A Cello Player's Accessories and Items to Carry Along

What accessories and items should you have as a cello player, or even take them with you during rehearsals and concerts?

Today's post is for students and hobby players who have yet to begin playing professionally and get invited to play in an orchestra or a musical program.

You are invited to play in a chamber group or an orchestra, and it is your first time playing in a rehearsal as a cello player. The big question is, what are some of the items you should take along? This question might seem like a common sense issue or perhaps not even that important, but missing a few things during a rehearsal might be uncomfortable and downright unpleasant.

It is a good idea to always have some items with you when you are on your way to becoming a professional musician.

So, what should you take with you when you go to a rehearsal or even a concert?

Your bow, along with your instrument

A stand, if requested by the orchestra or the chamber group

Rosin

A piece of cloth to have your instrument tabletop cleaned

An extra set of strings for your cello

An endpin stopper

A pencil

A hard case for your instrument

You can secure some of these items in your cello case so that you always have them with you. But for others, you should remind yourself if you have them with you or ask yourself if it is necessary to take them along.

For starters, ensure you have secured your bow in your case before you leave for a rehearsal. While you are less likely to forget to take your instrument, you might still need to take your bow. It has never happened that I have not taken my bows with me to a rehearsal or a concert. Still, there have been many times, times, or instances when I had to put a check in my thought to-do list whether I placed my bow in my case.

Sometimes, some organizations ask you to take your stand, which should also be on your to-do checklist. In recent years, I have solved this issue by securing a foldable stand in my car. This way, I would remember to take one if required.

Your rosin, in case your bow has lost its grip on the strings. You will need a rosin to refresh that.

A clean piece of cloth or a tiny towel that does not scratch the surface of your instrument, a smooth one, is a good idea to leave in your case. As your cello collects dust from your rosin or anywhere else, having it in your cello case will always be helpful.

In addition, remember to bring a pencil along with you. This is a must in rehearsals, as there are many instances where you have to mark the directions the conductor gives you.

Also, store a set of strings in your cello case. They don't have to be brand new ones. You should keep the old strings you remove from your cello. They can serve as reserve strings in case something happens to the strings on your instrument. The strings can break through wear and tear as they age and must be replaced. If you have yet to renew the strings on your instrument, chances are one of your strings can break during playing or tuning. When you open your cello case, you can also discover that you have lost a string. I have had many string issues during the years; if not for all string instrument players, string issues are a significant part of cello players' lives. While that did not happen to me during concerts, I ended up in a rehearsal only to find out that I had lost a string. And I had to replace it immediately. Having a set, in my cello case, has been immensely helpful.

One issue that cellists continuously face is their endpin. That is, playing comfortably without letting the endpin slide away from you. That makes playing quite tricky, a sliding endpin. And what are some of the ways cellists deal with this? When I first began playing, my father had a carpenter make a foldable two-piece wood strip with a strap at one of its ends and holes on the piece so that I could rest my cello endpin in one of the holes. While this solution seemed secure and safe, the wooden stake tended to slide sideways. Another way to deal with this is to use a carpet that can be secured underneath one's chair. This is what I mostly use at home. I use a little rug. But you can't carry that to your rehearsal. You can't depend on luck to find a carpet at your rehearsal location, either. I can recall countless times when I had to deal with such issues. The best solution I have found for myself is to use these round stoppers that you can find in a music store. I wet the stopper, which lasted throughout the entire rehearsal.

While carrying a hard case is not a must, it is highly advisable, especially when you purchase your instrument at a high price.

While it may not be necessary to always carry these things along with you, there might come a time when you will be relieved that you did. So, remember to take these items along and enjoy your rehearsals and performances.

Is there anything else you carry to your rehearsals? Please share in the comments below.