Violin Lesson; Relaxation Techniques

Techniques to help reduce left hand and neck tension.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Todd
• Ehle
• violin

[MrJquirit]

Hi prof V, your videos are so sound and practical and I commend you for your unselfish work in sharing so many good technical advise. I also am a violin teacher and a retired concertmaster of the Australian Philharmonic Orchestra which I served for 30 years! I studied with Dorothy Delay and I too struggle a lot teaching students even at University level to do simple things. I still believe that teaching is like re learning the instrument all over again. You have an aural of coolness in you ! J

[professorV]

Very pleased to know you, MrJquirit. Thank you for the very kind and interesting comment. TE

[davisjose100]

Hello my name is Davis.

I have been watching your videos for quite sometime and today i had my first lesson.Can you give me any advice to get a good bowing action?

[maryam0psy]

i press my thumb against the violin and keep it there as point of refference for my first finger on the fingerboard

[creativedreamers]

I also want to thank you:-) I have a neck injury and have trouble with tension in the shoulders and neck after long rehearsals or performances. These techniques are useful and practical to improve playing and comfort. Bless you!!!

[crabbywabbysu]

Thank you, thank you, thank you... I used to be very good at violin but caught some bad habits... and as I continued to learn my shoulder would hurt with a tremendous amount of pain- so I gave up (for about half a year). I just took it back up with the idea of starting from the very beginning, this time with relaxed shoulders. I really like your paper and belt idea!

[spingirl1961]

These are awesome ideas! I started playing 4 years ago (at age 46!) and tension in my neck is my worst problem. I've had whiplash twice, and have terrible muscle spasms in my neck. My ortho specialist actually suggested I find another instrument to play, but I just can't give up my beautiful violin. If a belt around my shoulder makes it possible for me to play until I'm dead, I'm all for it!

[sarahekiefer]

I wish I would have known this before I got my tendinitis. In order to have relaxation in the shoulders and the head the shoulder rest and chin rest have to be high enough also.

[GrupaNIT]

Hi professor! I'm Ivana, from Serbia. I play violin 10 years, but I learned by myself. Nobody taught me. 4 years ago I took classes, but I was disapointed. For 6 month I was learning how to hold a bow, and in other 6 month I did exercises for left hand. When I started to play with both hands, teacher said that everything is bad, and after that I made a break. Now I play again, but I don't have technique. You can listen on my channel. What can I do by myself? I don't have money to take classes.

[kochi125452]

I hate to bother you but I have a quick question, you're an exellent musician so I figured you'd know. How can I train my eyes to follow the music as I play? I've been trying to figure it out for a very long time now, and I'm afraid it's a major set back as an aspiring violinist.

[StephaneGrappelli]

Excelent solution I have been looking for these for ever so long!!!

[darkshadows106]

professorV, thank you very much for posting this video. I've been struggling all year trying to figure out why I can't play to my capability. At first, I knew it had something to do with my shoulder rest, but I couldn't figure out what the problem was. When I saw 1:32 and beyond, I learned that I just needed to move the larger side of my shoulder rest closer to the f hole to keep balance, and now I can do the no-thumb technique with vibrato and even more alongside. :)