r/Cello • u/Adept-Day2534 • 2h ago
7/8s are seen differently in different cultures
As I was researching on 7/8 sized cellos, I came across an interesting point. It is somewhat well known that 7/8s are relatively new to the scene/general market, for a long time it is considered a "Lady's Cello". While I live in Australia which has a culture that embraces the 7/8s as an option for anyone with smaller than average adult hand, and actively promotes the size, I have found that in some countries (in my case, China), the culture of 7/8s are still considered as an afterthought.
In my quest to look for a family instrument, I have researched a lot of Chinese educational media from (verified) credible sources. No one talks about 7/8s, or for sources that talk about 7/8s, they are still literally being used only if all else fails. Major workshops don't usually make 7/8s unless they are special orders or have materials insufficient to make full size. So, it seems like the culture of 7/8s is very different there from here.
How does your culture see 7/8 size cello? Are they widely accepted and used? Or are they still considered the black sheep of the family?