Whenever I play something fast or play for a long time, my thumb, my pointer finger, and in between those fingers start to feel really sore. How can I stop that from happening?
Also, another thing I’ve been wondering is thatttt when I watch really good violinists play, the bow seems so light and easy to move up and down, but when I play it feels heavy. Am I doing something wrong or is my bow actually too heavy?
you are using muscles that usually dont get used. keep playing and you will get stronger and build more endurance
you are using muscles that usually dont get used. keep playing and you will get stronger and build more endurance
References :
Hey there,
violin can be a really demanding instrument to play.
Try taking a little assessment of your habits:
1. Are you gripping the violin with your left hand like a vice? Relax! Let your thumb sit there steadily
2. Is your left hand arched out, as if you are trying to fit an egg in your hand? when you are playing fast pieces, it can be easier if you bring your palm closer to the fingerboard- your fingers will arch and move closer to the strings
3. Is your left hand squashed close to the finger board?? Imagine that you have half an egg in your palm.
And your bow? Trust me, I have been playing for nine years and I’m still working on my technique! Takes forever and a day to get like Joshua Bell, but here are some bow tips:
1. Press your third finger onto your bow- this improves the quality of sound (tone)
2. Make sure your bow hairs are flat on the strings when you play
3. Long bows! I used to tie a scarf to the end of my bow to make sure my bow changes were fluent. The scarf should flow gracefully
4. Make sure you are breathing deeply
5. Move primarily from your elbow, then fingers, then wrist, then finally shoulder!
6. Bow to your violin, don’t move your violin around as you play
I hope this helps =) Finally, keep practising and you’ll find over time your technique problems will slowly disappear =)
References :
Have a seriously picky violin teacher