Articles, reviews and testimonies
On this page you will find notes from our professional colleagues about Cellobabies, Violababies & Violinbabies. You will also find the thoughts of teachers who use the methods, and you will see the reactions of parents and pupils.
In the journals
[Reviewer’s Choice, Music Teacher. October 2010]
This is a well-devised, simple and fun introduction to the cello for three to six year olds. A useful teacher and parent book accompanies the pupil’s workbook, explaining how to approach each new step.
Through songs, shape and symbol recognition, games with bow hand position, bow movement and clapping, children gradually develop the skills needed to read, understand and enjoy music.
The first step naturally introduces the open strings, which are represented by different shapes. The pupil is introduced to the concept of notation by translating the shapes on the page into open strings on the cello. These shapes then become note heads, and simple rhythms come into play. Then, two lines of a ‘stave’ are introduced, with the higher shape on the top line. For the very little cellist, you assign differently sized toys for each string, encouraging the child to pluck the string represented by the particular toy before progressing onto the shapes. All four fingers are gradually introduced as well as simple key signatures and rhythmic patterns.
There are great ideas here for games, music-making and cello-related activities to keep any little cellist engaged and at the same time build their technique.
I will certainly be using some of these concepts with my younger students.
[review copyright © Rhinegold Publishing]
Harriet Wiltshire
The Music Teacher magazine
By colleagues
I just have to write and say how much I love your Cellobabies (and the other versions, of course!). Absolutely brilliant in every way and so much sympathetic and perceptive thought has gone into every aspect of it all.
I think that anyone working with children/adults with special/complex needs will also find a huge amount of interest too. I expect you have already heard from them!
I have emailed my teacher friends to share the good news!
Thank you so much
Judith Mitchell
Cello teacher
As Director of Music in an independent prep. school I am delighted with how Cellobabies is inspiring our little cellists to take off musically.
The books are simply written so that all parents (even with little music knowledge)can help their children with their practice. My son (aged 5) has made huge progress with the cello thanks to Cellobabies and still talks knowledgeably about Alice, Charlie, George and Dan. He sings the tunes and enjoys sight-reading new pieces.
Here’s to many more Cellobabies, Violinbabies,and perhaps Pianobabies???
Ros Shaw
Director of Music King's Hall School, Taunton, Somerset
Cellobabies is an all round musical training for very young children who show an interest in the cello. There is a clearly and simply laid out ‘Pupils Workbook’, accompanied by a ‘Teachers and Parents Book’ These include, among others, sol-fa, French time names and posture and bow games. The use of two separate books means that the pupil’s page remains uncluttered and easy to read. The open strings of the cello are introduced as animal characters and each is given its own shape. The stave is then slowly introduced and each string’s shape placed on it. There are some imaginative songs and familiar pieces which encourage the child to compose rhythms and tunes right from the start.
I have used already these books with five pupils ranging from ages three to six, with productive and enthusiastic response. The older pupils find it quite easy and are always wanting to turn the page. The very young children enjoy the games and creativity, while slowly assimilating symbols and actions. For any string teacher working with young pupils, it is a highly valuable resource.
Simon Trentham
[Teacher of Cello at Junior Guildhall, Center Leader for London ESTA] writing in ESTA 'News & Views'
I have found that this very comprehensive method works for all abilities, including pupils with special needs. It makes learning notation and rhythm crystal clear and takes away all the expected complications of teaching. ‘Cellobabies’ makes teaching beginners an easier path. My pupils feel they achieve something every week and they are raring to go. The ‘Cellobabies’ method promotes the children’s work and makes them more creative. It is a refreshing new method which I think is fantastic
Yvette Madden
Strings Co-ordinator for South-East Music centre, Surrey Arts
What our teachers say
Ruth believes Stringbabies is a pupil centred approach to learning and playing. Children have fun developing general musicianship and instrumental skills in a way that they can understand. This is achieved through the use of composition, songs and musical games.
Ruth Howell - Violin teacher
I came across Cellobabies when I received a call from a lady whose son had been given a cello at an “instrument taster day” at the local Saturday music centre, and he was so taken with it, he refused to put it down! At the centre, they don’t accept pupils under the age of 7 and he was only 5, so she was given my details. I agreed with the parent that it would be a terrible shame to make him wait 2 years when he was so keen, so I agreed to take him on.
Having no experience of teaching anyone so young, I frantically googled “cello young children” and discovered Cellobabies. Thank goodness! It has been absolutely wonderful, we both enjoy every lesson and he has learned so much in such a short time. I can’t think of a better way to introduce notation to young children, he picked it up straight away. I have now started using the method with another young pupil who has also responded extremely well to it.
