Testimonials

When teaching pre-schoolers a musical instrument, a happy relationship between child and teacher is vital. Pure musical ability and qualifications are not enough - the teacher must take real pleasure in working with children of any ability, and have the knack of drawing out the best in each child.

NB Cellobabies is part of Stringbabies [Cello, Violin & Viola]. Kay's main site for Stringbabies is located here - it has the Stringbabies teachers directory, latest news and information etc.

This [the Cellobabies] site is therefore no-longer being updated [as of Aug 2010], but is being kept on-line for those who may have bookmarked any pages

We realise that choosing a good teacher is no easy task, especially over the internet, where you have no direct contact with the teacher. Reviewing the experiences of others can therefore be very helpful.

On this page, we have collected comments from Kay's colleagues, older pupils, parents and current 'Cellobabies'. We hope that you will find these useful in making your choice.

Professional Colleagues

Yvette Madden [Strings Co-ordinator for South-East Music centre, Surrey Arts]

'I have found that this very comprehensive method works for all abilities, including pupils with special needs.'

'It makes learning notation and rhythm crystal clear and takes away all the expected complications of teaching. 'Cellobabies' makes teaching beginners an easier path.'

'My pupils feel they achieve something every week and they are raring to go. The 'Cellobabies' method promotes the children's work and makes them more creative. It is a refreshing new method which I think is fantastic'.

Kaye Lovejoy [Headteacher, Arundale School]

'Arundale has always been a musical school but recently music struck a new chord with the introduction of Cellobabies. What a success the scheme has been. 3 year olds learning instruments not much bigger than a violin, and loving every minute of it. Our pioneer musicians, now aged 5, have benefited from their early start and are at the stage where they are beginning to read proper music. They love their cellos' and can't wait to grow into the next size instrument.'

'Cellobabies are going to be a great addition to our Junior Orchestra. Kay has a wonderful way with the children and their Cellobabies' lessons are the highlight of their lessons at school.'

Emily Young - Cello teacher

'I just wanted to let you know that I have been finding your Cellobabies method great!'

'I am just using it with one little girl I teach (aged 4 1/2). It has really helped her remember each string and to grasp low to high, as well as with reading. We had started with 'conventional' notation which she was doing well with, but now using your method and going to back to look at other music, I feel confident that she is really understanding how the printed music relates to the sounds she makes.'

'We have begun stopping strings this week - a little more challenging, but she is getting there!'

Rosemary Hensor [Sussex Piano Trio]

'I have known Kay for some years now, as professional colleague and fellow member of the Sussex Piano Trio, and as a personal friend. It would be hard to imagine someone more passionate about her music, and in particular her cello.

'Her teaching ability is renowned among her string playing colleagues, and her pupils all thrive on her enthusiasm and insistence on sound technique as a basis for maximum achievement and enjoyment on the instument.'

'Cellobabies is her latest creation, and is already proving very popular'

Howard Thompson [Composer, colleague & parent]

'It was Kay whose enthusiasm sparked my middle son's enthusiasm for the cello and helped him to achieve far more than he could imagine. She taught him a sound technique and gave him confidence in perfomance. Her enthusiasm spilled over to many other young people and we worked together developing a cello octet, which prompted me to write "Mellow Cellos" and "More Mellow Cellos" specially for the group. I also had the opportunity to work with Kay in cello workshops and string orchestras for young players locally where she was always an inspiring colleague to work alongside.'

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Pupils

Luke Sales

'Kay was a great teacher - very supportive and enthusiastic. I enjoyed my lessons with Kay very much!!!!'

Sam Whitby

'It's amazing! Seven years and she hasn't bitten me! I recommend her. Kay's a good teacher with a smile on her face.'

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Parents

Vanessa, Shiraz & Zevon [Cellobaby]

'My 4 yr old son, Zevon, has been learning the cello with Kay for a year now and is already putting together his own little compositions and playing basic tunes! He loves his lessons and Kay is a fantastic teacher. I would recommend Kay to anyone who is interested in engaging their children with music and the fun of playing the cello!'

Suzanne Black [Cellobaby]

'My son, aged 4, thoroughly enjoys his cello lesson each week. He started a 'Cellobabies' class a year ago with 2 other boys and they have all made remarkable progress. The boys can now play some simple tunes following a line of music and have wonderful bowing skills. They have developed a real love of music, thoroughly enjoying their weekly sessions.'

'The highlights of my son's career to date have been performing in his first concert at Christmas and realising that he can read notes from a 'proper' music book!'

Guangli Fordham [Cellobaby]

[Update: Lisa, now 6, has just taken her Trinity Guildhall Initial Exam and achieved a Merit!]

'Lisa started her cellobaby lessons 6 month ago when she was four and half years old. I didn't expect that she would have carried on for so long. We are not a musical family and Lisa isn't particularly interested in music. Its all thanks to Kay who has always been so gentle and encouraging. Lisa is progressing gradually in her own pace. She likes Kay and enjoys playing fun musical games in the cellobaby lessons.'

Sharon Hampshire [Cellobaby]

'I would like to say the following about Cellobabies:-

'I think that it is amazing that my 3 year old can't read words but she can read music.'

'Olivia has always wanted to play the cello, to be like her big sister, CelloBabies enabled her to start at the age of two. The lessons are great fun and she really enjoys them.'

Anne Mustin [Cellobaby]

'My youngest daughter Lily has been attending cello lessons with Kay since just before her 3rd birthday, where she has been taught to read music using the 'cello babies' method.'

'After only 9 short lessons we bought our first book of music [Stepping Stones] which Lily is now working through.'

'As a mother of three other children who all learnt music in the more conventional ways, I have to say that I have been amazed at the effectiveness of 'cello babies' - it is so simple.'

