OT - Help! How big is a Cello? Can I put it in the trunk of a small car?

[fac]

I know I can go to the shops to find out, but I need to make a decision tonight...

DD8 is going to 4th grade next year and can join either a band or an orchestra, the teacher suggested her to take Cello. However, from what I was told the student will have to miss classes for the lesson. Therefore, I am thinking of taking her out to have private lesson but attends the orchestra.

The problem is that I have a small car, a toyota corolla, will I be able to fit the cello in the trunck of the car?

thanks

 

[Tabetha]

Yeesh, tough call. Does your seat fold down to extend the trunkspace?

 

[englishteacha]

A person I know with a cello totes it in a station wagon...They can be as big as 5 feet, and they're not flexible. You could probably fit it in the back seat, though, as long as no one has to sit in back.

 

[fac]

thanks for the response.

That's bad. No. I cannot extend the trunk space. DD8 will need to sit at the back seat. It seems that I either have to switch her to trumpet or have her dropped from the orchestra. The teacher did not think she should do violin.

DH drives a big van and he cannot take her all the time and I do not drive DH's van.

 

[heathrow42]

I did all the string instruments growing up.. of all of them cello was my favorite

...I did tote my cello back and forth, at the time my mom had a Ford Escort. I can remember having it in the backseat with me, and I can remember occasionally having to take it on the bus How well it fits will also depend on what size cello she has, which goes by your height. I imagine that 4th grade she'll have a 1/2 or 3/4 - not a full size cello, so it will be much smaller than the cello a grown adult would have. Later, the school I went to had extra cello's - and I kept one at home for practice, and had another at school, so I didn't have to haul it back and forth. That might be something to look into if she really wants to take cello.

As for what instrument she takes.. if I may, my 2 cents.. let her choose. She'll be much happier and much more into it, if it's an instrument that she is excited about.

--Heather

 

[englishteacha]

Why don't you go somewhere that sells cellos and try putting one in the car (well, the case at least)? I know that the cellos for children are much smaller than those for adults, so you could be in the clear for a few years. Perhaps you should find out how many classes your DD would miss by taking lessons at school. In our district, they plan music lessons so that students will only miss math once a month, English once a month, social studies once a month...the lessons are usually only once a week. Does the instructor offer lessons at the school after school? That is often available, too. Then you aren't transporting the cello. I'm sure your DD could arrange to practice at school so the cello can live there during the school year.

Trumpet is cool, too. I always wanted to play sax or the drums. Unfortunately, I have no rhythm and I'm married to a one man orchestra!

 

[stitchlovestink]

Years ago, I played the cello and we were able to fit it in the trunk of a Toyota Celica. It was a tight fit but we were able to do it. The biggest consideration is the depth of the trunk because of the bridge on the cello. Besides more than likely your DD will only need a 1/2 or 3/4 size for awhile. Good Luck.

 

[Imzadi]

As for what instrument she takes.. if I may, my 2 cents.. let her choose. She'll be much happier and much more into it, if it's an instrument that she is excited about.

I totally agree. I wanted to play the flute or the piano. Saw various Miss Americas playing the flute & thought they were a cool instrument. My band teacher decided I should play the clarinet instead, as he taught my older brother, & it was just sitting in the closet. His reasoning was that we wouldn't have to buy a new instrument. (we clearly couldn't afford a piano. From the start I hated even the idea of playing the clarinet. It's ugly & sounds atrocious(compared to the flute.) I never practiced & was quite happy when the band teacher dropped me from band.

I lost many years not playing any instrument. My sister let me play her guitar, but I was not interested enough. Finally, when my mom bought me a piano, I was in heaven. I would practice playing many hours a day. I even loved practicing the scales. I regret I'm not a better player as I didn't learn it well enough sooner.

 

[fac]

The reason I can't try to put one in the car is that I have to make the decision before 8:00 am in the morning. It is a long story, but tomorrow is the last day of school.

DD8 is currently learning piano, however, she prefers group activities which we think will be good for her, hence I like to try the orchestra as well. It is the music teacher who did not let her make the decision. Basically the teacher let them tried a number of instrument and came back with note that she can try Cello. I left a voice message to the teacher to ask whether she could let DD to try violin, she didn't even return my call. DD is okay with any instrument as long as her friend is in the orchestra.

Her academic work is not very good, it was her current teacher who suggested me to try outside private lesson.

Thanks for pointing out 1/2 or 3/4 size cello. I am going to take the chance. I feel much better now
Thank you everyone.

 

[Debbie]

I have a Corolla, DD(high school) has a cello. NO PROBLEM....and that includes a viola, a basket, and a couple of backpacks. I love stringed instruments. ENJOY

 

[shortbun]

small child, small cello. When she's in high school, then you worry about size because she'll be playing a full sized cello.

