Transporting cello to school

[Thegirlinthefireplace]

My child plays the cello and is starting secondary school in September and will need to transport her 3/4 sized cello independently 😩.

I see that wheeled cases exist but the ones I have seen cost nearly as much as a cello and we can't justify that cost. I was thinking about a foldable luggage cart but unsure about whether a cello would fit.

Any cellists teenagers out there, how do they do it? (Or do they all get lifts to school with their cello)?

TIA

Does the school have an spares that she/he can play there, and leave her's at home? That is what we do...
You need to ask the music teacher.

I'm inclined to think it's unlikely but always worth asking, thanks.

She picks it up and lugs it, I would think. That's what DS did with his tuba. Is she going by bus, though, or walking? You can get gig bags with shoulder straps like a rucksack, and hope she doesn't have cookery the same day.

Train. walk or bus? Makes a difference. At DDs school you can't leave your cello I'm driving her the days her cello goes in so 2 days a week. I work so it's a pain but needs must. Most have hard cases that get the train to protect the cello. Could be worse with the double bass or harp.

Gig bag.

How often will she have to take it?

My friend had a trolley type thing that she strapped her case too - like a wheels shopping back without the canvas shopping bag bit.

I’ll be taking dd to school when she needs to take her cello in.

Gig bag with rucksack straps is a good option if dc can cope with the size of it otherwise (my dd is tiny, only just moved up to 1/2 size which is now huge for her to lug about!).

watching with interest. DD2 is a cellist and, at 8, already on a 1/2 size. She already has to lug it about a fair bit. We did get a case with wheels but have been advised that, even with the padding etc it's not wise to pull around a decent quality cello because they get bashed about... So we've gone back to her carrying it on her back.

Her case does have ruck sack type shoulder straps but it's quite heavy for her still and she has to walk up a steep path back to the house after the train so she really will struggle carrying it but pulling it would be way easier. She may need it twice a week unless she's lucky and lesson day is the same as orchestra day. If she has PE kit that day too 😩😩😩

I REALLY don't want to have to be driving her several times a week, it would be an enormous pain.

I had a soft case with rucksack straps. You can pad it out a bit with towels or a duvet front and back.

Takes me back, so it does!...

Only other thing is to see if it can be kept at school and maybe she can do lunchtime or after school practice?

Sorry to answer the questions, she'll be getting the train and will probably need it twice a week unless she's immensely lucky and lesson falls on orchestra day but we haven't had timetables yet so don't know...

That's why I made dd play flute

Can the cello be left at school if lessons and orchestra are on different days, as long as its not Monday and Friday, and she just doesn't practice at home on the days it's at school?

I used to have to take a double bass in and was dropped off at school on those days. I carried it on its strap everywhere.

Mother of now full size cellist here! I drove my son to school. So no problems. I suggest that she practices every day after school at school. Somehow, take cello home for weekends and get it back Monday morning.

DD played the cello (3/4 size) in Y7.

She walked the >1 mile each way with it in a backpack-style case on her back, plus her school rucksack slung on her front. It was a pain, but it was entirely do-able.

https://www.gear4music.com/Woodwind-Brass-Strings/GSJ-Cellissimo-Violin-Case-4-4-Powder-Blue/Q2P?origin=product-ads&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIluD5tpXK3AIVypPtCh3kHQwpEAQYBCABEgIWCDD_BwE

Rucksack-style lightweight hard case is the answer, OP.

Your DD will stop noticing the weight very soon if she is a keen cellist. I recommend buying the full-size case and using foam padding until such time as she is ready for a 4/4 cello.

Oops posted to soon. In my experience, the most important factor is the colour, and how cool it looks

It’s a pain but you get used to it. If you really don’t have any way to drive her, I would invest in a more expensive hard but light case. Never mind the kid, they need the exercise. The cello gets banged up and out of tune.

Ah, D's clarinet also looking a good shout. At least with cello she'll always get a gig tho ;) And yy a mate of DD's played the harp, her family had to buy a new car!

Dd can't think of any cello or db players at her school but says people at her Saturday music lessons walk in with their cellos no problem. Leaving at school for two days may be the shout.

11 yo or 13? If she will be 11 you may have to consider dropping her off and picking her up until she gets a bit bigger. Or possibly just meeting her at the train station?

A back pack or wheels sound great! I had to carry my cello 1.5 miles to school twice a week by the little handle. Plus flute and normal bag.

I played the cello in secondary and used to carry it the three mile walk to school. I had a case with straps which was passed with bits of fleece i think. My lessons were on the same day as cookery so I used to have to carry a basket of ingredients as well ! How I wished I had played the violin instead. Was fine though.

Thanks all. I could meet her at the station to help her bring it home. I think hard light case with back pack straps and see how she gets on. She's 11 but she's tall for her age and very fit so fingers crossed.

Whether we can leave it at school is something I won't know until she starts next term I don't imagine.

Thanks all.

My ds's best friend plays the piccolo. He is very smug about it.....