For the vast majority of adults starting out their cello journeys, I recommend renting a cello first. Why?

Renting is an easy way to get started quickly and it avoids the scenario of having to buy a cello before you even know what you are actually looking for sound wise.

I recently went to my favorite violin shop in Los Angeles, Benning Violins, to talk about this topic with violinmaker Eric Benning.

In this post/video, you will find out everything you need to know to be an informed consumer renting for the first time.

PREFER TO WATCH? HERE’S THE VIDEO!

[SCROLL DOWN IF YOU PREFER TO READ ABOUT WHAT WE DISCUSSED]

Renting your first cello can be a little confusing.

Personally I remember feeling a little out of place my first time in a violin shop because I quickly realized that I had no idea what - if anything - I should be asking or searching for.

I also felt a little sheepish. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I felt that as an adult beginner, I was late to the game and that the people at the shop would also be thinking that.

But fret not, adult learners! I can assure you that renting your cello should be an easy and quick process, especially after reading this guide.

How to rent a cello - Your questions answered by an expert luthier and violin shop owner:

1) What’s the rental process like and what should I bring?

Expect it to be an easy transaction.

You don’t necessarily need to call ahead before coming to the shop, but it may be a good idea to do so if it’s during a peak rental time (such as the start of the school year), just to make sure that the shop in question has rental cellos ready to go.

Also, some shops may be appointment-only during the pandemic.

As far as what to bring, a credit card and some sort of photo ID is usually all that is required.

The shop will usually have a rental agreement outlining the terms of the rental for you to sign. This includes things like how and when your monthly payments are processed and any rent-to-own terms (if your monthly rental payments can be used towards buying a cello).

2) As an adult, should I worry about being judged…?

Not at all!

The decision to start the cello as an adult - at any age - is admirable and if you think about it from the perspective of shop owners, they are getting to do business with someone who is passionate and enthusiastic about learning.

Contrast this scenario with a parent bringing a reluctant child in to the store to get fitted for a cello and you can quickly see why adult beginners are often a favorite type of customer.

In the video above, Eric says that some of the most inspiring moments in the shop have been meeting people in their 60s and 70s who tell him that they have always wanted to learn the cello and are ready to give it a go!

Bottom line: Do NOT worry about feeling awkward or judged as an adult learner!

3) What can I expect in a rental cello outfit?

At Benning Violins, you’ll fine the essentials to get started included in a rental cello outfit:

- Cello

- Cello bow

- Soft cello case

- Cake of cello rosin

It should be noted that although the most cello outfits come with a soft carrying case that has protective padding, these cases are basically enough to help you get your cello back home safely but they are not designed to withstand a huge amount of bumps or turbulence.

So, please do be careful about putting your rental cello in a high traffic area of your home or when you are transporting your cello to and from lessons.

Once the cello is safely home, some people opt to purchase a cello stand (such as this one on Amazon - but keep in mind, you can usually find them for sale at your local violin shop) instead of storing the instrument back into the carrying case after each practice session.

Personal note: I also recommend picking up a rock stop (endpin anchor) to help anchor the cello to the chair you will be using, as well as a music stand.

4) If I’m smaller of stature, should I consider a 7/8 size cello?

For people with smaller hands, or unusually short pinky fingers, starting out on a 7/8th cello can be a good alternative to learning on a full size (4/4) instrument.

As you might have guessed, a 7/8th sized cello is slightly smaller than a full sized 4/4 cello. Therefore, the spacing between notes on the fingerboard will be shorter and therefore less of a stretch for your left hand.

Even for a beginner with big hands, the spacing on a full size cello is often surprisingly far apart and it takes time to learn how to open up the left hand without creating tension.

If you are considering this option, check to see if your local shop has 7/8 cellos for rent.

However, before you do so, you will probably want to discuss this with your teacher.

Personally, I do recommend this option for beginner students with smaller hands or pinky fingers.

The biggest reason is injury prevention and learning to play cello with as little physical tension as possible.

There is a good chance that you have never had to open your left hand in the way that you would need to on a cello.

