Where Should the Left Thumb Go on the Violin?

Рет қаралды 2,031

Күн бұрын

When setting up the left hand frame, people debate about the position of the left hand thumb. Some people put it across from the 2nd finger, others from the 1st; some place the thumb higher, others lower. It's important to understand that the position of the left thumb on the violin depends on the individual's hand anatomy, which includes not only the size of the hand and fingers, but also the range of motion of their joints. Besides setting up the left hand frame in 1st position to allow even weight distribution among the 4 fingers, it's also important to recognize when the thumb has to move to other places. Some examples for alternate left thumb positions include trills, double-stops, and extensions. No matter your setup, there are 3 general rules of thumb (pun intended).
1) It needs to act as counterpressure to the fingers but without squeezing the neck.
2) It needs to be mobile, relaxed, and ready to take the hand all over the fingerboard, and
3) It needs to support the hand for proper weight distribution to support whatever the fingers need to do.
BOOK MENTIONED IN VIDEO:
The Russian Violin School: Legacy of Yuri Yankelevich: amzn.to/3CvJK1p
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - Intro
0:34 - 3 main things left thumb accomplishes
1:06 - different photos from method books and treatises
1:48 - hand size isn't everything
2:42 - general rules of thumb
4:05 - shifting
4:43 - alternate thumb placements
5:45 - Quote by Yuri Yankelevich; translation by Masha Lankovsky
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Пікірлер: 38

@kayaviola 2 жыл бұрын

So cool and true! I switch around depending on what I’m playing 😁

@twochopsticks 2 жыл бұрын

This is so useful thank you

@Violinna 2 жыл бұрын

You're very welcome - glad it was helpful! =)

@violinow1673 2 жыл бұрын

Nice hair Inna. It is a relief to hear the last part.

@Violinna 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you =)

@darlenerivest148 2 жыл бұрын

Great video, Inna! Thank you for pointing out that there are many options to thumb placement and even within a typical hand frame certain techniques require altering the thumb position. Such useful information! Thank you!!

@Violinna 2 жыл бұрын

So glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching, as always!

@minkymandy6065 Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@Violinna Жыл бұрын

You're very welcome! :)

@ViolinHobby 2 жыл бұрын

Dear Inna, Great perspective and analysis!! Your earlier videos had helped me so much on placing my thumb near my second finger to help extend my pinky easily. Thanks much again!

@Violinna 2 жыл бұрын

Wow that's so amazing to hear, Tony! You're sounding so great!

@piotrminor7054 Жыл бұрын

extremely helpful! everything covered, thank you very much Xx

@Violinna Жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching & subscribing! =)

@soniacelis672 Ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing.

@Violinna Ай бұрын

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

@CosimaBodien 2 жыл бұрын

Great explanation, thank you!

@Violinna 2 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@dondedieumemento3757 Жыл бұрын

I really watch a lot of violin tutorial videos, and I must say,you are one of the best!!! you come to the point, you point out the really important informations and break them down,bravo! very useful!

@Violinna Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! =) Glad to help!

@victormanickam4387 2 ай бұрын

Good video.... Very good thoughts

@Violinna 2 ай бұрын

Thank you!

@LeeJaePhangPianist 2 жыл бұрын

Very detailed video! I used to have more difficulty with bow hold than left hand thumb, but I can see it being a huge discussion for violinists. On the piano, the passage of the thumb is very important, and this is one of the important skills that beginners learn when they pick up their first scales.

@Violinna 2 жыл бұрын

Do/did you play a stringed instrument also??

@LeeJaePhangPianist 2 жыл бұрын

@@Violinna I played the violin. 😁

@Violinna 2 жыл бұрын

@@LeeJaePhangPianist awesome!!

@LauraGianniniViolinist 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, there is no right or wrong as long as it works! 😀

@Violinna 2 жыл бұрын

Exactly! ;)

@jop33 2 жыл бұрын

Beautifully articulated! Helpful even for me!! ;) lol Great quote. I'm using it :)

@Violinna 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Josué! So glad it's helpful😊

@CarolruizNlpiano 2 жыл бұрын

Another Great video! The thumb it’s always a tricky finger…in all instruments I think..,(And With your new hair cut!!😜)

@Violinna 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Carol! =) Thumb is an anchor for sure

@AprilClaytonflute 2 жыл бұрын

Very interesting! We have to worry about exactly what our right thumb is doing. It's key to our finger technique, because it's our only finger that doesn't move. Similar problems with similar fingers! 👍 (

@Violinna 2 жыл бұрын

Haha! 👍

@phantomwolf3300 5 ай бұрын

Ta, I am contemplating taking up violin, late in life, but I don't have a left thumb and was wondering how it would impact my ability to learn, might have to use a prosthetic, will look into it more, x

@Violinna 5 ай бұрын

That would be interesting! See if a prosthetic can help with any weight support. While it's important to have the ability to support the instrument just with the collarbone/jaw setup, it's also important to give some support with left hand. So definitely do some research.