Comments on: Keeping upper arm still while playing violin? http://www.threelakesarts.org/violin-playing/keeping-upper-arm-still-while-playing-violin How To Play Violin Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:56:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Lori B http://www.threelakesarts.org/violin-playing/keeping-upper-arm-still-while-playing-violin/comment-page-1#comment-3251 Lori B Sat, 28 Nov 2009 05:12:59 +0000 http://www.threelakesarts.org/violin-playing/keeping-upper-arm-still-while-playing-violin#comment-3251 oh, that's the worst!! isn't it? when you've already spent time developing a bad habit and THEN somebody says something :( i'm sorry that happened. it can be frustrating. okay, so the problem is pretty well established by now. here's what i have done with some of my tougher cases... i'd have the student stand up right next to a wall sideways, basically leaning on the "problem" arm. now, play. really, i mean it. if you practice with your upper arm kept confined between your body and the wall, you have no choice but to extend the forearm fuller and use more (and even) pressure on the bow and keep that elbow going up and down without also flapping like a chicken :D it really works, and it's easy.<br><b>References : </b><br> oh, that’s the worst!! isn’t it? when you’ve already spent time developing a bad habit and THEN somebody says something :( i’m sorry that happened. it can be frustrating.

okay, so the problem is pretty well established by now. here’s what i have done with some of my tougher cases…

i’d have the student stand up right next to a wall sideways, basically leaning on the "problem" arm. now, play. really, i mean it. if you practice with your upper arm kept confined between your body and the wall, you have no choice but to extend the forearm fuller and use more (and even) pressure on the bow and keep that elbow going up and down without also flapping like a chicken :D

it really works, and it’s easy.
References :

]]> By: mucow8 http://www.threelakesarts.org/violin-playing/keeping-upper-arm-still-while-playing-violin/comment-page-1#comment-3250 mucow8 Sat, 28 Nov 2009 05:07:59 +0000 http://www.threelakesarts.org/violin-playing/keeping-upper-arm-still-while-playing-violin#comment-3250 Which arm? Bow arm or violin arm? Your left arm should be pretty still right now, and even when you begin vibrato you should be flexing from the elbow or wrist, upper arm should stay still. Your right arm needs to be stationary on top. If you bow from the shoulder your bow will travel in an arc and not contact the instrument properly...hence a really uneven and generally lousy tone. As a beginner you should be bowing from the elbow, and as you advance you should learn to bow from the wrist (although you will not use this skill all the time). A trick you can try is to stand against the wall and play your scales. Get your upper arm right against the wall so you won't be able to move it and start to get used to the feeling. Another option is to stand at an angle in front of a mirror so you can watch youreslf practice your scales and try and get that arm to stay still. I say "during scales" because that is the time where you are playing something that can allow your focus to shift to your posture; when you are playing pieces your focus should be entirely on the music and your interpretation of it. This is a skill my teacher mentioned late in the game as well, but I got through it and you will too. Remember, it IS important to do this the right way, so not cut corners or allow it not to matter to you. Your playing will be so much better in the long run if you fix this NOW.<br><b>References : </b><br>Violinist for 22 years, string teacher for 9 years. Which arm? Bow arm or violin arm? Your left arm should be pretty still right now, and even when you begin vibrato you should be flexing from the elbow or wrist, upper arm should stay still.

Your right arm needs to be stationary on top. If you bow from the shoulder your bow will travel in an arc and not contact the instrument properly…hence a really uneven and generally lousy tone. As a beginner you should be bowing from the elbow, and as you advance you should learn to bow from the wrist (although you will not use this skill all the time). A trick you can try is to stand against the wall and play your scales. Get your upper arm right against the wall so you won’t be able to move it and start to get used to the feeling. Another option is to stand at an angle in front of a mirror so you can watch youreslf practice your scales and try and get that arm to stay still.

I say "during scales" because that is the time where you are playing something that can allow your focus to shift to your posture; when you are playing pieces your focus should be entirely on the music and your interpretation of it.

This is a skill my teacher mentioned late in the game as well, but I got through it and you will too. Remember, it IS important to do this the right way, so not cut corners or allow it not to matter to you. Your playing will be so much better in the long run if you fix this NOW.
References :
Violinist for 22 years, string teacher for 9 years.

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