This is typed quickly but in reality is a very careful process that is fraught with danger: there’s cutting involved on the cello, and the neck must be set at just the right angle, allowing for some movement in the cello’s first year of use. Varnishing Most luthiers use their own recipe of varnish. Varnish is made to the luthier’s preferred recipe and is very individual. Many will add “dirt” of various types to create their own distinctive colouring. There are several coats and the recipe can vary along the way, with light sanding - wet or dry - in between. Pigments and other colouring will be added along the way, sometimes with a brush or cloth, sometimes literally by hand! To begin the varnishing process, the fingerboard is removed. The cello is left in the sun, or in a light box, for a week or more, to allow darkening of the wood. It’s then exposed to ammonia fumes to help darken the wood further. Next, the wood is sealed with a rather toxic varnish preparation made by the luthier. After several days’ drying time, the surface is lightly sanded to smooth out imperfections and prepare for the next stage of varnishing. The high gloss is removed carefully using oils and various grits including finely ground pumice. The final coat is referred to as “finishing varnish”. Final polishing is done with alcohol on a rag. The rag must not stop moving or the alcohol will remove some of the fresh, newly-dried oil varnish. NB: You may have noticed your cello neck hasn’t been varnished like the body and scroll. That’s not a mistake, just the traditional way. After all, after a few years of playing, your thumb would wear some of the varnish off unevenly and it would look unsightly! Professional Set Up At this stage, the cello is now ready to be professionally set up by the luthier for playing. Each luthier has their own tricks and methods of achieving the perfect set up to compliment their beautiful instruments. Firstly, the saddle is attached to the bottom front of the body. The fingerboard is re-attached, using a weak mix of hide glue so it can be removed in the future for repairs if necessary. A scraper is used to smooth the sides of the fingerboard and make it flush with the neck. Light sanding takes place, wetting the neck during the process to raise the grain, then sanding again when it’s dry. The neck is sealed with oil repeatedly over a few hours of work. Some luthiers use Linseed, tung oil or similar. When it has dried (several days) the neck is polished with pumice and buffed with a cloth. The nut is removed and the fingerboard planed to give the correct “scoop”. The fingerboard is then sanded and sealed with linseed oil, then lightly sanded again. The nut is glued back on the neck (to onto the fingerboard) and shaped correctly (even this is a big job in itself). The string grooves are cut and smoothed in the nut. They must be set at the correct distance from each other and on the correct angle for each one - if the grooves are not cut correctly, it will affect the intonation and harmonics of the strings. They are not cut straight down through the nut, but should be arched. Then, peg holes are reamed, pegs are shaped and fitted. A soundpost is then cut from a dowel made out of spruce. This dowel must be of tonewood quality, because it carries sound from the front to the back. It is shaped at the top and bottom to match the arching of the front and back. The soundpost is then fitted in its correct location. A bridge is shaped to suit the specific measurements of the cello. Again, shaping and wood quality are crucial here. The feet must sit exactly flush on the arched surface of the cello. The bridge must be trimmed and shaped correctly. The bridge is placed in position and the tailpiece, endpin and strings attached. The tailpiece nylon will be adjusted so the tailpiece sits in the best spot for healthy vibration of the strings. If fine adjusters are required, they are fitted to the tailpiece. Or the tailpiece may be a cast metal one with inbuilt tuners. After fitting the strings, the string height will be checked and any adjustments made to the bridge. After all of these steps, the cello is now ready to play! Your cello is made up of more than 70 parts. Here’s a basic list of the main items: Components: Cellos can be made out of different timbers, and some are made from aluminium or carbon fibre. Most luthiers and even larger factories still prefer to use the traditional standard maple, spruce and ebony combination. Here are the main components listed with their usual preferred materials. Body: Sides: Ribs (maple; 3 pieces for each side, approximately 2mm thick)Blocks (spruce; 4 corner blocks for the C bouts, and 2 larger end blocks)Linings (spruce or willow, 4mm thick) Top & Bottom: Bottom plate (maple, two boards “bookmarked”)Top plate (maple; two pieces “bookmarked”)Bass bar (spruce)Saddle (ebony) Purfling (maple, ebony, pearwood, carbon fibre, various preferences) Body Accessories: Endpin (ebony plug, shaft either wood, metal or carbon fibre; metal screw) Tail gut or tail nylon Tailpiece (ebony, cast alloy or carbon fibre) Fine adjusters/tuners (metal, either attached onto tailpiece or inbuilt) Soundpost (spruce) Bridge (maple) Neck: (The neck, pegbox and scroll are carved from one piece of wood) Neck (maple) Pegbox (maple, carved as one piece with the neck and scroll) Scroll (maple, carved as one piece with the neck and pegbox) Fingerboard (ebony) Nut (ebony) Pegs (ebony, sometimes we use “fine tune pegs” with hidden gears inside and made to look like