jeudi 18 décembre 2014

Having The Right Violin Wrist Position Is Vital

By Lucia Weeks


Learning a musical instrument is nice. The elemental basis for adept string musicians begins with learning the model viola or violin wrist position. Severe faults can follow from a failure to master the precise position. A buckling of the wrist pulls a musician's fingers out of the correct alignment, placing extreme tension on the tendons of a violinist and has a propensity to instigate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Curved fingers and a wrist that remains straight are essential.

Mastering this modus operandi is essential for musicians wanting to become accomplished. Many all-time classic musical pieces depend greatly on a gifted string section. Renowned composers including Mozart orchestrated much of their greatest work with violins at the forefront. "A Little Nightmusic" (Eine Kleine Nachtmusik) by Mozart is uncomplicated and graceful.

Symphony No. 7 in A Major is another eternal classic which has violins at the heart of Ludwig van Beethoven's characteristic composition. The magnificent and amazing Beethoven symphonies deserve their reputation as being illustrative of the utmost artistic creativeness the West has ever witnessed. Samuel Barber instils ardour and tragedy into his poignant "Adagio for Strings"; regarded as the most emotional section of his "String Quartet, Op. 11".

The incomparable melodies of the strings add so much to the sophistication and opulence of "Symphony No. 1 in C Major" by Johann Brahms. Countless wedding ceremonies would miss the special atmosphere created by Johann Pachelbel's Baroque-style violins for his "Canon in D Major". The soulful Romantic era melodies of "Serenade for Strings in C Minor" feature the delights of viola and string music characteristically composed and arranged by Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky.

Nigel Kennedy, the famous modern English musician, first entered a recording studio to play on Edward Elgar's "Violin Concerto" and helped enormously in bringing new audiences to appreciate classical music through his interpretations of Vivaldi's magnum opus "The Four Seasons" (with sales in excess of two million) as well as Elgar's Enigma Variations. Kennedy's talent on the instrument transcends musical fields; his instrumentals have also figured on the outstanding "Baba O'Riley" track from the album "Live at the Royal Albert Hall' by rock legends The Who. He also came together with the talents of Kate Bush for her song "Experiment IV".

One more example of a wonder-child whose music broke traditional moulds thanks to her idiosyncratic approach to using this instrument is Britain's Vanessa Mae. Not long afterwards, she chose to record her own unique fusion of musical styles, regularly being seen in rather scanty, raunchy attire in her promotional videos. Vanessa surprisingly uses two extremely disparate manners of instruments; an antique, acoustic Guadagini (reportedly costing her parents 250,000 pounds for their ten year old daughter) and the modern, rocky Zeta Jazz electric variety.

Every violinist needs thorough technique to play exceptional string music by superb composers including Shostakovich, Dvorak and Bach as it deserves to be heard. It is vital to become adept at correctly locating one's left wrist, hand, fingers and thumb. Intonation, tone and vibrato are all influenced by correct bearing and the manner with which the right hand grips the bow.

Different stances for playing when seated or standing may be just as significant for beginners as wrist position. Accurate hand position should be built up by the practise of using the pinkie finger to tap and strum. Correct instrument size is also crucial for youthful violinists.




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