Left hand positioning on the violin – let’s find a mouse hall !

You (7 years old) have been taking lessons with me about one month, after one year of instruction with another teacher. Your music reading is getting better and so as your sound. However, there is one thing I’d like you to pay more close attention to that is your left hand positioning.

You need to create some room between the neck of the violin and your left hand.

You have to be able to see a hall there, but I often don’t. I’m talking about the space right here.

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left hand positioning on the violin good vs wrong

“It’s a mouse hall !”

OK ! Let’s call it that way.

You can think of lowering your whole arm and check your thumb is not too high up. It will help you to use more of the pads of your left fingers rather than the tips.

Let’s try again. Hold up your violin and let’s see if we can find a mouse hall. 🙂

Christmas: Jingle Bells for two violins (using open strings)

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You’ve been playing the violin only two months, but you can take a part of playing Jingle Bells. Do you want to try?”

“Sure !”

“It’s fun!” 🙂

“I’m glad you liked it, too !” 🙂

Any levels of students, child or adult, can enjoy playing Christmas song this way.

Here is the music:

Merry Chrismas !

What is the highest position (highest note) on the violin?

“I’m learning 5th position now, but what is the highest position on the violin?”

“Well, let’s see…Shall we count together ? 🙂

I can barely put my pinky at the edge of the fingerboard and play B (highest note above), so for now, let’s say this is the highest position on the violin. That means that the index finger falls on F .
Can you count up while I’m going up each position of the fingerboard?”

“3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9……15 !”

“Well, then we can say that the highest position on the violin is the 15th position. 
However, we usually work on up to the 7th position using violin studies.
After that, you will encounter higher notes by playing many different types of music.
You will see higher notes more frequently in First Violin parts in orchestral music.
It’s something to look forward to !”

Christmas Carol: Still, Still, Still for two violins

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Nice to see my students enjoy playing Christmas carols with me.

“Still, Still, Still” is an Austrian lullaby and carol based on a folk tune melody from the Salzburg area.

Still, still, still, He sleeps this night so chill.
The Virgin’s tender arms enfolding,
Warm and safe the Child are holding.
Still, still, still, He sleeps this night so chill.

Sleep, sleep, sleep, He lies in slumber deep.
While angel hosts from heav’n come winging,
Sweetest songs of joy are singing.
Sleep, sleep, sleep, He lies in slumber deep.

Christmas Carol: The Holly and the Ivy for two violins

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December…Christmas is coming…

I enjoy playing Christmas carols with my students.

Some are just starting to get used to playing the violin.

Christmas tunes are different than Hohmann studies.

They are more familiar and fun for them.

I like seeing their shining smile when they play Christmas Carols with me.