Partridge's First Concerto for Cello in D Major is Keith Partridge's attempt at writing classical music in Beethoven, Brahms, and Partridge. He decides to write it after Rachel Westing challenges him to "try a higher form" than pop music. He spends six weeks working hard on it before it's premiered at a concert at the college. Despite Keith's efforts, the concerto is hated by the audience, including Keith's family. Seemingly the only person who likes it is Rachel, who encourages Keith by reading him negative reviews of famous works of classical music and telling him that the more mature a piece is, the longer it will take the masses to appreciate it. Keith takes Rachel's words seriously and decides that he will use money from his trust fund to pay a full symphony orchestra of professional musicians to record it, then try to get the Partridge Family's label to release it so it can reach the right audience. Keith plays a recording of the concerto for Walter Yost. Instead of telling Keith what he actually thinks of his work, Mr. Yost tells Keith that if his opinion is enough to stop him from writing classical music, he doesn't have the dedication for it.