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Violin/Viola Practice- Help Checklist
Position Checklist for Violin/Viola:
GENERAL POSTURE
o Is the instrument supported by the shoulder in such a manner that left hand fingering can occur without tension?
o Is the left hand free to slide up and down the fingerboard?
o Is the body positioned with nose-bridge-elbow-knee-toe in approximate alignment?
o Is instrument positioned parallel to the floor?
o Does the elbow hang under the instrument and hang freely to allow proper finger alignment on all strings?
o Is the left arm and hand forming a straight line from the elbow to the base of the fingers?
o Is the right arm elbow opening and closing to allow for straight bowing?
LEFT HAND POSITION
o Are the fingers all curved with only the tips of the fingers hitting the strings?
o Are the fingers consistently in a functional position over the fingerboard, (i.e., is the hand placed in such a fashion that the little finger could always pluck the strings?)
o Is the hand free from clutching?
o Does the wrist keep a straight line with the rest of the arm?
RIGHT HAND POSITION
o Are all joints curved?
o Are the fingers flexible at all times?
o Is the thumb bent and not protruding through the frog?
o Does the index finger touch the stick near the first knuckle joint?
o Are the second and third finger pads touching the frog?
o Is the back of hand in the same plane with the forearm?
o Is the bow moving on the string parallel to the bridge?
o Is the contact point consistently about halfway between the fingerboard and bridge?
This checklist is from the UT Austin String Project.
Click here for the Violin Practice Guide with pictures. Have more questions? Please contact Ms. Alissa at: ahamilton@tmesnm.com
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