Teacher Courses
Developing effortless virtuosity - the teacher training course
methods to enhance effortlessness and virtuosity
Developing your cello student´s ear - creative listening at all levels
the creative way in which sound is perceived, shaped, and communicated
The secrets to benefit most from the Cello Chordal Compass Method
transform the ordinary into the extraordinary
Developing effortless virtuosity - the teacher training course
After decades of teaching children, youngsters and students at university level and beyond, I have developed methods to enhance effortlessness and virtuosity. As a teenager, I initially experienced problems to play virtuoso pieces with ease, until I could learn from cello professors, who were either studying with Rostropovich´s teacher, Simeon Kozolupov, or with Rostropovich himself. Because of an injury and my rather petite hands, I developed a technique that allowed me to play even the virtuoso violin pieces on the cello.
By applying 10 key principles, effortlessness and virtuosity is now within each cellist´s reach. Knowing what the barriers are and applying techniques to unlock virtuosity, it is my wish to share that knowledge with other teachers, so that the next generation of cellists can unlock their own potential. It is never too early or too late to discover and implement these techniques which will allow you to achieve technical freedom. For this reason, I have decided to develop this teacher training course on how to develop effortless virtuosity.
In this specialized course, comprising 3 training sessions, cello teachers will discover methods to develop effortlessness and virtuosity in their students, from the beginner level up until professional level. The training sessions will be individual sessions (one-to-one), to be able to customize the training to meet your specific needs in a safe environment. The focus of the course will be on discovering and implementing the 10 keys to unlock effortlessness and virtuosity on different levels and phases of a student’s development.
However, as it is my wish that the course meet your specific needs, you may customize the course by selecting your own material to be worked on or by posing problematic teaching questions.
Specific etudes, exercises and course work will be provided to implement and develop the key principles to unlock effortlessness and virtuosity.
The course may be taken online or in person with me in Vienna, Austria.
* * IMPORTANT NOTICE: If you wish to book lessons or courses „in person“, kindly contact me via e-mail (), before making the booking on this system, as we need to discuss suitable dates. After confirming the exact dates with me, you may proceed and book the „in person“ courses online, on this booking system.
Developing your cello student´s ear - creative listening at all levels
A distinct trait of excellent performers is the creative way in which sound is perceived, shaped, and communicated. Although technical mastery is an important component of performance excellence, the heart of artistry lies not merely in precision, but in the capacity to listen deeply and to create meaningfully. Since the quality of listening directly impacts the quality of performance, it is paramount that we as cello teachers support
learners at all stages of development in cultivating refined, instrument-specific listening skills. The journey of becoming an artist must begin with the ear, the imagination, and the freedom to explore sound as a form of personal expression.
Listening may seem spontaneous or innate, but in reality, it’s a discipline—nurtured in environments that value curiosity, welcome questions, encourage experimentation, and deliberately develop listening skills. As cello teachers, we can create such spaces, guiding
students to listen not only to what they play, but how they play, and what their sound communicates.
Yet, recent research reveals a gap: aural skills are often sidelined in cello instruction, delegated to a separate “aural training teacher.” This can disconnect listening from its vital role in cello playing. To develop intonation, tone color, rhythm, phrasing, and ensemble sensitivity, cello teachers must actively weave creative listening into technical and musical development. When young cellists are empowered to shape phrases, explore tone, match pitches by ear, and respond emotionally to sound, they begin to hear music as a language—and to listen like artists.
In this course, comprising 5 sessions and customized course material, you will learn practical strategies, exercises, and reflections to help integrate aural training into all levels of your cello teaching. Dr. Gerber will tailor the course to meet your individual needs and to match the level of development of your students. Whether working with beginners or advanced students, you’ll find approaches that foster a deeper, more expressive connection to the instrument, while it empowers you to develop your students ears in an integrated way.
Let’s reimagine cello pedagogy not just as passing down tradition, but as cultivating unique, sensitive voices attuned to the possibilities of sound
The secrets to benefit most from the Cello Chordal Compass Method
This chordal system has been used by a small group of cellists who were studying with one of the greatest cello teachers, Simeon Kosolupov. He had the ability to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, by adding a few very specific exercises that skyrocketed his students´ performance. His students, who became the top cellists of the late twentieth century, were famous for their impeccable intonation and unprecedented level of technical
ease and virtuosity. Among these students, was the great cellist, Mstislav Rostropovich. However, this method was never published and only passed on aurally to the few cellists who were lucky enough to learn this method.
I realized that I have a responsibility towards current and future generations of cellists, not to keep this cello treasure, a secret. I therefore decided to publish the entire chordal method. To help you benefit most from it, I now offer a course, comprising 3 sessions, on how to teach and practice this method that you can experience the transformation in your own and your students´ playing, that you desire.
If you have any questions, please contact me!