Tuesday, November 11, 2014

How To Achieve The Right Violin Hand Posture

By Ora Dickson


Perfecting all instruments highly depends on attaining and maintaining the professional posture. All string instruments heavily rely on balance. The basic principle is to ensure that when standing, all your weight is distributed evenly on both feet. Achieving the right violin hand posture affects vibrato, intonation, shifting, tone and bow stroke, among other aspects of instrumentation.

Proper balance ensures that you can practice longer or perform for an extended period of time. When at a standing position, your left foot should be shoulder width away from your right leg. This gives you a feeling of lengthened spine besides allowing you to stand tall. It is this trick that will allow you to play for long hours or have longer practice sessions.

The problems associated with slouching are numerous and will affect your bowing as well as how the instrument is held. The best way to achieve the desired position is to be guided by a professional when training. Practice sessions should be held in front of the mirror where a trainer is absent. The mirror only helps you achieve the desired position. There are graphical demonstrations that will simplify these positions.

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.

The common problems when learning violins, violas and basses include playing with your legs crossed. In the standing position, some learners will be caught placing most of their weight on one foot. This reduces your ability to bow the entire length, affects the movement of fingers and reduces the hours you can practice. The learner should avoid slouching which affects the upper body. You should ensure that you practice the right thing.

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.

Proper positioning makes it easy to advance your instrumentation skills. It makes learning of the first song as well as advancing the skills easier. It is the best shortcut to becoming a professional. All other aspects will be light work when the basics are mastered.




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