Left Hand Squeezing: How to Stop (Spanish and Portuguese Subtitles)
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- Опубликовано: 26 июл 2024
- Another video lesson from www.ViolinLab.com. Excessive squeezing with the left hand can certainly curb progress with left hand technique. Beth Blackerby, creator of Violin Lab offers tips and advice on fixing the problem.
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you don't understand how much i agree as a professional violist! I have been playing for 17 years and now play with a local symphony. I started to notice that iv picked up some bad habits from my section and one of them was this. i was wondering why my shifting seemed rigid, it came to the point where i could barley play sections. Anyhow, this wonderful lady is correct :)
As an experienced professional violinist(25years+ experience), I'm going to say that it is appropriate to "rest" the violin on the base of your left index finger at times. If you do not, by necessity, you will have tension in your neck and left shoulder, which can lead to physical pain and injury in the long run. However, what you say about the vibrato/shifting is accurate. The solution is this: you need to support the violin via the neck and shoulder much more when you shift or vibrate. You can relieve your neck and shoulder at times, by letting your violin "rest" on the base of your left index finger when you are not shifting or vibrating. By constantly switching the support back and forth between these two, you can avoid permanent tension in your left hand as well as neck/shoulder. It's a bit tricky, but is the most organic way that can help to avoid tension build-up in one area of your body. I hope this helps someone out there...
i am just trying to hold violin with my head and shoulder for a week,still couldnt help me hahahah i am mad
@@wolfie8748 no way, but you're Mozart!
@@gaaandal8626 Hahaha
Funny
Imma have to practice that....this sounds like a GEM!!
Instablaster.
This video is fantastic. Specifically the detailed discussion about the pad of the thumb and friction. That few minutes of information has improved my playing more than anything else anyone has told me. The amount of pressure your able to support with the friction in your thumb informs how hard to press on the strings, which has helped my vibrato immensely.
By the way......your student's are so lucky have YOU as a teacher !
Thank you. The bit about the skin of your thumb providing grip and counter-pressure was REALLY helpful. I've searched high and low for left hand advice and this is the only place I've seen that tip mentioned.
I think this explanation is the most logic and resonable why we feel tension on left hand
As a beginner this is my biggest issue to date. I have to consciously relax my thumb especially when learning something new, it automatically gets tight/squeezes until I realise and relax it. This video will help me out a lot... the 'skin stickiness' and the mental hook of a slight vertical movement of the thumb to counter the downward pressure of fingers on the string(s) will help me a lot I feel. Subscribed and looking forward to more of your videos. Thanks.
I am really benefited by your teachings. Please go on. Thank you a lots.
The Violin Lab videos are so well made, and informative!
Hi, just wanted to say your videos are great. I am just getting back into bowed instruments after a 20 some odd year affair with guitar, and I am finding them indispensable in knocking the cobwebs off. You are obviously a gifted teacher, thank you!
Thank you Beth. Growing up my mother couldn't afford a shoulder pad and I was always very tall and slim. I spent years compensating by nestling the neck in the groove of my left hand. 10 years after I left school I picked up the violin again and even with a shoulder rest I still kept my titan's grip on the neck. This video series has, tonight alone, improved the frequency of quality sound tremendously... Although the habit continues to resurface it's finally beginning to diminish!
hello! I just found these beautiful video and I'm already regretting not having discovered three years ago when I started violin lessons at the age of 24 years. Definitely would help with my training so far spent. Dear Beth, you have a talent in explaining the techniques of the violin. In your video I see passion and love for this magnificent violin. I can not wait to follow all the advice you've received. Thank you!
Your videos are really helpful! You talk about details that some students (like me) can't notice. Thank you a lot for this wonderful channel :)
Thank you, this is the topic I was looking for, because I've just started to vibrate and shift and I've found this exact problem about squeezing. I tried to explain it to my teachers but they told me some other different things. They didn't realize the real issue of my squeezing and they tried to let me focus on other things, like the position of the thumb, more or less below, or just bend more or less the entire hand, etc.
Your lesson is exaclty what I was expecting to ear from someone that experienced this issue, cause I felt my teachers didn't understand (maybe it was me to explain bad) or didn't know how to play around this.
Thank you SO much. I've been struggling with vibrato on my viola and yes, it turns out I had a death grip on the neck. Once I stopped squeezing, my wrist freed up to give me the range of motion I needed for the vibrato. I still have a ways to go for sound quality and for my muscles to get used to the movements, but it feels so good to feel like I'm progressing!