'I think that cello babies is a wonderful way to introduce small children to music.'

'I highly recommend it.'

Dilys Price [Cellobaby]

'Lucy has been playing the cello for 2 years. She started when she was only 4 years old. She quickly learnt to identify the 4 strings using Kay's cello babies method and later progressed to read 1st,2nd,3rd and 4th finger notes as well as the different ryhthms and music symbols.'

'Lucy sat her first ever music exam [Trinity Guildhall Initial Exam] in June. She is only 6 years old and managed to receive a high distinction.'

'She is progressing at a remarkable rate and enjoys to play in front of others.'

'Her successs is largely due to Kay's patience and excellent teaching. I am sure that her bow grip and general position have been helped by learning at such a young age.'

'We have been delighted with the progress Lucy has made under Kay's professional, cheerful and dynamic tutorship and are convinced that starting at such a young age will enable Lucy to develop into a proficient cellist sooner than if we had delayed her start to a later age.'

Sarah Reed [Cellobaby] - most recent

'My four year old daughter started learning the 'cello six weeks ago guided by Kay Tucker's marvellous Cellobabies method. She has made astonishing progress and at every stage, a complete undertanding of the music.'

Maggie Rolton and Bronwen Simons (Cellobaby) - most recent

When Kay first described her Cellobabies method of teaching cello and music to very young children, I felt it was a fantastic opportunity for my youngest daughter Bronwen and asked for her to start as soon as she was old enough.

Bronwen has been a Cellobaby for 3 months now and she has really taken to it. I have been fascinated to see how quickly she has associated the shapes on paper with the strings on her cello. She really enjoys writing and playing her own mini compositions and she loves singing and playing Kay’s special cello songs.

Kay has a wonderful way with Bronwen and makes the lessons fun and playful.

Sally Sadler [Cellobaby]

'As a parent of a 'Cellobaby' I would like to say how fantastic the programme is!'

'Eleanor has been learning with Kay since she was 4 1/2 years old and she is now nearly 6.'

'She has great fun at her lessons and we all found the very child friendly approach so easy to start her off.'

'She is now able to play some simple tunes and even enjoys learning scales!!!'

'Eleanor has been taught to read music from the very start using the toys names and different shapes for the notes and she is now able to transfer this to 'proper' music without realising. Composing her own music with Kay's computer has also been something different to have a go at.'

'She is confident playing her cello infront of others and also even enjoys practising!!'

Beatrice Sales

'Kay has a delightful way with children - of all ages. She has been a great "cello mum" teacher to my son right from 5 year old beginner to teenage grade 8. She has passed on a superb technique, for which he is now reaping the rewards whilst he studies with a Royal College of Music Professor. Kay has this wonderful knack of finding just the right inspiring piece of music for each individual from the wide repertoire at every stage of progress. She also opens many cello experience doors along the way.'

Richenda Tisdale-Farrelly [Cellobaby]

[Cellobaby teacher: Emily Young]

You know I feel that I can't speak too highly of Cellobabies, it has given Thalia not just a good understanding of the basic principles but also a real enjoyment of music which spills over into her play all the time. She writes songs and trys to teach her baby brother and sister about George, Charlie, Dan and Alice and picks out notes when she is listening to music! Having learnt music in a very different environment myself, I really notice the difference in terms of her confidence and enthusiam for music. I would whole heartedly recommend this to anyone with small children.

I'm so grateful to you for the lovely introduction you have given Thalia to cello and Music in general and we will try very hard to keep up the good work.

Sue & Graham Ward

'Kay has taught our son for six years. Her style of teaching is not a route march through grade pieces only, but a real musical journey exploring a range of repertoire at each level, with fun pieces along the way. She places much emphasis on good technique from the start and carefully nurtures both this and performance skills.'

'Kay is a great encourager and takes time to understand her pupils well. Our son is still enjoying his lessons a great deal, and is now playing at Grade 8 standard and above from the full adult repertoire and in several orchestras, aged just sixteen.'

Morten and Valerie Westergaard [Cellobaby]

'Louis joined cellobabies as one of a small group of three little chaps. They did not seem intimidated by instruments almost the size of themselves but keenly started to learn the different string names which was made fun and simple by using soft toys with names like Alice, Dan, George and Churchill - they soon caught on. Kays ability to catch the attention of three 3 1/2 year olds with fun and memorable songs and exercises facilitating bow control, posture and attention has been a very positive introduction to playing the cello. '

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Cellobabies Children

Charlie Larkman

'When I was in nursery Mrs Kay Tucker, my cello teacher gave a cello talk to us and explained all about Cellobabies.'

'I was fascinated by the sound the cello made and knew I wanted to learn to play it. I went home that day and told my parents I really wanted to learn to play the cello and they agreed that I could have some trial lessons. I went to the music shop and hired a 1/10 scale cello, I was very excited to learn to play my new instrument.'

'I had my first cello lesson when I was four. When I play my cello I sit with the body of my cello between my legs with my feet flat on the floor. When I first started playing my legs were so short I couldn't reach the ground so I had to put some books under my feet. I play my cello with a bow and sometimes I pluck the strings to make a different sound.'

'I have been having cello lessons for a year now. I really look forward to my lessons as they are interesting and lots of fun too.'

'I can play simple tunes on my cello and I have written my own tunes. In March I played my cello in the school Spring Concert with other members of the school orchestra and I really enjoyed it.'

'Lots of children in my class are now starting to have cello lessons as I have told them how much I enjoy playing my cello. I hope one day I will be a cellist like Mrs Tucker but I know I will have to do lots and lots of practise first!'

[written by Charlie & helped by his mother, Louise]

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