Saturday, August 9, 2014

The Proper Violin Hand Posture

By Tanisha Berg


Playing an instrument takes time. The violin is an instrument that especially requires a lot of practise and dedication. However a big part of getting the most from the instrument is knowing how to position your body and your hands. With the right violin hand posture you can get the most from your instrument.

One of the reasons this takes time is that it is not always easy to position your hands properly. Sometimes people can try to develop their skills themselves. This results in them practising the wrong position. Over time this becomes a muscle memory and it can be very hard to correct bad habits.

The following instructions apply to playing your violin at any time and are equally applicable when standing up or sitting down. When positioning your hand there ought to be open space between the lower part of your thumb and the base of your index finger. The theory goes that you ought to be able to place a pencil in that empty space. Furthermore you should be able to move the pencil back and forth!

As you play your thumb and first finger need to be aligned. While playing your fingers need to be curved. You also need to ensure that your fingernails are trimmed short. The reason this is important is because you hit the fingerboard of the violin with your fingertips.

Another thing to be aware of is that your thumb and first finger is aligned when playing a step above the nut. It is also important that you curve your fingers as you play the instrument. Remember to keep your fingernails trimmed because you strike the fingerboard with the tips and this is more effective with trimmed nails.

While you are playing you also need to be aware of your wrist position. It has to be positioned straight. A lot of people make the mistake of bending their wrists inward while playing. The reason this is important is that it prevents the base of your thumb or your palm touching the neck of the violin.

As you play you need to pay attention while you are doing it. A mistake people often make is positioning their chin on the left side of the chin rest. While some people think this is the way a violinist plays in reality it does not look good and will affect the quality of how you play.

Correct posture is something that a teacher or private tutor ought to tell you. This is the first thing they are likely to be looking for. The best teachers will look to instil good habits before you begin playing your instrument. It is also worth checking online for tutorial videos to help guide you between sessions. With the right approach you will be able to get the most from your instrument.




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