Thursday, November 6, 2014

How To Hold A Violin Correctly

By Christa Jarvis


The appearance of violinists on photos or during life performances could be deceiving. They are likely to be captured holding violins from an angle that gives the wrong impression of how to hold it. This makes it necessary for fresh learners to know how to hold a violin correctly from professionals. It will transform your artistry when playing and make you a more successful violinist.

The distance between the nut and your thumb should be approximately an inch. It should touch the neck at the middle joint and bend slightly. A space enough to move a pencil freely should be left between the index and the bottom of your thumb. A clenched thumb prevents free movement of the hand that is bowing. This is mainly caused by tension.

The thumb and first finger must be aligned if you wish to play the entire step above the nut. The nails must be cut short and all fingers must play in a curved position. Long nails will prevent the tips from striking the finger board.

The wrist should remain straight at all times. This ensures that the neck is not contracted. Some violinists play with their wrists bent. This contraction is mainly attributed to wrong positioning of the left palm or base of your thumb. This is one of the positions that hinders excellent performance at professional level.

A violinist should keep the left arm behind the bowing bar. It means that the arm will be invisible as you bow. It will be concealed by the bar. While playing, both feet should be a shoulder length apart. Ensure that you are standing straight with the finger board and your neck aligned to the left foot and leg.

It is difficult to draw a straight bow if you place the violin further to the left. This position also makes it difficult to bow to the tip. This is a common mistake with students and will make it difficult to read music scores. With such a position, the instrument has to be moved left if you are to see the entire page.

Keep the body straight if you are performing using a stand. The body should remain about eight inches away from the stand without twisting the upper torso. It is professional to keep the scroll at the same level with the nose. There are shoulder pads that make it easier to attain this position. It allows your left hand to relax and not feel the weight of the violin. It is distasteful to use the low position.

The position will determine tone projection and smooth movement when bowing. It also makes it easier to move the left hand when playing. Holding at the nose level will not obscure your view when playing. You will still see the music score clearly and thus play smoothly. Your eyes should look down straight to the strings.

It is wrong to play with the left face bent or lying on the chin-rest. This does not add to your professional appeal under any circumstance. The above guide should be applied if you play while seated. Ensure that you are relaxed all the time as you practice or play. Use a mirror to practice until you achieve the right position.




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