Most students ask the advice of their teacher when purchasing an instrument. We’ll focus on cellos here, but what we discuss pretty much goes for any instrument.

Teachers involve themselves to varying degrees when one of their students is purchasing a cello: some will go to local shops personally and select one themselves which they advise the student to purchase; more will have the student bring various trial cellos to them and either give one their imprimatur or at least recommend one, others will cull what they feel are unworthy instruments and let the student choose from a group of finalists.

Teachers usually do know more about cellos than do their students, but there are several things to consider when soliciting the aid of a teacher in purchasing a cello. The first is that many teachers receive commissions from dealers if their student buys a cello from that dealer. This practice has become common and is a means for teachers to supplement their incomes. Ethically the teacher should inform their students of this fact when the student first asks the teacher’s help in finding an instrument, but this is not always the case. Naturally, a commission in the offing has the possibility of clouding the teacher’s judgment.

But even when there is no commission involved there are things to consider. A teacher’s opinion should certainly be listened to: but remember that teachers are human, with their own tastes in sound, playability, looks, etc. Many years ago I was looking for a cello, and I had in my possession two that I liked. I took both of them to my teacher, and then both to a coach in a summer program. The teacher firmly recommended one, while the coach firmly recommended the other.

I’ve spoken with cellists who purchased a cello on the advice of teacher, rejecting one that they really preferred, and years later still lamented the sound of that lost cello that they had not been able to find again.

It is true that down the road as you advance your skill level, you may look for something a little different: but you don’t know now what that “different” will be. Many dealers will give you full trade-up credit for a cello that you purchase from them if you should eventually want a change.

A teacher’s advice can be helpful, but remember that you are the one who will be playing the instrument you purchase, not them. If you are playing at a level where you feel you need more or better sound from your instrument, then you know enough of what you want to trust your judgment. Naturally the instrument should be structurally sound and worth the price asked, but you are looking for a cello for a particular reason: sound you like, playabilty you like. Your teacher can help but he or she is not buying it and will not be playing it. You will.

QUESTIONS? Email us your questions – pperleycellos@AOL.com – and we’ll answer the most interesting on this page of the web site.