So exciting to watch your explaining about the mechanics of the thumb! Thank you so much!
I've been working on this exact issue to erase unnecessary squeezing in my left hand. And I very much appreciate your clear explanations on the mechanics about it. Now I understand the thumb isn't really holding the instrument but providing counter-pressure against finger placement. Thank you so much!!
As a member of your target audience, let me say "thanks;" it has helped a great deal!
Absolutely Brilliant lesson for me...as a mandolin player first, I clench and couldn't understand vibrato. The idea of how the thumb opposes turned on the lightbulb! Thank u!
Thanks! Always enjoy your videos and how you present such important information
Once again, thanks for a very useful instruction.
This was very illuminating, thank you. As a long term guitarist I am really struggling to adapt to the violin. It's a very steep learning curve with many counterintuitive things to do at once. The way you've explained the relationship between the thumb and fingers is really clear and might just be the breakthrough I need. Outstanding.
Teaching myself violin as a guitarist as well. 😅
Wow, the strength of the hook curve of a clothes hanger... I was pleasantly surprised that this idea instantly helped me! Thank you!!
Hi my name is jonathan I been learning violin for 7 years.Is wonderful to get to understand the process to dominated vibrato.thanks s million for your capacity to teach. You are the best, I have seen othertutorial videos,but your capacity and passioni is special. GOD bless you always.
You are a great help. Thank you for doing great things. Take good care.
Yes, I was referring to the size of the hand. My thumb sometimes has to go further under the neck so my 4th finger can comfortable reach as well.
Excellent, focused, and clear "shared instruction". Also, great tone ... from both the fiddle ... and the fiddler. Many thanks for such a very pleasant style of instruction.
Beth Blackerbee, your video has helped me alot
Great video. Very instructive on holding the violin.
Very nicely said and done. I have this exact problem too much tension and i hold the strings down with too much force and leave line impressions in my finger tips. I do hope to view more videos like this from you.
God bless You
for sharing what you know with others. May you play sweeter than ever
Excellent video!
You are a very good teacher! Thank you for the helpful lesson. I think I'll subscribe to violin lab when I (an elementary school teacher) get to summer vacation.
wow! been thinking about how to tackle this obvious beginner problem of mine and summed up so nicely. that's 13min of video and another month(s) of practice for me.
Thanks.
@nile012 You want a teacher who has an agenda for you. A good teacher can anticipate what your needs are and will know how to set you on that path. I would say a bad teacher is one who only reacts to what you've played without giving you specific ideas on how to practice and improve your technique. You don't want someone to just give you pieces to play, but one who thoroughly addresses and explains technique.
Your explanation is correct. At first my left hand was very defensive thinking that it is responsible for the support of the violin but after you explained that support must be on the shoulder and head, my left hand does not worry anymore in supporting the violin (very minimal only) at the same time I noticeed that my left hand relaxed tremenduously. In my case your explanation really helped. Thank you.
you are a great teacher, thank you
beautiful lesson!
Thank you SO much for this video. This is, of course, a BIG problem for me as an intermediate player (10yrs but started at age 17), and this video really served as a sort of epiphany for me. The 'twinkle twinkle' example combined with the thumb-sticking really REALLY worked well and I'm on my way to overcoming the urge to clutch. I can actually do a semi-tolerable vibrato now! :D
Definitely going to subscribe to the site on the weekend when I have time to sit down and watch it all. Thank you so much!
this is extremely helpful, thank you so much!
ty for reducing my left hand and fingers tension :) this is the best video i've found
amazing tutorial this is exactly how it should be done, when i started my teacher gave me my first shoulder rest made it so much easier playing, now i'm a great player and the key is use a nice shoulder rest to give you the freedom to just play the violin.. excellent
Very well explained. Thank you 😊
Helpfull tips. Thanks.
Thank you a lot for your help! It is so clear!
You are my savior, I'm starting violin and I've tried so many things and this is working. Now that it is clear in my head (it is a tiny shift downwards with the thumb) I am finally seeing improvement.
I was simply trying to squeeze less but in reality I had the wrong movement all together.