ebony) Strings Usually made with a multi-strand metal core plus two layers of metal windings on the exterior. Sometimes the core is a twine made from gut, or synthetic (especially nylon) Metals used can include steel, copper, chrome, aluminium, silver, gold, tungsten. A Brief History of the Violin Family The violin is a descendant from the Viol family of instruments. This includes any stringed instrument that is fretted and/or bowed. It predecessors include the medieval fiddle, rebec, and lira da braccio. We can assume by paintings from that era, that the three string violin was in existence by at least 1520. By 1550, the top E string had been added and the Viola and Cello had emerged as part of the family of bowed string instruments still in use today. It is thought by many that the violin probably went through its greatest transformation in Italy from 1520 through 1650. Famous violin makers such as the Amati family were pivotal in establishing the basic proportions of the violin, viola, and cello. This family’s contributions to the art of violin making were evident not only in the improvement of the instrument itself, but also in the apprenticeships of subsequently gifted makers including Andrea Guarneri, Francesco Rugeri, and Antonio Stradivari. We hope you found this informative! If you have any questions, or want to learn more about this fascinating process, chat with our team of friendly players, makers and educators today.

Are you locked away at home with plenty of time on your hands, on holidays with little to do, or isolated for other reasons? Learning the cello at home can be a great way to pass the time; it’s also healthy for your brain and your soul. Here are some tips to help make the process enjoyable and effective. First things first - you’re going to need a cello! Here at Simply for Strings we offer new, second hand and rental options. Read our guide to buying vs renting, or check out our cello price guide, so you get a better idea of what to expect in every price. In order to have an enjoyable learning experience, you’ll need to purchase or rent a cello that has been professionally set up by a trained violin maker, with a correctly carved bridge and good string height to ensure ease of playing. Learn more about the Simply for Strings Professional Set Up here. If you have purchased a beginner cello, we do recommend upgrading the strings if your budget allows. Most beginner models have very basic strings: fitting a slightly higher grade string set will open up the potential of your instrument to give a more pleasing tone and better response, making the learning process much more enjoyable and rewarding. A poorly set-up cello with lower-grade strings can squeak and sound rather unpleasant. Essential Accessories Rosin Rosin is made from resin - yes, that’s right! Sap extracted from fir trees, melted down, purified and some extra special ingredients specially formulated for you to rub on the hair of your bow. Learn how to use rosin here. It makes the bow hair sticky enough to create a lovely sound when you pull it across the strings. Without rosin the bow will make no sound. There are many different styles of rosin and many secret recipes. Read our ultimate guide to rosin. Shop Cello Rosin with fast delivery Australia wide. For beginner cellists, we recommend the Hidersine, Pirastro, Super Sensitive and Bernardel brands but there are plenty of other great options available. Bow Your bow needs to be in good working order, which means plenty of hair, in a nice straight “ribbon”; a good curve to the stick when unwound; and when you tighten it to a reasonable tension, the distance between the middle of the stick’s curve from the tightened hair should be approximately the diameter of the tip of your index finger. If the bow has lost its spring or the hair is loose and uneven, it would be advisable to invest in a new bow. Shop Cello Bows with fast and free delivery Australia wide. Tuner and Metronome It’s obviously a lot easier to practice your new cello when it’s in tune! Tuning is a skill that takes years for players to develop, but we have a few helpful tips in our post all about it! An electronic tuner is a good investment, as it can help you keep your instrument in tune between lessons. Likewise, a metronome is very helpful when practising, to teach you about playing in time and keeping a good beat. Shop Metronomes and Tuners. Music Stand For correct posture (preventing sore back, damage to spine and neck, and to make sure you can play properly in tune) you need to be sitting upright on a level chair, with your feet flat on the floor and your knees slightly below your hips; looking straight ahead, not craning your neck down to look on a table. Depending on the lighting in your room, you may need to consider a music stand light. We use the Aroma Music Stand Light, which also acts as a clip to hold the pages open. Shop Music Stands. Endpin Stopper/Rock Stop If you are playing on a carpeted floor the spike of your endpin should grip the carpet nicely; if your floor is timber or tiled, you may find the cello hard to keep in position. You will find a “rock stop” or more correctly, endpin stop, invaluable. Shop Endpin Stoppers. Practice mute If you are in an apartment, or have a baby needing lots of uninterrupted sleep, you may wish to use a practice mute. These reduce the sound substantially and make it kinder for those around us. There are three types to choose: rubber, metal and rubber-coated metal. Read our guide to mutes. Shop Mutes. Starting Lessons