Top Mistakes Beginner Violinists Make and How to Avoid Them
Don’t let poor posture ruin your hard work! The violin is an amazing tool for artistic expression. That being said, playing the violin requires you to bend your body into very foreign shapes. If you are an advanced player, try playing violin with your right hand and your bow in your left. That’s what it feels like for beginners! So when you begin this endeavor, the most important thing to focus on is posture. With good posture, a good sound will come. You will cut down on any excess aches or pains with good posture as well. So let’s get into what mistakes are common and how to avoid them.
Left hand violin technique.
Do not collapse your wrist. I once had a teacher say that he would put a pin on the underside of a young student’s violin neck. That way, if the palm came into contact with the neck improperly, OUCH. I do NOT suggest this. But I do suggest that you make absolutely sure that your palm does not regularly come into contact with the violin neck. Your wrist should remain relaxed, and your hand should make a straight line with your arm. Practicing in front of a tall mirror is a great way to make sure this happens. Look at yourself frequently, and fix problems as soon as they arise.
Do not squeeze the neck. Some make the mistake of squeezing the violin neck tightly between the thumb and first finger. This can cause pain in the hand, poor intonation, and it will make it much harder to do more advanced techniques like vibrato and shifting. This is something even advanced players must be mindful of, as excess tightness can lead to injuries, particularly for those who practice for long periods daily.
Do keep your hands back towards the nut. The nut is the small, raised portion of the fingerboard where all four strings touch. It can be found right under the pegbox (the little box at the top under the scroll). If the hand begins to slide away from the nut, your notes will be more and more out of tune (in this case they will be getting sharper). Putting a sticker where your hand should be on the side of the neck can be a good reminder of where to keep your hand.
Do not allow your scroll to point to the ground. Keeping your scroll high is very important for producing a beautiful sound. If you allow your scroll to point downwards, gravity will pull your bow away from your bridge. If your bow strays from your bridge, it will produce a quieter and less focused sound. Try to keep your violin horizontal, or have your scroll be pointed slightly upwards.
Right hand violin technique.
Be mindful of your pinky. Your pinky should sit on top of the bow, over the dot in your frog, and be rounded. The most common mistake beginners make here is for their pinky to be straight. This will make it harder to perform more difficult techniques later on, so it is good to break this habit early. The market has several devices that can be attached to the bow to make a comfortable “nest” or the pinky. This is great for beginners, but eventually the beginner should move away from this device so that they do not become a crutch.
Keep your thumb rounded. A good bow hold is a huge amount of what makes a good sound. Part of that is keeping your bow thumb nice and bent. As a beginner, you will probably be using the beginner bow hold, with your thumb under the frog. Later on your thumb will move inside the bow. Take this time to make sure that your thumb stays very bent, so that you take this good habit to the advanced bow hold.
Your index, middle, and ring fingers should drape over the bow. Beginners often start out with a solid bow hold when they begin to play a piece, but end the piece with a sloppy one. The index, middle, and ring fingers should be draped over the stick in a relaxed manner. Be careful that they don’t end up rounded with your fingertips on top of the stick (like your pinky) as you play. You will likely catch yourself doing this. When you do, just move your fingers back into the correct place, over the stick.
Bonus tip. If you are relaxing with some streaming or TV, consider practicing your bow hold as well. Get a good bow hold, and watch your show. Periodically, check to see if your bow hold is still good. Round pinky? Bent thumb? Fingers over the bow? And then go back to watching.
Remember that this is a very strange position to put your body into, and the bow hold is perhaps the most challenging part of good posture, so be patient with yourself! Try, check, and fix any problems you see.
Finishing touches.
Foot placement. Keep your feet shoulder-width apart with your toes pointed slightly out. There are two approaches to foot placement. One, with feet side by side, shoulder-width apart, and toes pointed slightly outwards. Or two, with the left foot slightly forward, feet shoulder-width apart, and toes outwards. Choose the stance that feels more comfortable and stable for you.
Your jaw goes in your chinrest, not your chin. Despite its name, the ‘chinrest’ is better described as a ‘jaw rest’. The long, flat portion of your jaw should lie in the chinrest. This piece is contoured for this purpose.
Be relaxed. Try to remove tension from your hands, arms, and shoulders. This is easier said than done but it is important for the beginner and advanced player alike. Excess tension can make it more difficult to play quickly and accurately, and it may even lead to injuries from prolonged playing. Be very mindful of what parts of your body are tight, and try to loosen them as you play. A teacher can be invaluable in highlighting areas to relax, especially when the player is focused on playing.
Conclusion.
Posture should be the foremost focus of your practice as a beginner. Some beginners start without a violin. In fact, some beginners start learning even without a violin, instead using a mock device to solely practice posture. Posture may not be the most exciting subject to practice, but it will set you up to produce a beautiful sound in the near future. If you are interested in having sessions 1-on-1, reach out here at vybratomusic@gmail.com. With practice, patience, and a good look at your posture, you will achieve your best violin sound. Happy playing.
