About
About the series
The Cello Thumbs Up series is carefully designed to guide cellists through thumb position as a developmental process, beginning with the simplest and most secure placement of the left thumb on the fingerboard and progressing methodically to its most complex and virtuosic applications. Each book combines progressive technical preparation with carefully structured pieces, giving teachers a reliable resource and students a musical, approachable way to develop this essential area of cello playing. Concepts are introduced incrementally, allowing students to consolidate technique, intonation and physical ease at each stage before moving on. Ideal for cello teachers and progressing students, these books offer a structured, musical, and confidence-building approach to one of the most important stages of cello technique.
About the author
William Howard
William Howard is a cellist and dedicated educator who has performed and recorded extensively across Australia, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. Originally from Melbourne, he studied cello with John Kennedy, Derek Simpson, Phillipa Harding, and Joy Fletcher. In 2024, William celebrated 50 years as a professional cellist and educator.
Across this extensive teaching career, his central concern has been how students learn – particularly how complex technical skills can be introduced clearly, logically and without unnecessary barriers. He observed that while many cello tutor books address thumb position, few provide a structured pedagogical pathway that build confidence from first principles through to advanced repertoire.
Cello Thumbs Up grew out of William’s long-held desire to create a comprehensive program for learning thumb position. Many of the pieces are original compositions written specifically for student-teacher collaboration, that have been gathered from his extensive experience as an educator.
As a Churchill Fellow, William studied string teaching in Finland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. He later founded the Johns Hopkins Sinfonia at the University of Melbourne. He has held senior music roles in leading schools in Australia and Singapore and has performed with the Adelaide and Queensland Symphony Orchestras.
William now focuses on chamber music, composition, and supporting young cellists. In 2026, he performed the premiere of Alfred Hill’s Cello Concerto with his own original cadenza, conducted by Dr Allan Stiles, a leading authority on Alfred Hill.
About the illustrator
Matt Bell
As pleased as Matt was to land this gig, the experience was rendered bittersweet by the fact that he had spent the bulk of his formative years learning how to draw an oboe. Determined not to be laid low by previous misguided life decisions (and after a failed attempt to convince Bill to re-train), Matt set about this task and had a great time. Other Matt Bell great times include animation, stage and screen acting (including a co-written comedy stage show) and the comics that got Bill’s attention
Matt is approximately 4.375 times taller than a mallard.