If you have a child learning at school there will be a tutor book already selected. These are a great place to start, and some have excellent instructions included on the pages. Some are more particularly designed for a teacher to use his or her own teaching style and simply have a good selection of educationally sound progressive music, with the teacher expected to give the information in other ways. If you are hoping to learn on your own or with minimal guidance, we suggest choosing books with plenty of explanations and diagrams on the page. These include but are not limited to: Essential Elements, String Basics, and Sound Innovations. Shop Cello Beginner Method Books. If you are seeking to do most of your learning at home, many of the method books also have CDs included or access to online accompaniments, and some even include free access to the Smart Music interactive practice software. Visit another post on our blog for a quick list of some of our top recommendations of easy to learn songs for beginners. This list has been put together by professional player and educator, Michael Scott-Branagan. They are listed in the order Michael would teach for progressive reasons. All pieces have been selected for their educational value, and can be found in some of our best-selling beginner method books. The final piece will be your first foray into actual cello repertoire. Read the list here. Online lessons Many teachers are now offering online lessons. You just need an internet connection, a tablet or computer with speakers and built-in microphone, and you can set up easily. Your teacher will help guide you through positioning your computer so they can see your posture. We hope this guide has been helpful for those looking to start learning the cello at home! If you have any questions, or just want to have a chat about all things cello, give us a call or send us an email. We’d love to help you get started on your very own musical journey! Video appointments are available now for our valued interstate clients.

We know that children are given smaller cellos, violins, violas or basses. Right (or wrong) size affects posture, which in turn affects their technique. Why not do the same for adults? This blog post is going to answer some frequently asked questions about 7/8th cellos, including how to choose the correct size for an adult, why pick a 7/8th instead of a 4/4/full size cello, how small is too small, the difference in the sound and more! The question ‘what size cello do I need’ is something we hear quite often at Simply for Strings! Many adults come to music later in life, and may not know whether they need a 3/4 or a full size (4/4). But what some beginners may not know, is that cellos are also crafted in a 7/8th size. Stringed instruments are made in different sizes because not all people are the same. A little background from Michael, Simply for Strings’ resident cellist, teacher and passionate customer service manager: “The year I turned 13, on my teacher’s advice I was given my first full-size cello. I was so proud of it. It supported my musical growth very nicely for the next 5 years until my last teacher advised us to upgrade prior to leaving school, studying cello at college and pursuing my musical career. As a young professional I found certain aspects of my technique very difficult and although it didn’t stop me working and teaching, I was always a little frustrated with how hard I found some specific passages of music when others seemed to breeze through them. Around three decades later I left my teaching job to work in a music store and guess what I discovered? There is a wonderful array of smaller options I’d never encountered. Another decade passed and I took the plunge down to a seven-eighth size cello. My hand is so much happier and I can actually master some of those pesky passages that previously eluded me … As a teacher it didn’t even cross my mind to suggest smaller players might need a smaller cello. In line with the general approach of most teachers, when they reached high school we moved them to full size.” How to find the correct size cello How do we decide the correct size for someone? There are four main factors we need to consider: Body height. Does the cello fit in terms of body height? At 172cm, you could easily cope with a 4/4 cello, but if you have short fingers, it may be difficult to reach certain positions comfortably. Whereas somebody who is 155cm will always struggle with full size. Body shape. Remember that we have to grip the cello lightly with our knees/calves and lean it comfortably against the chest, with the scroll just behind our right ear. Sometimes we might choose a different size OR different body design: Strad is slimmer, Montagnana is wider. Arm length. Maybe your body can cope with a certain size, but if your arms are shorter perhaps the next size down would help. Remember, at some stage, you will be playing the full length of the fingerboard, and need to be able to maintain correct handshape and elbow position. Hand size/finger length. This is the most important factor by far. If your fingers can’t fairly naturally fall into reasonably good semitones in first position, then you will struggle in much of your playing. You need to be able to play in extended position, and to keep good handshape in thumb position. After years of playing on a cello that's too large for you, you could injure your hands and develop RSI or similar. This is definitely what we try to avoid. So as you can see, you may simply choose a 