German cellist, Sebastian Lée (1805-1887) was prominent as a performer and pedagogue in both Germany and France. His methods have been published many times in various countries and continue to be used to this day, The First Step of the Young Cellist being no exception.

Lée enjoyed a successful career as a soloist with the Paris Opéra and as a Cello teacher at the Paris Conservatoire. His teaching styles displayed a variety of German and French influences. The First Step of the Young Cellist contains fifty short, easy and progressive pieces with the accompaniment of a second Cello (the teacher). Beginning with semibreve studies, Lée's study book progresses to triplet exercises. The First Step of the Young Cellist is essential to the progression of all aspiring beginners of the instrument.