Practice is the key to mastery. You should devote the necessary time to practice and have the discipline to do this regularly. If you intend to be better than average then you should practice a few hours daily. You should use your practice time to the fullest by making sure that you are excited and not sluggish at that particular time. If you prefer playing in the early morning or late at night then that’s when you should be playing. I would also advise you to find a great place where you can have peace and quiet. A cellist requires peace and quiet to be able to concentrate. This also prevents you from succumbing to other temptations like daydreaming.
Fingering the cello must be accurate to produce the right notes. A little down on the string would cause the note to be higher and vice versa. So whenever you play, check to know for sure that the notes you play are exactly right. The easiest and perhaps the most effective way is by hiring a teacher or by asking a friend to teach you. Or, you can also train your ear to memorize the notes perfectly by listening to audio tapes and such. That way, if your fingering is even slightly wrong, you can adjust your fingers without any difficulty.
A good indication that a cellist has already mastered the instrument is by doing vibrato. This is the hand movement when on the string, while you’re bowing. Vibrato is literally making the string vibrate on a note, literally translating the Italian word. It may appear easy when done by experts. But this is really a hard thing to do and will be accomplished only after lots of practice.
You should have fun while having your adult cello lessons. This is one of the sure-fire ways to be a better cellist. If you’re having fun, chances are you will like having more adult cello lessons and practice sessions. Playing an instrument is supposed to be enjoyable, but if you don’t really love playing, then it’s probably just a waste of time.
There are ways on how you can make the lessons more enjoyable, like rewarding yourself afterwards, having friends come over during the adult cello lessons, etc. But really, you’re already an adult. Don’t force yourself to do something you don’t really want. Be kind to yourself and always maintain positive attitude. Music should give you enjoyment and a satisfied feeling.
The cello is a wonderful musical instrument. You do have to take your lessons seriously, but there is always room for fun. Study it well and take pride in your new accomplishment.