7/8th to maintain comfort whilst playing. There are so many things to consider when you’re starting a new musical instrument, whether it’s the cello or the violin! It can feel a little overwhelming - what age is best to start, what accessories do I need, will I even enjoy this? We’re here to make the start of your musical journey a little easier - we know exactly how you’re feeling and it’s our pleasure to share our advice with you. This guide is perfect for parents or adult learners themselves. Read more about learning the cello. How small is too small? If you’re an adult, we’d recommend selecting the largest possible size that is most comfortable for you. Unless you’re particularly short, chances are you’ll be looking at a 3/4, 7/8 or 4/4 cello. What is it like to learn the violin, viola, cello or double bass as an adult beginner? It can feel a bit like going back to primary school or kindy, but if you can push through, the rewards will be endless! Read more about learning an instrument as an adult. What’s the sound difference between 7/8 and 4/4? Choosing a smaller instrument will reduce the sound ever so slightly, but it doesn’t have to be a problem. Plenty of young children reach a very high standard while still playing on 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 cellos, completing all the exam grades and even progressing to the diploma levels. For this reason, there are also plenty of smaller cellos made to meet the quality requirements associated. Finding the Perfect 7/8 and 3/4 size cellos Most adults with smaller hands will require a 7/8 cello, or sometimes a ¾. Here at Simply for Strings, we offer four excellent models worth considering, across a broad price range. Virtuoso Cello Outfit Our Virtuoso Cello is an intermediate level instrument. It is a little wider and deeper than the standard Strad design adapted for most student instruments and therefore has a bigger sound and a little more richness of tone. Stepping “down” to a smaller instrument can be quite rewarding with this cello option in 4/4, 7/8, 3/4, 1/2 and ¼, as they produce a bigger sound and rich tone across all registers in all sizes, even a 1/4! Concerto Cello The Concerto Cello is an excellent choice for the advancing student or hobbyist. It has a large, clear and sonorous tone with beautifully shaded rich varnish. It is a lovely, antique-looking instrument with a very good quality tone that punches above its weight for its price. Jay Haide L’Anciennce Cellos The Jay Haide L’Ancienne is a range that really stands out. In full size, we offer various designs, all at the same price point, including Stradivari, Ruggieri and Montagnana. Stradivari is the slimmest, with a bright and powerful sound; Ruggieri is a little larger with a stronger, fuller sound; Montagnana is fatter and shorter, giving a rich and “bassy” tone which is quite pleasing. Michael owns and plays the Jay Haide Montagnana 7/8 cello. In a 7/8, we offer the Jay Haide Montagnana model (because it is our team favourite!) and can special order 7/8 Stradivari models. Jay Haide a l'Ancienne cellos can be ordered in these sizes: 1/2, 3/4, 7/8 and 4/4. This model cello suits many advanced cellists, including tertiary students and professionals. There are other makers in our product range who produce great cellos in smaller sizes, eg Scott Cao, KG Instruments and Gliga, so if you would like to discuss other smaller cello options please contact us. Avoiding injury or pain whilst playing The question of pain is an interesting one. Here’s some thoughts from Michael: “I’ve spent much of the last decade consulting frequently with an excellent musculoskeletal doctor because of various issues associated with being a cellist and enthusiastic young man who didn’t always lift things within his limits (or do it correctly!) despite warnings from those who were older and wiser. Now that I'm getting older I have developed a keen interest in understanding how my body works when I play the cello. There have been times when adult learners have visited our shop, or we’ve met at one of our trade displays, and conversation has found its way to the pain in their hands, shoulders or back. When I have then tried them on our cellos we have found two big factors which seem to contribute to the problem: posture, especially relating to shoulder and elbow positioning; and cello size, which first affects our ability to form the ideal hand shape and position when playing, and second, affects our posture and compounds the whole thing! Finding the most appropriate size can be a lifesaver indeed. In a couple of cases these lovely, eager cellists have developed something similar to “trigger finger” or “trigger thumb”. Their cellos were full-size and they had ended up in so much pain they had stopped playing for long periods of time. We have looked at posture, changed to smaller cellos, given some appropriate hand exercises, and in one case sent our friend to see a good hand O.T.; and now they are happily playing again with much better results. One of these two ladies moved to 7/8 and the other now has a 3/4 cello. Finding the right size, and working with posture/technique, made all the difference. And once upon a time I, like most other cello teachers, would have continued to inflict 4/4 pain on them until they eventually gave up because just looking at a cello would induce a nasty sensation …” We hope this blog post has answered your questions! If you have any more questions for our friendly team, get in touch with us via video call or email today.

