What I believe

I love music more than anything and I spent many years struggling in the dark trying to learn the cello. In the days before the internet and other helpful technological advances, I would practice for hours on end, causing injury to my spine, studying with teachers who either did not have my best interests at heart or who hadn't thought much about what is important in teaching the cello. Finally, when I was 28 years old, I began to study privately with Lowri Blake in London, UK and from then on, was blessed with many opportunities to progress. I could list my credentials but they are so much less important than what has made me the teacher that I am: My persistent drive (nearly 5 decades!) to learn the cello, my insatiable need to be a good teacher for my students so that they don't struggle unnecessarily (cello is hard enough as it is!), the joy I continually experience through seeing my students enjoy the cello and many fortunate circumstances.

I created this website because I am driven to share whatever knowledge and skills I have.

Nothing can equal the training you would get from having a great teacher who listens to you on a regular basis, who can demonstrate a beautiful phrase for you (live!) and who can direct your study. If you don't have access to good teachers, my hope is that this website will inspire you and give you helpful insights to develop your cello playing and/or cello teaching.

Through an internet library, I found an obscure book written by Arthur Broadly, a British cello teacher in the 1890's. I think his intentions in creating his book, Chats to Cello students, were similar to mine:

"An explanation will assist any who fail to realize the limitations and intentions of a work of this description. In the first place, it is impossible to thoroughly exhaust the whole science and art of cello technique and cello playing. Recognizing this, it has been my aim to draw on my own experience as a teacher of the instrument. Nothing can equal viva-voce instruction and the personal supervision of a good master, but it is to be feared that many who are really talented cannot afford lessons from anyone who is thoroughly capable of directing their studies. It is this class of player who will derive the most benefit from a conscientious study of the ensuing pages"

I truly believe that there are always exceptions to every rule. (This goes for everything, not just cello playing!)

Question everything, and if you are lucky enough to be studying with a good teacher, discuss what you may have learned here so that ultimately, you will be able to express yourself with ease through our beautiful instrument, the cello!

If you have found this website useful, please take a moment to share it with others who may be interested or add it as a link on your website or blog. Thank you very much!

Here is the link to my personal teaching website: Suzanne Dicker's Cello Teaching Studio.

Learning the Cello - My background and motivations