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...
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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
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.
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!
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!!
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.
@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.
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.
@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.
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.
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!
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.
Beth, your channel is and has been the best. I’ve struggled not to squeeze the neck for years, always causing me to quit my studies, only to begin again. I practice using my right 1st & 2nd fingers as the neck in my left hand. I can drop my left fingers down with lots of force and I NEVER squeeze the thumb. But when I try with my violin, alas! I squeeze the Devil out of the neck. Any suggestions to help a 74 year old violinist? Thank you. William
@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!!
@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.
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.
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.
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 ?
@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!
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.
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.
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
@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.
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!
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.
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.
Wow. I have been trying to figure out how to stop "bending" the strings. That is essentially what you're talking about. I am having an almost impossible time trying to correct this. I've been playing for almost 25 years & I am NOT happy with my sound. I LOVE the chin rest I'm using but it may not be the right one for me. I'll have to experiment.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Thank you for all these videos. I am a late-age violin beginner who was taught classical piano. So far I am disappointed with lessons because I am in many ways a 'backwards' student - my ear is already trained, I can sight read music, but my coordination, etc., is not good. No assigned music yet & just repeatedly doing scales (bought scale exercise books; he said I'm not ready yet) and pre-ordained double stop positions I feel like I'm just kind of drifting. Patience is growing thin...
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 -_-
For people not using shoulder rests, there is not really a full holding the violin between chin and shoulder (only). The left hand is involved to some degree in the "holding". Can you say something about this for those not using shoulder rest and need to use the left hand for some support, though and with no tension.
This is some times the case, but such a player will have a very hard time shifting, adjusting pitch, etc. This is why fiddlers can get away with it-- they have no need to get up the fingerboard.
Dear Beth, I have just started to play the violin and I find your video's really useful! I''m a short woman and I play a 7/8 violin. I find it difficult to reach the G-string. I was wondering whether a shoulder rest like the one you use could help me. Which brand of shoulder rest do you use? It seems to be different from the common shoulder rest I find. Thanks for your answer!
Hi Beth, thanks for this wonderful channel. Squeezing is something I've always struggled with. An additional problem I have is that my hands always get really sweaty, which makes the thumb skin slippery and takes away this natural adhesion you are referring to. Any additional tips here? Thank you!
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?
Dear Beth ...I turn 60 yrs. old next month. I am slowly learning the scales. Unfortunately life has not been good to me. Between working in the underground coal industry in WV and sand mining here in SC I have acquired 3 surgeries on my neck and throat. One was to fuse my cervical disks at C5 AND C6. One to repair one was to repair damage to my TMJ from boxing, and the 3rd was to remove 4 benign tumors. I also have had my rt. wrist fused from a crush injury in mining. Everybody suggests that I take up something else for a hobby, but I love playing the violin. My biggest problem at present is I am grasping the violin with my left hand. I have tried many different shoulder holder devices. I saw a device online that is a round sponge material with 2 large rubber bands for attaching to the instrument. I was wondering if you have ever heard of such a thing? BTW please keep up the good work. I have watched about a dozen sites online that holds lessons. YOURS is best of all.
If you haven't yet, you might consider whether your chinrest is a good fit for you. It should fit like a glove and hold the violin close to your body's center or gravity so you don't have to grasp it. Sadly, most chinrests that come with violins are made for mutants and perpetuate slipping, violin hickies, tweaked necks etc.! Personally, and with students, I've found that getting a well fitting chinrest makes an incredible difference! Night and day!! There are some folks in VA who specialize in fitting chin rests, Lynne Dening and Gary Frisch. You might look them up. After that, I think a matching shoulder rest or pad, if you choose to use one, can come pretty easily. I like the Wolf shoulder rests personally because you can bend them to suit your anatomy, and pads like you describe can be great for many. I toured through WV last year and made some great friends in Elkins and Romney. Good luck to you!
Do you know of any exercises for a right wrist problem? I broke my right wrist 3 months ago, and it is still stiff in spite of my self made and BASICS Book choices for making it work. I really really need some great right wrist exercises, though, and am wondering if you have any insight into fixing this problem.
This may sound weird and maybe is a bit off-topic... But as a beginner I use my left thumb to know if I am in tone and thats why I always end up with a tense thumb to make sure that I am not moving my hand from the right spot.
When playing without a shoulder rest and placing the violin on you collar bone you will need to support more with the left hand as far as I understand it.