Cellos come in all shapes, sizes, colours - and prices. But how do you really know what you should be getting for your budgeted price range? This guide will give you a general overview of the standards for cellos within each price range and offers a good starting point for finding a cello that best suits your needs. Every cello is different, and you should ideally look for the best value-for-money instrument placed within your budget. If you’re brand new to cello, we have lots of resources to help you get started, right here on our blog. We’d recommend having a read of our size guide to see which size may suit you best. We offer cellos in all the different sizes and prices to ensure you can find the perfect fit.  Not all adults are the same height, or have the same size hands, so sometimes they might need a smaller instrument. If you’re not sure if you’re ready to buy yet, why not try a rental cello before committing to a purchase? At Simply for Strings, we also offer competitively priced short term and long term cello rentals. Learn more about our rental cellos. $1250-$2000 Cello Price Range These instruments are a fantastic way to start your musical journey (especially if purchased from a reputable music store!) At this price, you’re looking at an entry-level or beginner instrument that is typically factory-made in China. The basic structure of these cellos will be well-made, but they come ‘out of the box’ with no adjustments. You should be looking for consistency in the grain, which helps produce a clearer tone. A professional set up service will be required to get things sounding and feeling just right. Learn more about why your string instrument set up is so important. At Simply for Strings, we go through a stringent quality assurance process whereby each and every single one of our cellos are not only hand-crafted but also hand-checked before they arrive into the hands of their new owners. With quality you can see, hear, and feel, and having refined the balance between quality, tone and performance, our cellos are timeless and designed to last a lifetime. So whether your budget is $1,250 or $20,000, we promise we can find your perfect match. At Simply for Strings, we include a professional set up on all our instruments at no extra cost. We also have an on-site workshop where you can book your new cello in for a service by a professional luthier. We welcome set ups and repairs, no matter where you originally purchased your cello from. For instruments in this price range, it is also important that individual parts are included or upgraded. Bridge & soundpost - these parts of the cello must be included, as they are crucial for creating sound. If they have been fitted correctly, you’ll get a clear tone from the instrument. Strings - strings should be included with any cello purchase, but we recommend upgrading the strings on beginner cellos to complement the instrument and give it a better tone. Bow - not all accessories are of the same quality, and since a bow is essential to playing the cello, make sure your new cello is supplied with a wooden or carbon graphite bow that will help you create a better sound. Case - a basic soft case or hard styrofoam case should be included in beginner cello outfits. Shop Beginner Cellos online and in-store. $2000-$4500 Cello Price Range There is a shift in quality when you move to this price range. A higher grade of timber is used to create these cellos, and more highly skilled labour is required - resulting in a higher quality of workmanship. You should be looking for a tighter consistency in the grain across the surface, which helps the tone of the instrument. These cellos are hand-finished and higher quality fittings are used, which further improves the quality of the instrument. The combination of workmanship and fittings gives these instruments a more round, resonant and vibrant tone. Instruments in this price range are suited for beginners and intermediate players alike. If you’re an adult beginner, this level of cello will reward your playing (and ears!) for years to come. Be on the lookout for: Upgraded strings - most cellos in this price range will include upgraded strings, which will help improve the tone of the instrument. Upgraded bow - some intermediate cellos in this price range will include a higher quality bow to compliment the instrument. Bridge - the quality of the bridge of a higher quality - at least an Aubert or Despiau 1-tree or above. Shop Intermediate Cellos online and in-store. $4500-$7000 Cello Price Range From here, you should expect to see a much higher level of workmanship and expertise going into the crafting of the instrument. All cellos in this price range should be hand-finished for finer detailing and overall, be more refined. The grain of the timber is something you'll need to consider in these instruments. You should be looking for a very even grain across the top plate of the cello. The grain is the natural alignment of fibres in the wood, and can produce a more visually pleasing aesthetic