Hello,
 
I am a trained musician, and now teach. My main instrument is the oboe, but it is really hard to find a decent orchestra with vacancies where I live, so I am thinking of teaching myself the cello instead. (Presuming they are more in demand than oboes!)
 
I will probably rent an instrument for a few months to see how I get on, and would like to ask how much I should worry about the quality of the instrument at this stage. I played violin for a few years as a teenager, and only had a cheap instrument. I really noticed what a difference it made when I borrowed a friend`s better violin! Will a cheap beginner cello sound as bad as a cheap beginner violin? Will it put me off continuing? (I suppose I`m more discriminating about tone than the average kid who`s learning...)
 
If it`s any help, my local music shop says it has the following makes to hire: Vivaldi, Stentor, Zeller. Those names mean nothing to me! Any help appreciated!

Get a decent beginner cello. I suggest either a Kohr or an Eastman, but other people will tell you different brands. And yes, a cheap cello will sound at least as bad as a cheap violin.

As a general rule stringed instruments are always in higher demand than woodwind/brasswind instruments, just for the simple fact that there are about 10 times as many of us in an orchestra as there are of you. I don`t know how long you`ve played oboe, but cello will be a bit of a process to get it down for a professional orchetra. Have fun with whatever you decide though, cello is a great instrument!



Titus

Hi Claire,

OK< here`s an honest piece of advice.

We know someone who is selling a cello she bought from us. Like you, she started wondering how she`d get on, and now she`s given up. New, it was £600. It is only five months old and it will out-play any of the cellos you have mentioned (assuming the Vivaldi is a Chinese brand name which I assume it is) and for the cost of a few months rental of a Zeller cello (which is by far the best of the ones you have listed) you could almost buy it. At any rate, your loss on it if you resell it later will be less than you would pay for a few months rental. And in your position, that is exactly what i would do.

However if you are determined to rent, get the Zeller.

Liz

Titus, I don`t want to be a pro, don`t worry! Just good enough for a decent amateur orchestra.

Elizabeth, I take your point, but I`m just about to buy a new house and am feeling under financial pressure! So I`m not sure I can contemplate £500+ on a musical instrument at the moment.... And by the sound of the replies I got on the Viva board, maybe I should be thinking about the viola anyway.... :-/

You`ll certainly stand a lot more chance of getting into an orchestra on viola.

Liz