A Sequential Approach to Cello Learning and Teaching – IV. Sequential Approach to Scales and Arpeggios

Dr. Robert Jesselson

Carolina Distinguished Professor Emeritus

University of South Carolina

This informative series addresses the questions we teachers all have about how to choose the ‘next right thing’ for our students —be it exercises, scale systems, etudes or pieces. What might be the essential foundation work they would need, the next step for specific skills they require, or the appropriate literature for their current ability level? This approach is the fruit of Robert Jesselson’s life work as a teacher of intermediate and advanced students and we invite you to learn the fundamentals of his practical philosophy—everything you want to know about building a better teaching practice.

A Sequential Approach to Cello Learning and Teaching: A New Series of Livestream Sessions. (PDF)

Robert Jesselson applies his “sequential approach” philosophy in his recent book “The Cellist’s Guide to Scales and Arpeggios” www.thecellistsguide.com.

There will be opportunities for Q&A and an exchange of views. The Zoom link will be sent on the Friday before.

IV. Sequential Approach to Scales and Arpeggios

If exercises are at the atomic level of our cello technique, then scales and arpeggios are the basic building blocks of our music. Anyone who is serious about improving their playing recognizes that they need to build a good foundation by knowing their scales and arpeggios. And that means not only knowing their 2-, 3-, and 4-octave major and minor scales, but also modal scales, octatonic scales, whole-tone scales, chromatic scales, and scales in 6ths, 3rds, octaves, etc etc. — and the same for arpeggios! This session will propose a sequence of scale and arpeggio systems that may involve a life-time of learning.

Robert Jesselson

Robert Jesselson is a Carolina Distinguished Professor at USC (University of South Carolina). He has performed in recital and with orchestras in Europe, Asia, South America, and throughout the United States, and has participated in the Music Festivals at Nice, Granada, Santiago (Spain), Aspen, Spoleto, the Grand Tetons, and in Brazil. He has been principal cello of the SC Philharmonic Orchestra and the Orquesta-Sinfonica de Las Palmas, Spain.

In 1983 Dr. Jesselson was in China for a six-month residency, one of the first Western cellists to visit that country. In December, 2001 he led a delegation of string players and teachers to Cuba to begin professional contact with Cuban musicians. He has also had teaching residencies at Sookmyung University (Korea), Sun Yat Sen University (Taiwan), University of Auckland (New Zealand), at the Royal College of Music in London, and in St. Lucia in the Caribbean. His new scale book, The Cellist’s Guide to Scales and Arpeggios was published by MelBay and available here: www.thecellistsguide.com Dr. Jesselson has been the national president of ASTA and the founding director of the National String Project Consortium. He plays a 1716 Jacques Boquay cello.