as well as improving the tone and resonance of the instrument. You’ll want to examine not only the grain across the top plate, but the flame and the grain on the maple back. Varnish is another consideration in this price range - many modern instruments nowadays are varnished with an antique finish. Be careful to ensure the varnish is of a high quality and isn’t inconsistent in any areas. In this price range, you’ll generally have to purchase a bow and case separately. It’s generally expected that you’ll have your own preferences for the bow and case, but you can always ask for recommendations from our friendly team of passionate musicians. Browse our Cello Bows online or in-store today. Shop Advanced Cellos online and in-store. $7000+ Cello Price Range From here, you should expect to see a much higher level again of workmanship and expertise going into the crafting of the instrument. Cellos in this price range will be constructed using aged tonewoods, which will increase the resonance and vibrancy of the cello. You should expect to see some quality European brands such as Helmut Illner and Pierre Marcel alongside the highly regarded Chinese/American Jay Haide range in the price category. When selecting a cello at this performance level, you should expect to see professional fittings fitted across the board - an upgraded bridge, professional strings, upgraded tailpiece and high-quality pegs. Stringed instruments are an investment - in your craft, in your creativity and in your passion. So we know that, whether you’re a first-time student or a lifelong enthusiast, hobbyist or professional, we want to make sure you’ve found the perfect fit. At Simply for Strings, we offer a happiness guarantee on every cello we sell - free return within 30 days of purchase. No questions asked. No fees to be paid. Why? Because finding the right instrument is a bit like finding your soulmate - it can take some time, but when you find the one, life will never be the same. Of course, choosing a cello that suits you and your performance needs doesn’t have to be a decision you make all on your own. Here at Simply for Strings, our friendly team consists entirely of musicians who understand the nuances of each different cello we offer. We can guide you personally through our range, demonstrate cellos for you and help you find your perfect match. Whether it’s over the phone, email or in person, we’d love to hear from you. At Simply for Strings, we offer flexible payment options such as ZipMoney and Afterpay so you can pay off your investment interest-free*. Get in touch with us today to start your cello journey.

Picking up an instrument for the first time marks the very first step on a long journey. We can tell you from the outset, this journey won’t always be easy. There will be hurdles that you’ll have to leap over and obstructions that you’ll need to limbo under. There will be mysteries that can only be unravelled with hard work and there might even be times when you feel like you want to fling your bow into Timbuctoo. But, trudging on, even when you’re staring down the barrel of what feels like an endless pile of new information and a stack of skills that just seem so out of reach, you will be rewarded in more ways that you can fathom. So, be brave now, and later, your world will transform with the following benefits: Unleash your creativity According to Neuroscience, self-expression is one of the key ways that people connect, navigate and grow with each other. Using music to unlock the creativity that already exists inside you is one of the purest forms of self-expression. It’s tapping into something deep within, and showing it to the world. Ask any musician you know, there are few things that feel as empowering as that. Boost mental development Learning music actually makes your brain work more efficiently. Working memory is the bookmark that we use to placehold information until we are ready to use it. It plays an important role in helping us remember things and follow instructions. It impacts both our decision-making and behaviour responses. According to a study conducted by Baycrest’s Rotman Research institute, musicians (and those who are bilingual) use fewer brain resources when progressing through working memory tasks than those who aren’t musically trained and only speak one language. Dr Claude Alain, one of the study’s researchers, said that using less effort to perform the same task could protect against cognitive decline and even delay the onset of dementia. He also said, "Our results also demonstrated that a person's experiences, whether it's learning how to play a musical instrument or another language, can shape how the brain functions and which networks are used.” Relieve stress Research shows that playing music can reduce stress and ease the burden of anxiety and depression. According to the Chair of the Musical Therapy Department at the Berklee College of Music, Suzanne Hanser, “Research shows that making music can lower blood pressure, decrease heart rate, reduce