Alison Wrenn - Cello teacher
It was whilst leading a Music Activity Course for ‘Musicale’ holidays that I first heard about the delightful ‘cellobabies’. It was great to find an introduction to both instrumental playing and also musical notation that helps children with sight-reading skills and includes composition.
‘Cellobabies’ has, in short, been very well thought out. It is lovely to see really young children enjoying brightly coloured notes in different shapes and yet in the context of music theory: the method is very visual and interactive, yet manages to use the musical stave - or at least 3 lines of it – from the beginning. However, youngsters are only introduced to what they need to know. Sessions go at whatever speed of progress suits each individual. It works because their interest is maintained with a variety of silly musical songs and games that involve singing and playing; children of 3-5yrs easily become involved.
As an Early Years practitioner for many years I have seen that the way into learning experiences is all about capturing young imaginations and finding ways to tap into these very formative and exciting stages of development – ‘cellobabies’ does this.
Heather Graham - Cello teacher
The imaginative and fun approach of CelloBabies makes learning the cello exciting and engaging. It helps instil the foundations of musicality and good technique from an early age, in a fun and enjoyable way. It is really encouraging to see children enjoy learning through musical play.
Melanie Wells - Cello teacher
I am always looking for innovative ideas to develop musicianship - for the very young as well as older children, and I am fascinated with Kay’s ‘learning to read’ methods. Her relaxed ‘game’ approach sits very well with my own approach to teaching.
Hilary Trotter - Violin teacher
With a family of my own, I enjoy communicating with young children and understand the potential for very young children to make music. Cellobabies gives children the opportunity to play when they are physically ready with a fantastic comprehensive system of aural and note reading skills.
Rebecca Whettam - Cello teacher
Section 2 of 4 sections < 1 2 3 4 >
By parents
You know I feel that I can’t speak too highly of Cellobabies, it has given Thalia not just a good understanding of the basic principles but also a real enjoyment of music which spills over into her play all the time. She writes songs and trys to teach her baby brother and sister about George, Charlie, Dan and Alice and picks out notes when she is listening to music! Having learnt music in a very different environment myself, I really notice the difference in terms of her confidence and enthusiam for music. I would whole heartedly recommend this to anyone with small children.
I’m so grateful to you for the lovely introduction you have given Thalia to cello and Music in general and we will try very hard to keep up the good work.
Richenda Tisdale-Farrelly
‘Lucy has been playing the cello for 2 years. She started when she was only 4 years old. She quickly learnt to identify the 4 strings using Kay’s cello babies method and later progressed to read 1st,2nd,3rd and 4th finger notes as well as the different ryhthms and music symbols.’
‘Lucy sat her first ever music exam [Trinity Guildhall Initial Exam] in June. She is only 6 years old and managed to receive a high distinction.’
‘She is progressing at a remarkable rate and enjoys to play in front of others.’
‘Her successs is largely due to Kay’s patience and excellent teaching. I am sure that her bow grip and general position have been helped by learning at such a young age.’
‘We have been delighted with the progress Lucy has made under Kay’s professional, cheerful and dynamic tutorship and are convinced that starting at such a young age will enable Lucy to develop into a proficient cellist sooner than if we had delayed her start to a later age.’
Dilys Price
My youngest daughter Lily has been attending cello lessons with Kay since just before her 3rd birthday, where she has been taught to read music using the ‘cello babies’ method.’
‘After only 9 short lessons we bought our first book of music [Stepping Stones] which Lily is now working through.’
‘As a mother of three other children who all learnt music in the more conventional ways, I have to say that I have been amazed at the effectiveness of ‘cello babies’ - it is so simple.’
‘I think that cello babies is a wonderful way to introduce small children to music.’
‘I highly recommend it
Anne Mustin
‘I think that it is amazing that my 3 year old can’t read words but she can read music.
Olivia has always wanted to play the cello, to be like her big sister, Cellobabies enabled her to start at the age of two. The lessons are great fun and she really enjoys them.
Sharon Hampshire
My son, aged 4, thoroughly enjoys his cello lesson each week. He started a ‘Cellobabies’ class a year ago with 2 other boys and they have all made remarkable progress. The boys can now play some simple tunes following a line of music and have wonderful bowing skills. They have developed a real love of music, thoroughly enjoying their weekly sessions.’
‘The highlights of my son’s career to date have been performing in his first concert at Christmas and realising that he can read notes from a ‘proper’ music book!
Suzanne Black
Lisa started her cellobaby lessons 6 month ago when she was four and half years old. I didn’t expect that she would have carried on for so long. We are not a musical family and Lisa isn’t particularly interested in music. Its all thanks to Kay who has always been so gentle and encouraging. Lisa is progressing gradually in her own pace. She likes Kay and enjoys playing fun musical games in the cellobaby lessons.
Lisa, at 6, took her Trinity Guildhall Initial Exam and achieved a Merit
Guangli Fordham