What would you have changed? What really helped you?

I just started cello and I'm looking for some words of wisdom from some more experienced folks!

Well if you are learing it in a class, a wise suggestion is to buy a box of band aids, you'll do a great deal of plucking and it will leave behind blisters. Besides that, when you are using the cello, be sure to keep your right elbow up. If you keep up down when first playing it will create a bad habit and make shifting more difficult when you begin to advance down the finger board. The elbow was my biggest problem, and I really wish someone had told me I started because my teacher was actually a band director not really an orchestra teacher so when he didnt tell me and I began to advance, shifting was difficult, especially break the habit of have the elbow down.