Monday, August 11, 2014

The Correct 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.

Part of the problem is that people who learn to play may not always get taught well. In some cases they may even have attempted to teach themselves. Inevitably this results in bad posture and inevitably this lack of correct posture will impair the quality of the music. Therefore it helps to get some form of tuition in order to properly position your hands.

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!

In the first position the thumb has to be around an inch from the nut. If you have done this in the right way then there has to be some open space between the lower part of your thumb and at the base of your index finger. In theory there ought to be enough space to move a pencil up and down in that area between the thumb and base of index finger.

When playing your wrist must be straight. It is very important that your wrist does not bend inwards when you play. The reason you do this is so that you avoid your thumb or palm touching the neck of your instrument while you are playing. What you may wonder is what your left arm does while this is going on. It should be placed under the back of the instrument. If you have done this properly then you should not be able to see it while you are playing.

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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