Position Pieces for Cello
By Rick Mooney

I was unfamiliar with this book as a teacher. Glad I got it. Most of the "lesson books" don't have enough practice in the various positions.

I am a cello teacher and have used these books for years. I recently decided that they are not systematic enough so that students learn when and when not to extend. I have switched to the Such series.

I typically use this book after Dotzauer Method book 1. It is a great introduction to shifting. It has homework exercises that encourage identification of notes on the staff. The tunes are pleasant (interesting, though not great art) and introduce a variety of keys and techniques. All of them are...

presented as duets with the teacher, which aids in correcting intonation. And, there are exercises at the start of each section that work with matching pitches to open strings and harmonics. Very useful for ear training!

I'm a private cello teacher, and I use this book to introduce positions to all of my students. It's the most thorough position book I've found and has lots of fun exercises that make the sometimes difficult learning process more palatable.

Excellent materials in each of the 4 books. Students "get" shifting in this progressive, thoroughly thought out manner. The ONLY problem is that the binding on Position Pieces Book 2 is cheap and the pages fall out very soon (!) The other 3 books do not have this problem. Otherwise, the...

materials are excellent, introducing folk and fiddling styles in the process. Good for early intermediate through advanced intermediate, relative to Suzuki books 2 to 6 or 7, depending on the student, but very helpful if not viatl to that part of their development.