Sunday, December 14, 2014

Having The Right Violin Wrist Position Is Vital

By Lucia Weeks


The fundamental basis for skillful string music is a necessity. This begins with having the ideal viola or violin wrist position. Failure to find the right position can instigate severe faults. A buckled wrist pulls the musician's fingers into an incorrect alignment and places extreme strain on the violinist's tendons, potentially initiating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. It is best for the wrist to remain straight and for the fingers to be curved.

Mastering this modus operandi is essential for musicians wanting to become accomplished. Many all-time classic musical pieces depend greatly on a gifted string section. Renowned composers including Mozart orchestrated much of their greatest work with violins at the forefront. "A Little Nightmusic" (Eine Kleine Nachtmusik) by Mozart is uncomplicated and graceful.

Another timeless classic composed with violins at its heart is Ludwig van Beethoven's "Symphony No. 7 in A Major". Beethoven's grand and fantastic symphonies are considered to be some of the prime examples of the Western world's artistic creations. The pathos and passion of Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings" is the most moving section of his "String Quartet, Op. 11".

The intricacy and sumptuousness of "Symphony No. 1 in C Major" by Johann Brahms is much in debt to the inimitable sounds produced by the strings. Lots of weddings would not have the same atmosphere without the Baroque-style violins within Johann Pachelbel's "Canon in D Major". The Romantic era's "Serenade for Strings in C Minor" composed by Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky is melodic and soulful, featuring the delightful characteristics of violins and violas.

Nigel Kennedy, the famous modern English musician, first entered a recording studio to play on Edward Elgar's "Violin Concerto" and helped enormously in bringing new audiences to appreciate classical music through his interpretations of Vivaldi's magnum opus "The Four Seasons" (with sales in excess of two million) as well as Elgar's Enigma Variations. Kennedy's talent on the instrument transcends musical fields; his instrumentals have also figured on the outstanding "Baba O'Riley" track from the album "Live at the Royal Albert Hall' by rock legends The Who. He also came together with the talents of Kate Bush for her song "Experiment IV".

Another child virtuoso who has crossed musical boundaries with her unique style of instrument playing is Vanessa Mae. She had recorded both the Tchaikovsky and Beethoven concerto solos by the age of 13. After this, she went on to record her own brand of pop music, often appearing in quite raunchy, skimpy outfits in her videos. Vanessa is famous for using two different kinds of violins; a Zeta Jazz electric model and the Guadagnini acoustic instrument which her parents paid 250,000 sterling, when Vanessa was just ten years old. At the tender age of thirteen, she had already played the solos from concertos by Beethoven as well as Tchaikovsky on best-selling discs.

All violinists need sound technique to properly play the brilliant music for strings by composers such as Dvorak, Shostakovich and Bach. It is crucial to become skilled at correctly positioning one's left hand, thumb, wrist and fingers. Tone, vibrato and intonation are all affected by correct posture and the way that the right hand holds the bow.

Different stances for playing when seated or standing may be just as significant for beginners as wrist position. Accurate hand position should be built up by the practise of using the pinkie finger to tap and strum. Correct instrument size is also crucial for youthful violinists.




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