@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.
owwww!!! please correct what you said in the second minute! ''you can not vibrate or shift if you hold the violin with your left hand'' !!!!! As a baroque violinist or even modern violinist I can show you very simple how to press less (your chin on the violin and your shoulder bringing higher!) and balance holding the violin between your chin and your left hand! you can do whatever you want in this position and the benefit is that you never have to press so much and create injuries or pain! this way I am talking about (which is for sure the method of old violinists) has no disadvantage and harm to your body and specially no damage to the sound! YES! when you are pressing some parts of your body, this tension influences the sound and the way you play! Greetings!
I agree Maestra; all my temporary instrumentation instructors, always told me it was good to want to learn many instruments, however, when you teach yourself, you pick up a lot of bad habits which are difficult to get rid of, once you start getting formal lessons. I learned this too late, but now that I'm older and trying to learn the violin from the beginning (meaning, no bad habits, since I never tried to learn it on my own), my hands are all arthritic and deformed; my shoulders ache after I'm done practicing, and having been in the healthcare field... if you don't use the right technique for the instrument you want to learn, you may end up with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, amongst other things!
True, violin is not easy on the body and the older we get, the more taxing it is. You can always lean the end of the scroll against the wall for support. I do that when my neck starts to feel tired.
I was lowering my thumb closer to the center of the neck as though in a higher position. By lowering the thumb closer to the middle it seemed to remove much of my tendency to squeeze the neck to the side of my hand in a v, but I still wonder if I'm not pinching a bit between thumb in the middle part of the back of the neck and the top of the violin with the fingers. Thoughts? This position is similar to how a classical guitarist would fret a note.
I like the way you get very detailed in your descriptions. The more detail the better BUT I suggest you give a musical example for every concept you are describing For me a musical example would hold my attention where as to much verbalization Becomes a bit abstract and does not hold my attention. I want to see the application in practice.
ive been playing for 17 years and have stuggled with not being able to progress for years!! I know I am too tense, i am squeezing with my left hand, supporting my violin with my left hand, I can not do proper vibrato, etc, etc, etc, im now having neck problems and back problems. I give violin lessons, and i am seeing that my students are picking up MY BAD HABITS!!!!! this is sooo very discouraging!! i have been doing different exercises for what seems like forever and its like I can not overcome
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!
Greetings, Beth! I'm a 13 year old girl who is starting to play violin and all of your videos are such a big help! can you please help me with my problem? when I hold the violin using my shoulder and chin, it never feels so comfortable and my chin hurts all the time. I guess I dont have any choice but to squeeze.. what should I do? :(
HOLA UNA CONSULTA EN QUE CONSISTE EL PAGAR EN SU PAGINA WEB ESQUE ESTOY MUY INTERESADO PERO EMPIZO DE CERO Y SU TUTORIAL ESTA EXELENTE ESPERO SU RESPUESTA GRACIAS
Hi there! What chin rest do you recommend I get and where did you get yours? I've recently bought a Bon Musica shoulder rest on your recommendation and it's great! (I'm a beginner who has only played for 3 months and I have an old shoulder nerve injury I have to be wary of so this stuff is really important for me). Many thanks for all your fantastic videos!
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?
Yes. This is a problem with my inability to learn vibrato. I can successfully do these exercises while I am holding the violin with space between my finger and the neck of the violin, but everything deteriorates when I must turn and look at the sheet music. Them, the violin slips and I must grasp the side of the neck. Shifting presents no problem, however.
why did you screw the bolt (I mean the one which is on the chest-side of the shoulderrest) all the way in? I thought that it would be better to screw it out, to make the violin more horizontal.
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.
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.
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.
Thanks! Always enjoy your videos and how you present such important information
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.
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!
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.
Wow, the strength of the hook curve of a clothes hanger... I was pleasantly surprised that this idea instantly helped me! Thank you!!
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.
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.
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!
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. 😅
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!
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
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.
I think this explanation is the most logic and resonable why we feel tension on left hand
I am really benefited by your teachings. Please go on. Thank you a lots.
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!
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!!
By the way......your student's are so lucky have YOU as a teacher !
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.
So exciting to watch your explaining about the mechanics of the thumb! Thank you so much!
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 :)
As a member of your target audience, let me say "thanks;" it has helped a great deal!
The Violin Lab videos are so well made, and informative!
@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.
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.
@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.
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.
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!
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.
Beth Blackerbee, your video has helped me alot
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.
Beth, your channel is and has been the best. I’ve struggled not to squeeze the neck for years, always causing me to quit my studies, only to begin again. I practice using my right 1st & 2nd fingers as the neck in my left hand. I can drop my left fingers down with lots of force and I NEVER squeeze the thumb. But when I try with my violin, alas! I squeeze the Devil out of the neck. Any suggestions to help a 74 year old violinist? Thank you. William
I am a 8 year old girl practicing vibrato with my 1st finger. I think this tip really helps me. Thanks!
