FAQ's Part 1: Questions smart cello students ask before starting!

Do you want to learn the cello but have some questions? Here are the top FAQ's other smart students asked before starting the cello!

Finding a Cello

Q: I want to learn the cello but don't have one?

A: What a good place to start! When I start looking into something new, I also value having all the information and the logistics out of the way! I have fantastic news. There is a brand new, free resource available to you that will guide you through everything you need to know about finding a cello! This guide goes over everything from cello sizing, renting vs buying, and my top trusted stores to find a cello from! 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD the free guide to finding a cello! 

Time Related Questions

Q: I am already STRAPPED! What does the time commitment look like?

A: The fact that you value your time shows that you are a person that takes their commitments seriously. I applaud you for that! 👏🏻

For your first 8 weeks in Inner Voice Academy, you will be going through the 4 Pillars of Cello Playing using the signature Simply Sound Curriculum. Each week you will have about an hour of either video lessons to watch OR a live coaching lab to participate in. (Alternate between the two) You can see this like your weekly cello lesson.

On the days that you do not have a class to watch or participate in, you will have a list of cello items to practice that will take around 15 minutes 4-7 days a week. What that means for you is constantly being in a cycle of getting better. The real value is having a set time each day to decompress, relax and take care of your emotional wellbeing & brain development.

Having 15 minutes a day you KNOW will give you joy each day is what you want, isn't’ it?

Q: What happens if I can't make the live classes?

A: The no student left behind policy dictates that student success is the top priority of Inner Voice Institute of Music. What this means for you is that even if you are unable to make it to the lab you signed up for every now and then, that there will be other ways available to you to get coaching & feedback. Sometimes that will be a makeup lab with an alternate time that works for you, other times you will be able to post a video of the exercise you are learning. You will receive support at every stage of the course. Your success is my number one priority.

Q: What does the schedule look like after the initial 8 weeks?

A: Great question!

After your 8 week round of Simply Sound, you will enter the monthly class cycle unique to Inner Voice Academy. Similar to your first 8 weeks, you will have a weekly 1hr class. There will be a specific cello technique focus class, 2 coaching labs, or a 1:1 class each month. You will continue refining your daily practice routine (15m, 4-7 days a week) with topics specific to what you need at every stage of learning the cello.

Here’s what the class cycle looks like:

What this means for you is continued support, 3 different class types to keep you learning actively, and best of all, you will visibly see yourself getting better at the cello! Just imagine playing more advanced pieces and enjoying new techniques in just a year from now… Imagine how much joy that could give you!

What does Inner Voice Academy look like?

Q: How will I know what to practice?

A: I love that you are thinking of this! It shows that you know that your development as a cellist takes place in the practice sessions. During the 8 week round you will learn the Simply Sound Practice Method that I myself use as a professional cellist. You will be given a practice planning sheet with instructions on how to use it so that when you sit down for your 15 minute practice session you can dive in with confidence.

Q: What happens after I hit purchase?

A: After you enrol for Simply Sound you will be brought to either your student portal log in page, or if you are already logged in, you will be brought to your course library. On that page you will see a box that links you to the course you just bought. Click on that box, and you will be at the Inner Voice Academy dashboard. Here you will find the live lab zoom link, schedule, announcements section, bonus/resources section and of course your cello video lesson library. Module 1 will be immediately accessible to you to start learning how to produce a beautiful sound on your cello. After completing your lab week on Module 1, Module 2 will be opened up for you to explore. That will continue for 8 weeks.

Once you have completed your 8 week round of Simply Sound you will enter the monthly cycle of IVA classes.

Q: How do group cello classes speed up the learning process (vs. 1:1 lessons)?

A: Fantastic question! I also care about making sure that programs I invest in make sense for my unique learning style. Let me explain.

During your 8 week round you will be in a cycle of watching video lessons, practicing on your own and playing in a group live coaching lab. This means that you will be able to learn from other beginner cellist’s questions and common mistakes. The real value is saving time in the learning process as you create a strong foundation. A study done by Harvard University showed that group learning circles allowed students to accelerate the rate of success by over 50%! The reason for this is that they were able to learn from the other’s questions and mistakes, stay accountable for taking action, AND developed long lasting relationships + friendships over topics they were all interested in.

Being able to condense the amount of time needed to play the cello with freedom is what you want, isn’t it?

If you have more questions or want to see what the cello could look like in your season of life, definitely book a discovery call with Ine to save time! 

CLICK HERE to book a free 20m Discovery Call