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Expect a Tutorial in Holding Your Violin During Your First Lesson

13 June 2022 by Samu Koskela

If you want to learn how to play the violin, it's a good idea to seek out a local teacher who can help you. While there are online resources for learning on your own, working with a teacher can result in consistent progress without the frustrations that can often occur when you don't have someone to answer your questions. Even if you're eager to begin learning some notes, your teacher will take a methodical approach that will likely begin with an in-depth tutorial on how to properly hold your violin. Here are some specific things that you'll learn.

Shoulder

You'll learn how to place the body of your violin on top of your shoulder. A lot of novices, particularly if they're trying to learn on their own, will make the mistake of holding their shoulder high and tense when the violin is on it. While you might be able to maintain this position for a short period of time, it will soon lead to fatigue and discomfort. Your violin teacher will explain and show you how to keep your shoulder relaxed. As you begin to learn the basics of this instrument, you'll likely want to practice extensively. A relaxed shoulder will allow you to do so without any issues.

Neck and Chin

When you have the body of your violin placed on your shoulder, you'll learn how to position your chin on the chinrest of the instrument. This is the dark-colored, curved plastic device that is affixed to the top side of the violin's body. For a beginner, it can be easy to push the head forward and downward to make firm contact with the chin against the chinrest. This is another position that you'll want to avoid, as it will undoubtedly lead to fatigue and muscle soreness. You'll learn how to keep your neck muscles loose so that you can gently place your chin in the right position without any strain.

Hand

Another thing that you'll learn as you get comfortable with holding your violin is how to position your hand on the neck of the instrument. There are lots of specific details to learn, but your teacher will emphasize the importance of keeping your wrist loose instead of tense. You'll also learn how to place your thumb against the back of the violin's neck, where it can serve as an anchor for the different fingerings you'll be using. By practicing the right way to hold the instrument, you'll be in a good position to begin learning more in your upcoming lessons. Look online to find a music lesson teacher in your area.

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