 

[dimimi]

At our school, you could drop the cello off at the beginning of the week for the first orchestra day and pick it up after the last lesson. We had orchestra either M-W or T-Th, so the kids practiced either W night to Sunday night or Thursday night to Monday night. My son played the cello and enjoyed it! Playing an instrument sometimes helps other academic things fall into place. My son is tall so in 4th grade, he started with a 3/4 cello. Also, sometimes the school has instruments you can rent from them. For example, now my son plays the tuba...so one stays at school and we have one at home.

I think it would fit in a corolla trunk...I think! Could you and your husband switch vehicles a couple times a week? My son was allowed to bring the cello on our bus. They kept it in the front seat. It was hard to get off/on the bus, so we just drove him.

I say all of this with tongue in cheek, because I"ve joked for years that your younger DS would be playing the picalo! Thank goodness younger DS choose the violin! Fits on the bus!!!

 

[budbeerlady]

I did play the cello for a while, it is a pain but they are moveable. I took mine on the bus since that was the only transportation we had, and we rented it from the school.

I do think it a bit odd that the teacher is pushing the cello, did no one else pick it and she needs someone to play it?

I started on the violin, moved to cello and then back to violin. We did miss class to go to practice/ lessons. But it was at a time when others were out for choir, tutoring, etc. So you really didnt miss class.

I hope she enjoys it!

 

[mrsklamc]

I totally agree. I wanted to play the flute or the piano. Saw various Miss Americas playing the flute & thought they were a cool instrument. My band teacher decided I should play the clarinet instead, as he taught my older brother, & it was just sitting in the closet. His reasoning was that we wouldn't have to buy a new instrument. (we clearly couldn't afford a piano. From the start I hated even the idea of playing the clarinet. It's ugly & sounds atrocious(compared to the flute.) I never practiced & was quite happy when the band teacher dropped me from band.

I lost many years not playing any instrument. My sister let me play her guitar, but I was not interested enough. Finally, when my mom bought me a piano, I was in heaven. I would practice playing many hours a day. I even loved practicing the scales. I regret I'm not a better player as I didn't learn it well enough sooner.

This could have been me, but I wanted to play the sax and was given a clarinet. I had no desire and didn't play it. Makes me SO sad now. Wonder how many kids this happens to?

 

[musicdude]

Being an elementary band teacher I feel I have to respond here. I think that the student should always make the decision on which instrument they should play. Afterall it is mainly the student who has to listen to the sound that they produce. (parents and the family invest in some earplugs lol) I understand that the teacher is trying to have even instrumentation so that the groups sound well balanced but as a parent I would let my kid pick the instrument that they want to play. To the op please continue in both private lessons and school group lessons you will see awesome results.

Musicdude

 

[CarolA]

Keep in mind that she is NOT going to get a FULL size cello this year. They come "sized" to fit the kids.... I bet the one she gets will fit in the trunk. If she keeps it up, cross that bridge when you come to it, (I bet you ahve a new car by the time she gets the full size one!)

 

[fac]

Thank you everyone.

DD is going to play cello. I feel so much better now.

 

[chris1gill]

I have a Corolla, DD(high school) has a cello. NO PROBLEM....and that includes a viola, a basket, and a couple of backpacks. I love stringed instruments. ENJOY

I AGREE!!! Love stringed instruments myself! I played the viola and upright BASS growing up, now that thing was big LOL.... My daughter plays the full size harp, now THAT doesn't fit in any car

I think a child's cello would be no problem either in the trunk, or even in the back seat, although part of it will be resting on your DD.....

 

[ceecee]

Let your DD choose her own instrument. I don't know why a teacher would suggest at that age. Later on maybe. Our band director "suggested" other instruments in Jr. high which were sometimes a better fit, but at first we all choose our own. I played flute but actually marched one year playing the baritone. We had a small school which didn't even have strings, which I have always loved.

 

[patsal]

My DD plays cello--too big to go on the bus and we transport it in the minivan--it takes up the whole second row seat with a bit of hangover. Her's is only 3/4 so not as big as it will be when she starts HS. She started in 4th grade as well--she is so hooked. Could you fit it upright in the back seat from floor to ceiling--kind of base on the floor, back leaning on seat cushion? or maybe diagonally? Right now unless your daughter is very tall the cello won't be as big as when she is grown. In our district the youngest kids need to transport it every week while the HS and MS kids just keep one at home an dthere is a group set at school to use for lessons. The only time the cello leaves our house now is for concerts, large group rehersal and private lessons.