If you’re an adult who wants to learn to play the cello, I recommend finding a cello teacher. You can really screw yourself up if you start playing on your own and learn to hold the bow incorrectly or hold too much tension in your left hand or …

I recently played an electric cello on which you can practice with headphones or connect to an amp. They’re pricey, and I don’t know if you can rent them, but they are even more flexible than a “regular” cello (you can play jazz and rock and be amplified).

Good luck!