12.8.14

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.

Some people may think this is obvious. Most people know you need to hold an instrument in a certain way in order to play it properly. As ever though what you should do in theory is not so simple when it comes to putting that theory into practise. It is important to learn proper posture as soon as possible, preferably before you tried to learn to play any music.

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!

There are a few basic steps to be aware of when positioning the instrument so that you can play it comfortably but also get the best possible quality of music while you are playing. With the first position your thumb ought to be roughly an inch from the nut and also you should touch the neck around the middle joint of the instrument. There should be enough of a gap around the lower part of your thumb and the base of your index finger to wiggle a pencil upwards and downwards.

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.

It is best to avoid positioning too low. This does not look very good. Furthermore it reduces smoothness of movement. As well looking less impressive it also makes it harder to project tone. While you are playing you should remember to look straight down. Never play with the left side of your chin on the chinrest.

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.

There are various ways you can improve your hand position and get the best posture while you play. The simplest way is to find private tutors in your local area. This will make it easier to eradicate any bad habits you may have picked up. There are also various online tuitions and video demonstrations can make it easier to develop your playing style and get the most from your instrument.




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