By luck I stumbled across your tutorial and it was very informative. But let me start by saying in all sincerity, You are Beautiful. Yes, I mean that physically and also personality wise. I'm married, so don't worry about me writing you everyday. Just every other. I've always wanted to play the Violin but don't devote any time to it. I was happy to see my son decide on the violin as his instrument of choice. Now he teaches me how to play. Thank You for taking the time to make these videos.
Great video
Excellent video thank you
@luboxing My shoulder rest is a Bon Musica, and I love it. It is by far the most adjustable one on the market. As for the sweating, I used to have that issue in college, and I became dependent on talcum powder. I would dust a little on my hand before playing. It took care of the problem, but like all dependencies, I finally forced myself to stop. Fortunately my hands don't sweat too badly, or else I manage it better now.
Thank you so much! I was so disturbed when I watched your vibrato video and realized I was doing this wrong. Thank you for posting this video and showing me how to correct the problem.
@aniaoleksik I play a 7/8 violin too, and have small hands. You'll have to bring your elbow further under the violin to play more comfortably on the G string. Best of Luck!!
Thanks for this one. I'm a fiddler and noticed that I squeeze the neck a bit when I play the higher notes on the E string. Thanks for informing me on the subtleties of what's happening with the thumb. It has helped a lot.
@xXTheBlackStarx It is almost impossible to break that habit if the violin is not supported well. I've tried many shoulder rests and found the bon musica to be the best. It hooks around the shoulder and is very pliable so you can bend it to fit your shoulder shape. Expensive, but worth it.
Wow, very helpful! VERY much.
@violinlab Thanks a lot; so pretty much I want a meticulous teacher who'll approach me by slowly observing my weaknesses and strengths and one who will give me in-depth ways to better my strengths and eliminate my weaknesses with a creative and well-informed explanation; overall I want a picky/discernful teacher, very much like yourself!
One thumb exercise I do is to press down a finger on the fingerboard, trying to keep my hand relaxed, then slide the thumb back and forth on the neck of the violin while keeping he rest of the hand motionless, but still pressing down on string. Makes you aware of the pressure being exerted by the thumb.
I like ur videos ur a Good teacher!! thank you and GOD BLESS U!!
are u saved?
Wow.. suddenly vibrato is much easier and better !!!
Thank you very much!
Clear and to details explain.. that way I love .. thank u'! Just go on..
I have the same shoulder pad! And I must say its the best ever.
Thank you very much 😊😊
I never thought clenching was wrong, I thought the soreness in my left hand was because I'm still learning.
And I didn't like the shoulder rest--I play a viola, which is wider than a violin so the shoulder rest pressed down on my chest, and I'm a girl, so it hurt.
Which is why this video is very helpful for me, from now on I'll be more mindful of my left hand grip and of my thumb :D Thanks!
very good indeed! their videos, lessons I'm learning a lot from it, I have a question! as I do to strengthen my left hand finger minimum, to get to the virbrato ?
Thanks a lot. Cheers.
I am a 8 year old girl practicing vibrato with my 1st finger. I think this tip really helps me. Thanks!
This helps me a lot
Thankyou. You have shown me the beginings of a science.....
@o0okgo0o Hi. Yes, viola technique and violin technique are 95% the same. Violists need to play more deeply into the string to get a full tone, but certainly all left technique is the same. I actually just interviewed a violists about the differences a few days ago and posted on my website at ViolinLab(dot)com. If you scroll down the thumbnails on left side of the page, you'll see the title "viola and violin: what's the difference". Hope it helps.
exactly the level of details and intuition i need, very much appreciated.
Question: any advices/videos from here or violinlab that don't suit me as a beginning viola player?
I am too late. But you are very beautiful of course your teaching style marvellous. Hats, hair and wigs off to you. 🎻🤗
It's amazing u the best
Thank you!!!
You have wonderful videos and your manner of teaching is perfect. I have always wanted to play violin and I'm so impressed by your instruction that I am going to become a member of your website next Friday (payday). I don't have a shoulder rest at present and have been trying to get my positioning without one, but with little success. I plan on trying out some different shoulder rests, but I also find that the chin rest that came with the violin is too small and awkward. Your chin rest looks much more comfortable, what kind is it? Thank you for all you generosity and artistry.
She is talking an Energy Conservation Technique to mantain adequate tension in the left hand. The concept is applicable in Occupational and Physical Therapy. I will use it with patients I treat.
Sweet, thanks.