Try spreading the fingers of your left hand. Probably feels a bit awkward and strange, doesn’t it?

The last thing you want as you start your cello journey is to develop tension.

Starting out on a slightly smaller cello allows those with smaller hands to get used to opening up the left hand before transitioning to a full size cello.

5) What are my options after renting my cello? What if I want to purchase a cello?

Most shops will have some sort of rent-to-buy program in which some or all of your rental fees go into the purchase of your first instrument.

At many shops, this means that the exact cello you are renting will eventually be yours if you simply keep up with your monthly payments.

At Benning Violins, they have a slightly different policy in which the first 3 months of your rental fees can be used to purchase your first instrument.

What’s particularly exciting is that those 3 months of fees can be used to purchase ANY instrument at their shop, so you have way more options to choose from.

In terms of when it’s time to switch from renting to purchasing, Eric’s store policy echoes his opinion. Over the years he has found a sweet spot of 3 months as the time to make the switch.

If 3 months have gone by and you are still enjoying yourself and motivated to continue, then that is the time to step up and buy your first instrument.

With 3 months of experience you will be more acquainted with your own musical ideals and what kind of sound you resonate most with, dark or bright, mellow or focused, etc.

Ask your shop what their policy is when it comes to a rent-to-own/buy program!

6) Any red flags to watch out for in terms of where you rent your cello?

Speaking broadly, a general music store (one that does not focus solely on stringed instruments) will not have the know-how to set up their rental outfits properly.

This can actually make a huge difference to you and your cello trajectory, especially in your first months.

It is important to realize how critical a good setup is in its playability and sound.

Setup in this case refers to most of the parts of the cello found on its face plate - the bridge, the tailpiece and fine tuners, the strings, the pegs, the nut at the top of the fingerboard and the curvature of the fingerboard as well.

All of these elements have to be carefully adjusted so that they fit the instrument precisely and so that aspects such as string height and string tension are ideal.

For example, a string height that is too high means that your left hand will have to work all the harder to push down the string.

And that means more tension in your hand!

Playing the cello is hard enough with great equipment.

Do yourself a favor! Do not struggle unnecessarily with a cello handicapped by its setup!

Renting from a reputable violin shop means you are likely to end up with a cello that doesn’t work against you.

Bottom line: Try to rent from a reputable violin shop. The actual monthly fee of a rental from a violin shop (versus a general music store) is probably not even going to be substantially higher, and the instruments will have been setup with higher quality parts and will have been adjusted more accurately, and this will make a huge difference in your overall playing experience.

7) Why rent when you could buy a cheap cello online?

Again, it has to do with setup and setting yourself up for success.

Often with inexpensive instruments sold online (that can be as low as $200 on Amazon), the bodies of the cellos themselves aren’t too bad, but can be very poorly set up and as a result be difficult or even impossible to play unless adjusted.

I did have that experience when I reviewed the entry-level cellos from Eastar and Cecilio (both ~$270 USD):

- Comparing the Eastar v. Cecilio: Showdown

- Cecilio Student Cello Outfit

- Eastar EVC-1

Brand new players run the risk of blaming themselves for sounding awful on instruments that even seasoned professionals would struggle on.

If you happen to already have a cello you purchased online and you’re just not getting a great sound on your cello or you’re having enormous difficulty with some basic things like bowing on only one string at a time, it may not be your fault!

Don’t get discouraged.

These issues may be due to things like an ill-fitting bridge or a string height that is too high.

Take it to a luthier and see if you can get these things adjusted.

Bottom line though: Renting will help you avoid these issues without paying an up front cost for the cello. Most luthiers and violin shops that rent cellos will work with you if you have a problem with your rental. They will either try to fix the issue or rent you a different cello.

I hope you now feel ready to get to your local violin shop and start your cello journey!

The terrible golfer blaming his his poor swing mechanics on his equipment is a comedic trope as old as the game itself, but in the case of the cello I must emphasize that getting good equipment from the start is essential to nurturing your love of playing and developing a comfortable playing style.

If you have any more questions about this topic, feel free to email me at billy@adultcello.com.