'OFFICIAL' How to Play the VIOLIN - Lesson 1

[karenbaloo]

I played violin when I was in 3rd-5th grade and I've always wanted to pick it back up again. I was on the fence about whether or not I could do this without taking expensive lessons and figuring out when I would ever find time to do that during business hours. Your initial tutorial here reminded me of how easy it would be to take "refresher" lessons on my computer late at night... thank you for convincing me that I could venture into this little wish of mine! <3

[theonlinepianotutor]

@karenbaloo well im pleased you are getting back into the violin again! Its like riding a bike and you never totally forget, so i suspect most of the information im giving you is just refreshing your memory as you say and hopefully as you follow the rest of the lessons (more coming very soon) you will soon find yourself in the swing of things!! Alison :)

[maya25891]

Is it okay that I feel all the pressure on my little finger when I'm holding the bow?? It's the only finger that actually hurts

[theonlinepianotutor]

@maya25891 Yes and no - without seeing your hand, I wonder whether you are not tilting your hand as I mention in the video? Set up your fingers as I say, then just tilt towards the index finger. This should just leave the little finger to counter balance the bow. The little finger should feel some pressure, but not so much that it hurts! Try tilting and give that a go for a week perhaps, then if it still hurts come back to me and we can try something else. :)

[MultiColouredVagina]

I have had 7 years experience of playing violin and i have always been told not to lift up your shoulder because it restrains your arm movement.

[theonlinepianotutor]

@MultiColouredVagina There are various ways of holding the violin, but personally I choose not to use a shoulder rest as I find that it restricts my movements. I also do not want anything taking away from the sound reverberating from my violin. By not using a shoulder rest I therefore have to lift my shoulder to secure the violin under my chin. I find this does not restrain my arm movement & allows me to play with vibrato at varying speeds whilst being able to move into positions freely.

[maya25891]

I'm so glad that you're making violin tutorials now. Thank you so much :)

[theonlinepianotutor]

@maya25891 You're welcome! Look out for many more to come! :)