Violin Lesson #28; Finding 3rd Position in Vivaldi A Minor

[TheGracewyh]

Hi Professor V, I am having difficulty getting used to all the different positions, like the 2nd, 3rd and 4th position. I cannot remember what notes I'm playing whenever I shift from position to position. Any advise on what kind of violin exercises I should be practising?

[twixdagr8]

u dont luk like a violinist....

[8palmsofpower]

That was extremely helpful, thankyou so much. Now I can't wait for my next practise tommorrow!

[XxkawaiiwriterxX]

Oh my god u make this so easy!!! Unlike some other people who made me lost after like 30 seconds, using big music jargon & all. Thanks so much!!

[hpept]

I´m having a hard time to get through this passage keeping in pitch. Your explanation helped alot!

[JackGuan]

I like it in the end when you say "have fun finding 3rd position" you are my hero

[MocchaKupo]

Ahh.. Question (*raises hand*) my private teacher is teaching me but it seems im having a hard time playing and its taking me alot of time getting it.. i dont wanna sound retarted but how long does it take to get used to 3rd Position?? because now that im in high school most of the songs we play r kinda easier to play dat way.. = / and another Question is there any trick or advice in playing it in D and G strings???

[professorV]

Hi MocchaKupo, I'd advise you to play your third finger in first position, on any string, and then try to sing the note (yes, with your voice). Once you can hear it well enough to match the pitch, try replacing the 3rd finger with the first (you awill now be in 3rd position). Since you've been working on matching pitch, you'll know when you are out of tune. Do it every day until it becomes easy. Good luck!

[MocchaKupo]

Thank you so much ill work on it...!!

[MocchaKupo]

@professorV

thank you so much... and also thank you for posting your videos they are very helpful = )

[LuisXVILostSoul]

Me encantaria que esto estuviera subtitulado al español

[mfelzien]

hallelujah you rosined your bow! (humor)

How about teaching Kreutzer with Flesch emphasis?

[boniescarlett]

thank you this helps so much my wholfhart book didnt tell me anything about third position

[animemangagoddess]

For the shifting, I thought it was first finger, half step to two, half step to three, and fourth finger touches the third.

[finalmax99]

thank yo professorV, it reli helps

[thenortons15]

instructing the student to keep the 1st finger on the violin to create the shift-slide is important, most students forget this vital part of shifting. very good video, i'm just beginning to add teaching via online videos and it's useful for home practice!

[fdapproved16]

wow, u make everything sound so easy!!i tried it for like 3 weeks now and it's kinda beginning to take effect on me. thx 4 posting the video! None of the people in my orchestra class ( i play the viola) r really good at third position and they make this horrifying squeaky noise when ever they shift to like fourth and third position. I'm on susuki book 3 so yeah.

[merrowband]

The muscle below my thumb hurts like hell when I play that Vivaldi piece. Am I the first to come to you with this problem?

Thanks :)

[fraggleferret]

Poor thumb! You're not alone, though! Your thumb must be pressing against the neck quite hard! Try playing it without touching your thumb to the neck at all! Then practice with the thumb touching, but see how gently it can touch the neck as you play. Squeezing with your thumb will not only lead to thumb pain, but also to difficult shifting, vibrato problems, and will slow down your fingers! Practice scales and shifts in third position with your thumb just barely touching. Good luck!

[merrowband]

Thanks for replying! And spot-on, my friend: I have all those problems. So basically what you're saying is that I shouldn't need my thumb to play at all? It's so hard for me not to squeeze it :(

[fraggleferret]

Yes, you should be able to play the vivaldi without using your thumb at all. It won't be easy, but it should be do-able. One more suggestion: if just trying to lighten up your thumb pressure is not working, try instead to change what PART of your thumb you touch to the neck. Do not allow the 'pad' of your thumb to touch the neck. Only allow the inner SIDE of your thumb to touch. This should automatically reduce squeezing problems.

[fraggleferret]

A hint for the above: Put a sticker on the pad of your thumb. Then while you're playing, make sure you can SEE the sticker as your are playing. The sticker should be facing YOU, not squished against the violin neck, because only the SIDE of your thumb will be on the neck. Check also that: your violin is sufficiently "out" to the side, the your left elbow is sufficiently under the violin, and that your left thumb is not sticking up above the fingerboard, and that your left wrist is straight

[Jorgeoporco]

Thanks for your tips!

(I'm the same person)

Do you use MSN Messenger or something? I could sure use someone to talk to about this stuff :P

[emilywilliams420]

yeah it was hard for me to not learn to squeeze my thumb but i just practiced it over and over, and it made it much easier to do vibrato. how's violin going?

[OnAMushkin73]

At least you're listening to your body when you play. Most people ignore these obvious signs that something is wrong and end up years later with cramps and tendonitis that ends their musical career/hobby.

I've been playing for 13 years and still have to be aware of those problems. The worst thing you can do is OVER practice. Be sure to take breaks and not to go over the same passages for too long. Repetitive motion disorder is more than just an occupational hazard!

[Sortilegio1000]

!!OnAmushkin73, c'est n'est pas la faute au Violon tous ces problémes, mais si vous le dit, c'est mieux jouer 5 minutes par jours, comme ça n'est s'abimes pas les muscles, c'est en peu comme les jeux Video, il faut faire attention c'est tout!! Bon continuation

[Skrizatch]

These videos are extremely helpful and easy to use... I have been playing for about the equivalent of about 4-5 years (on and off) and one obstacle I met and could never pass was my positioning (i.e. 2nd half of the D scale) and all I had to do was find your 2 videos on position try your tricks and now I'm landing in 4th position without trying Thanks a TON!

[amoradif]

Hi ProfessorV,

Thank you so much. I have learnt a lot from you.

[thurmonator]

My sound tends to get muffled the higher the position I'm in. How do I get the same intonation in 3rd, 4th, etc as I do in 1st?

[viel011]

oohh my teacher taught me the first part of the concerto but she left so uhh I used videos and audios to learn the other parts X) you're a greaat help!!

[charmom]

Hi

i am in book 4 suzuki but i just played a solo from the rcm. I am playing this same song for a solo and i am playing the 3rd movement from vivaldi...can you give me some suggestions?

Please watch my video

[violinspieler]

Thanks for the lesson. It's really helpful.

[violaplayer1995]

professor i speak spanish so if u wanna kno what danielpaganini is saying i will be glad to turn it into english :] hes saying that it would really help him alot if you put subtitles in spanish (not that i kno how you woud do that lol) but yea. anyways THANK YOU and i plan sending you another video of me playing!

[danielpaganini]

hey seria bueno que lo pusieras subtitulado al spañol me ayudaria mucho de verdad si lo haces te lo agradeseria gracias cuidense

[3wheelfleetwood]

wow great

[himster22]

Great videos.. I'm learning..THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!

[danielcarrol12]

That was really helpful!!!!!! THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!

[professorV]

Hi danielcarrol12, thanks for letting me know it helped!

[simplyme782]

Hi i've been playing for only 6 months and was curious about 3rd position so I tried what you said and really suprised myself your a great teacher!

[carlosulm]

Great videos. I'm learning how to play violin, and your videos are helping me much more than my actual teacher. Thanks for your time.

[professorV]

You're welcome.

[Linuxica]

Great!

I have that partiture!!

Thank you!

[professorV]

You bet - good luck!

TE