Egon Saßmannshaus / Kurt Sassmannshaus Early Start on the Cello Volume 1 Sheet Music

A Trusted First Cello Method for Young Beginners

Early Start on the Cello Volume 1 is the English-language cello method from the long-established Sassmannshaus Tradition, the household name for beginner string methods in German-speaking countries for more than three decades. Adapted by Bärenreiter for today's English-speaking children, this first volume is written for players age four and older and lays the groundwork for confident cello playing through short, song-based exercises.

What sets this edition apart is its child-first design. Large print notes and texts sit alongside colourful illustrations, so pre-readers and early readers can follow along without strain. Nursery rhymes are included with words, giving even the youngest students a familiar musical anchor. Note reading is emphasised from the very first lesson, and songs and scales in different positions are introduced within the first year so children are not confined to first-position playing. Advanced techniques such as varied bow strokes and shifting appear in a basic form, preparing students for the later volumes in the four-book series.

Book Details

• Publisher: Bärenreiter — part of the Bärenreiter's Sassmannshaus series
• Edition no.: BA8996 — ISMN 9790006538560
• Format: stapled performance score, 64 pages, 30.0 × 23.0 cm
• Instrument: cello (Violoncello part included)

Who This Book Is For

Early Start on the Cello Volume 1 is the right choice for parents and teachers introducing cello to children from age four, as well as for very young beginners who need a gentle, song-led entry into the instrument. It suits Suzuki-style and traditional studios alike, and works equally well for individual lessons and group or ensemble settings where note-reading from day one is desired. Teachers have praised the series as "an excellent, comprehensive set of manuals — simple and to the point" (Music teacher, Dec. 2010) and "a fabulous addition to your pedagogical library" (American String Teacher, Nov. 2010).

The Sassmannshaus Tradition

The Sassmannshaus Tradition has shaped beginner string teaching in German-speaking countries for more than three decades, with more than half a million students having learned to play string instruments through this publication. The four violin books were published in a fully adapted English version in 2008, and on the back of that success Bärenreiter released the four cello books — of which this is Volume 1 — for today's English-speaking children.