Learning about the Cello and Double bass has never been more fun than with these enjoyable games
To help students learn the parts of the instruments: play Pin the Parts on the Cello or or Double Bass (a variation on the classic party game called Pin the Tail on the Donkey). Simply have one student blindfolded and they have to pin the paper instrument parts (e.g., endpin, scroll) on a poster of a cello or double bass.
Another fun game is to have the students collect objects or pictures of different sizes (e.g., tree, car, mobile phone, ball, train etc.)The students then have to speak or show their pairs of objects and indicate the relative size relationships with the words double bass(for large) or cello(for smaller)For example, telephone, tree would be cello, double bass and beach ball, baseball would be double bass, cello. This will help students remember the relative sizes of the instruments, which students often have trouble remembering. If you have already covered the violin and viola, you can extend this game to include all four string instruments, i.e., comparing violin with cello and so on.
Suggested listening featuring cello and double bass which can be used in these music lesson plans:
Camille Saint-Saens, Carnival of the Animals, XIV. The Swan (featuring solo cello). Several commercial recordings are available, but note that the recording with Leonard Bernstein as narrator features double bass instead of cello.
Pablo Casals plays J. S. Bach Suite No. 1 for Solo Cello (music begins at 0:53)
Dvorak Cello Concerto, first movement