@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!!
ty for reducing my left hand and fingers tension :) this is the best video i've found
Great video. Very instructive on holding the violin.
@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.
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.
Excellent video!
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.
Once again, thanks for a very useful instruction.
I like ur videos ur a Good teacher!! thank you and GOD BLESS U!!
are u saved?
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 ?
@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!
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.
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.
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
@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.
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!
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.
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.
Wow. I have been trying to figure out how to stop "bending" the strings. That is essentially what you're talking about. I am having an almost impossible time trying to correct this. I've been playing for almost 25 years & I am NOT happy with my sound. I LOVE the chin rest I'm using but it may not be the right one for me. I'll have to experiment.
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!
Very well explained. 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.
You are a great help. Thank you for doing great things. Take good care.
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.
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!
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 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.
Thank you for all these videos. I am a late-age violin beginner who was taught classical piano. So far I am disappointed with lessons because I am in many ways a 'backwards' student - my ear is already trained, I can sight read music, but my coordination, etc., is not good. No assigned music yet & just repeatedly doing scales (bought scale exercise books; he said I'm not ready yet) and pre-ordained double stop positions I feel like I'm just kind of drifting. Patience is growing thin...
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 -_-
you are a great teacher, thank you
For people not using shoulder rests, there is not really a full holding the violin between chin and shoulder (only). The left hand is involved to some degree in the "holding". Can you say something about this for those not using shoulder rest and need to use the left hand for some support, though and with no tension.
This is some times the case, but such a player will have a very hard time shifting, adjusting pitch, etc. This is why fiddlers can get away with it-- they have no need to get up the fingerboard.
Boa tarde tudo bem? Gostei dos teus vídeos só faltou a legenda. I live in Brazil.
Dear Beth,
I have just started to play the violin and I find your video's really useful! I''m a short woman and I play a 7/8 violin. I find it difficult to reach the G-string. I was wondering whether a shoulder rest like the one you use could help me. Which brand of shoulder rest do you use? It seems to be different from the common shoulder rest I find.
Thanks for your answer!
I love your videos! You help me a lot. Please tell me about your shoulder rest.. it's a Wolf?
Hi Beth, thanks for this wonderful channel. Squeezing is something I've always struggled with. An additional problem I have is that my hands always get really sweaty, which makes the thumb skin slippery and takes away this natural adhesion you are referring to. Any additional tips here? Thank you!
beautiful lesson!
Thank you a lot for your help! It is so clear!
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?
Dear Beth ...I turn 60 yrs. old next month. I am slowly learning the scales. Unfortunately life has not been good to me. Between working in the underground coal industry in WV and sand mining here in SC I have acquired 3 surgeries on my neck and throat. One was to fuse my cervical disks at C5 AND C6. One to repair one was to repair damage to my TMJ from boxing, and the 3rd was to remove 4 benign tumors. I also have had my rt. wrist fused from a crush injury in mining. Everybody suggests that I take up something else for a hobby, but I love playing the violin. My biggest problem at present is I am grasping the violin with my left hand. I have tried many different shoulder holder devices. I saw a device online that is a round sponge material with 2 large rubber bands for attaching to the instrument. I was wondering if you have ever heard of such a thing? BTW please keep up the good work. I have watched about a dozen sites online that holds lessons. YOURS is best of all.
If you haven't yet, you might consider whether your chinrest is a good fit for you. It should fit like a glove and hold the violin close to your body's center or gravity so you don't have to grasp it. Sadly, most chinrests that come with violins are made for mutants and perpetuate slipping, violin hickies, tweaked necks etc.! Personally, and with students, I've found that getting a well fitting chinrest makes an incredible difference! Night and day!! There are some folks in VA who specialize in fitting chin rests, Lynne Dening and Gary Frisch. You might look them up. After that, I think a matching shoulder rest or pad, if you choose to use one, can come pretty easily. I like the Wolf shoulder rests personally because you can bend them to suit your anatomy, and pads like you describe can be great for many. I toured through WV last year and made some great friends in Elkins and Romney. Good luck to you!
DAVE WAYNE I started when I was 68.
Do you know of any exercises for a right wrist problem? I broke my right wrist 3 months ago, and it is still stiff in spite of my self made and BASICS Book choices for making it work.
I really really need some great right wrist exercises, though, and am wondering if you have any insight into fixing this problem.
