mardi 25 novembre 2014

Achieving Perfect Violin Hand Posture

By Ora Dickson


The right posture is crucial when learning any skill especially instrumentation. This is the aspect that allows you to achieve balance. This can be achieved by ensuring that you distribute your weight evenly on both feet when standing. The right violin hand posture will affect intonation, shifting, bow stroke, vibrato and tone, among other instrumentation aspects.

It is crucial to achieve balance in order to lengthen the time you perform or practice. The distance between your right and left foot should be shoulder-width when standing. This is the right pose to lengthen your spine and ensure that you stand tall. A professional pose keeps you off fatigue and allows you to play longer.

Slouching is dangerous because it will lead to very serious problems. The issues that arise out of slouching affects how you hold the instrument and your bowing position. Students are advised to practice under the instructions of a professional. Where this is not possible, a mirror will do the trick. It is necessary to identify the professional pose before perfecting it with the assistance of a mirror.

Students are encouraged to focus on the desired position before learning to play any instrument. Capturing basic skills is important in the mastery of skills as you seek to become a professional player. The standing position captures the essentials and should precede the sitting position for any instrument. The other aspects of achieving professional level are easy to attain with a proper pose.

Playing the violin at a standing position gives you a lengthened feeling. It is easier to achieve balance as you play. Balance is a major challenge for students during instrumentation. Learners who make this a priority find it easier to attain professional level of instrumentation.

Learners of violas, basses and violins make a common mistake of crossing their legs during practice or performance. It is common to see others overburdening one foot by using the wrong position. The aspects that will suffer due to wrong positioning include the length of bowing, finger movement and duration of practice or performance. You will easily get tired during performance. Slouching is another mistake that mainly affects the upper body. Any skill, and especially instrumentation, is easy to master when the basics are right.

The best approach when learning is to view instrumentation as a physical skill above the musical skill you seek to acquire. This is followed by emphasis on the right position over the first month of practice or initial sessions. Students should be made aware of the role played by sound in an instrumental setting. The rush to play the first song should not obscure achieving the correct pose.

Though the weight should be distributed evenly between the two feet, the right foot carries more than the left. This is done by placing it slightly to the front. If the session is long, weight shifting is advisable where you alternate the leg that is in front. It helps you relax the muscles and therefore play or practice longer.

Achieving the right position makes it easier to learn the other skills. The maiden songs, that are the primary focus of most parents and teachers, will be easier and rapid to get. This is the easiest way to master advanced skills. It forms part of the basics upon which all the other aspects are built.




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