Thank you Ms. Beth ^_^. I always look forward to your videos on youtube. My parents wont let me use their credit card for online purposes for fear of scams (sigh), so I cant convince them to pay for violinlab -_-
Thanks, I just found it!
Would that help to solve my "small hand and short fingers problems" with the G-string? I feel quite easy on other strings, but not on the G-string.
Once again thank you for your support!
gracias es usted muy genial papayesca :)
Thank you so much! I had been wondering and needed the confirmation as to the logic of doing vibrato. This way of holding it makes more sense. Adjust my shoulder rest and suddenly vibrato seemed possibly and I wasn't clenching the violin too hard like I wanna break my neck! > <
Get a thick piece of foam rubber and rubber band it under the violin. The rubber band will attach to the end button on one end and the left corner bout on the other end.
of course it is!
@anonymuis I have a video: Violin Vibrato: Slow Motion: Dos and Don'ts on my channel. Take a look at that. I show how squeezing the neck prohibits the vibrato motion.
You are amazing! :D
I love you teacher thank you so much!😚😚😚😚 i learned more
Thank you...♡♡♡
Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge. I like your videos and find them quite instructive.
Question: What is the Brand and model of the shoulder rest you are using on this video? I want to get one like that one.
Thanks.
thank U beth
gracias gracias gracias
Please correct me if I'm wrong.
To summarize this, the aim of this video is to learn how to hold the violin with the neck, shoulder, and the friction of the thumb's skin with the neck only, in order to prevent squeezing with the thumb.
By learning how to hold the violin like this properly, you'll minimize the hand tension and prevent possible injury when you force playing when squeezing is present.
I forgot to mention that many years after being in the healthcare professions, I developed allergy to Latex (of all things right?). When I started with the Violin, my eyes would start itching. I couldn't figure out why. However, I thought about what I was using, and it made sense when I figured that the Rosin (coming from a tree) triggered the itching and at times wheezing; so I have to premedicate and make sure I don't touch my eyes with my hands because I might aggravate the situation, with the rosin that adheres to my hands. I don't know if you have any students who complain about this, but it is something to keep in mind.
It's normal that your finger will touch the higher adjacent string, because the finger is on the left side of the violin therefore it will touch the strings to the right. But if you are putting the finger down equally on two strings, then there is something going wrong.
I am lefthanded too and it's no problem :) It's a adventage as it's better for your fingerplacement :)
Thank you soooo much🌹 that Was my Problem squeezing and exactly where the thumb Position is because I see some great violinist with higher Thema abd sone with thumb under the violin
I was a but confused...now playing is easier and Vibrato is finally coming
I must be the slowest vibrato learner in the world🤣some vibrate after 2 years
All the best!
I've seen so many people ranting about how you shouldn't use a shoulder rest and that none of the "master violinists" (they don't count modern violinists to be great if they use a shoulder rest it would seem) used shoulder rests. However, I have yet to come across someone who explains this proper technique of no shoulder rest that doesn't involve raising the shoulder and using some kind of clamping action between the chin and shoulder, which in my experience causes a lot of tension and pain. Now, obviously it has worked for violinists such as Heifetz, Stern, Ysaÿe, Oistrakh, etc did not use shoulder rests and were master violin players but I don't understand how they did it without causing tension! I've tried so many things and the concept of "balancing" the violin on the collarbone and using the weight of your head to just hold the violin in place but gosh it's a long way to drop your head down. I do have a very long neck so perhaps I'm just better off with the shoulder rest...
By the way, many of the violinists I love do use shoulder rests and I have always been a supporter of the shoulder rest but I'm curious about what the big deal is of not using one. I prefer the sound under my ear when I'm using one as well.
Well, remember, your playing for your audience( out there). Not under your ear...
I love your videos! You help me a lot. Please tell me about your shoulder rest.. it's a Wolf?
Boa tarde tudo bem? Gostei dos teus vídeos só faltou a legenda. I live in Brazil.
@aniaoleksik Beth is using Bonmusica shoulder rest
hoping to apply this tomorrow in playing in our church
Hi Beth, Thank you for the detailed explanations about le hand clenching. Can you address the issue with turning the le hand under the neck when moving the fingers to the e string? I see that with several students. Thank you!
hi, I've been playing the viola for about two years now and found your videos here on youtube and thought they were quite informative. Would some of your advise apply to the viola as well as the violin?