This may sound weird and maybe is a bit off-topic... But as a beginner I use my left thumb to know if I am in tone and thats why I always end up with a tense thumb to make sure that I am not moving my hand from the right spot.
@saiplayer2525 It would be CGDAE, whereas the viola is CGDA. If u have 5 strings violin, adapt the finger setting of C string from viola.
how come there aren't any videos teaching how to play the violin without a shoulder rest.
When playing without a shoulder rest and placing the violin on you collar bone you will need to support more with the left hand as far as I understand it.
@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.
owwww!!! please correct what you said in the second minute! ''you can not vibrate or shift if you hold the violin with your left hand'' !!!!!
As a baroque violinist or even modern violinist I can show you very simple how to press less (your chin on the violin and your shoulder bringing higher!) and balance holding the violin between your chin and your left hand! you can do whatever you want in this position and the benefit is that you never have to press so much and create injuries or pain! this way I am talking about (which is for sure the method of old violinists) has no disadvantage and harm to your body and specially no damage to the sound! YES! when you are pressing some parts of your body, this tension influences the sound and the way you play!
Greetings!
I agree Maestra; all my temporary instrumentation instructors, always told me it was good to want to learn many instruments, however, when you teach yourself, you pick up a lot of bad habits which are difficult to get rid of, once you start getting formal lessons. I learned this too late, but now that I'm older and trying to learn the violin from the beginning (meaning, no bad habits, since I never tried to learn it on my own), my hands are all arthritic and deformed; my shoulders ache after I'm done practicing, and having been in the healthcare field... if you don't use the right technique for the instrument you want to learn, you may end up with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, amongst other things!
True, violin is not easy on the body and the older we get, the more taxing it is. You can always lean the end of the scroll against the wall for support. I do that when my neck starts to feel tired.
I am too late. But you are very beautiful of course your teaching style marvellous. Hats, hair and wigs off to you. 🎻🤗
I was lowering my thumb closer to the center of the neck as though in a higher position. By lowering the thumb closer to the middle it seemed to remove much of my tendency to squeeze the neck to the side of my hand in a v, but I still wonder if I'm not pinching a bit between thumb in the middle part of the back of the neck and the top of the violin with the fingers. Thoughts? This position is similar to how a classical guitarist would fret a note.
I like the way you get very detailed in your descriptions.
The more detail the better
BUT
I suggest you give a musical example for every concept you are describing
For me a musical example would hold my attention where as to much verbalization
Becomes a bit abstract and does not hold my attention.
I want to see the application in practice.
Thank you for the information... Awesome.. Question, where can I buy the chinrest that you have?..
ive been playing for 17 years and have stuggled with not being able to progress for years!! I know I am too tense, i am squeezing with my left hand, supporting my violin with my left hand, I can not do proper vibrato, etc, etc, etc, im now having neck problems and back problems. I give violin lessons, and i am seeing that my students are picking up MY BAD HABITS!!!!! this is sooo very discouraging!! i have been doing different exercises for what seems like forever and its like I can not overcome
I have the same shoulder pad! And I must say its the best ever.
It might. Is this happening on all positions on the G string, or just fourth? Do you feel it on other strings as well?
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!
Greetings, Beth!
I'm a 13 year old girl who is starting to play violin and all of your videos are such a big help! can you please help me with my problem? when I hold the violin using my shoulder and chin, it never feels so comfortable and my chin hurts all the time. I guess I dont have any choice but to squeeze.. what should I do? :(
Wow.. suddenly vibrato is much easier and better !!!
Thank you very much!
HOLA UNA CONSULTA EN QUE CONSISTE EL PAGAR EN SU PAGINA WEB ESQUE ESTOY MUY INTERESADO PERO EMPIZO DE CERO Y SU TUTORIAL ESTA EXELENTE ESPERO SU RESPUESTA GRACIAS
Hi there! What chin rest do you recommend I get and where did you get yours? I've recently bought a Bon Musica shoulder rest on your recommendation and it's great! (I'm a beginner who has only played for 3 months and I have an old shoulder nerve injury I have to be wary of so this stuff is really important for me). Many thanks for all your fantastic videos!
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?
Yes. This is a problem with my inability to learn vibrato. I can successfully do these exercises while I am holding the violin with space between my finger and the neck of the violin, but everything deteriorates when I must turn and look at the sheet music. Them, the violin slips and I must grasp the side of the neck. Shifting presents no problem, however.
Great video
why did you screw the bolt (I mean the one which is on the
chest-side of the shoulderrest) all the way in?
I thought that it would be better to screw it out, to make the violin more horizontal.