stress, and lessen anxiety and depression. There is also increasing evidence that making music enhances the immunological response, which enables us to fight viruses.” Music therapy itself, is the use of musical interventions to improve patients’ quality of life. Improve your confidence The process of learning a new craft, of overcoming the associated challenges, will instill confidence in you that you are powerful, adaptive and progressing each day. To keep track of your progress, we recommend keeping a practice journal. Not only will a practice journal help you keep track of what has and hasn’t worked for you in the past, but it also provides a clear roadmap of how far you’ve come. On days where you might be feeling disheartened, flip open your practice journal and remind yourself of how far you’ve come. Let this serve as a reminder of how far you’ve come and a relic of your ability and capacity to grow, learn and hone your craft. Connect with others Learning music fosters connection. Simply for Strings is a testament to the way that music brings people together. Every day, we have musicians visiting us in store to read up on music and chat to our staff and each other about their latest musical achievements, wins and processes. When you play music, your social circle cracks open. Through talking to musicians who have been in your position before, you can learn from them, be inspired by them, and fast-track your own progress with their wisdom. Improve time management and discipline In music, timing can be everything. When you’re playing music in a group, you need to be aware of the music around you and be alert to your fellow musicians - otherwise you will quickly become lost. Music sharpens your sense of timing, both during playing and in your daily life. Scheduling in practice and attending music meet-ups helps to develop your sense of time management and hone your discipline. Each of these things have real-world effects on your quality of life. Got a friend that can never seem to make your coffee catch-ups on time? Maybe it’s time to suggest violin lessons! Activate joy To us, this is the real kicker of playing music - it just feels good. The feel-good impacts of music has been studied extensively by researchers. The University of Missouri found that upbeat music has a positive impact on our general wellbeing. According to the lead researcher, Dr Yuna Ferguson, “People were successful at raising their positive mood as long as the music they listened to was happy and upbeat”. However, that’s not to say that music that isn’t strictly upbeat doesn’t also elevate the mood of listeners and players. Bigger Better Brains spells out the findings of a study researching the rewards of music listening; making and listening to music lights up the connection in our brain that is listening and the part of our brain that is anticipating what is coming next. We often listen to songs and unconsciously predict what is coming next in the tune. When our prediction is right, we get a whack of dopamine - the feel good chemical. The best part about this is that even when we are wrong in our prediction, we still get that hit of dopamine, like a pleasant surprise.  We asked our staff, how has playing music shaped you into the person you are today? “Well, since I was diagnosed with hyperactivity as a little ’un (read ADHD in modern lingo) I was rather semiquaver paced in everything I said and did, with a bit of agitato thrown in from time to time. Learning two musical instruments taught me patience and gave me the ability to get through life in a more measured manner (read nice solid crotchets) - at least most of the time, for the lively little semiquavers inside still like to pop out from time to time, especially when negotiating staircases.” - Michael “Music has given me the opportunity to experience travel and life from a different perspective, and I love being able to give back. One local community in South America even told me that I’d inspired them to engage a fulltime cello teacher for their students – that’s what it’s all about for me.” - Elisabeth “Music has given me some amazing opportunities throughout the years to connect with other musicians, play pieces I’ve always loved, and taught me discipline, perseverance, patience and so much more. I can’t imagine who I’d be without the gift of music.” - Emily “As a young teen, music gave me an escape into another world outside of the pressures of school and awkward teen social circles. Within music, I found calm, complexity, direction and a strive to better myself.” - Shannon If you’ve been on the fence about whether or not to explore the transformative world of music, we hope this article has convinced you to begin the first day of the rest of your life with a string instrument. As always, the Simply for Strings doors are always open for those curious about music. If you have any questions, big or small, visit our friendly team of staff in-store or pop into our email at hello [at] simplyforstrings.com.au. We’d love to meet you.