My sister had a violin teacher that told her she must stick her wrist out when playing the violin in to a rather uncomfortable position. Today I was told that you must never "stick your wrist out" as it could be very damaging to you as well as your playing. Can someone confirn the right way to play?
Thanks

Hmm, I was thinking of posting something similiar today. I have to keep reminding myself to keep my wrist straight. Is this something that will come with habit? Am I struggling with it owing to weakness or what? That is a definite possibility as I'm anything but strong.

Which wrist and which direction?

I would gather left wrist.

The left wrist must NOT be held up underneath the violin neck. Apart from it making it look as though you are holding a frying pan on your shoulder, it will seriously restrict the movement and stretch of the fingers, and quite literally 'cramp your style'.

Essentially, the wrist should form a straight line between the back of the hand and the forearm. Pushing the wrist joint excessively outwards is equally bad, but remember that everyone's hands are of different shapes and sizes, so it is impossible for me to prescribe an exact position via a forum board.

Don't worry it's just habit. I don't think it is strength. Once you have been playing for a while with the correct wrist position it will feel very odd to do it incorrectly.

Don't leave it uncorrected though. The wrong wrist position with the palm of the left hand facing up to the ceiling is one of the most common errors you see in violinists, particularly children who have been taught in a group lesson and as AmandaL says it cramps your style.

One doesn't need to be Mr (or indeed Miss) Universe to hold and play a violin/viola. (Those on this forum who know me in person will testify that I am extremely petite. If I can hold a violin or viola, anyone can!!!). It's all about building the correct muscles in the correct way.

Human nature makes us lazy, we do things the easiest way possible even if that means the wrong way.

Correct posture will build the muscles in the right way, incorrect posture will not and will seriously debilitate your skills in the long run. This could be applied to any physical activity, not just playing the violin.

Stand up straight shoulders back, feet shoulder width apart. Don't lock the knees, let them relax a little. The major muscle areas required for playing the violin successfully are the shoulders and the deltoids (the latter are a group of muscles in the back region between the shoulder blades).

Flexibility of the left shoulder and wrist are also important, but this doesn't mean having to force things. Flexibility will increase with correct posture and regular practice.

Yes, it WILL feel uncomfortable to start with, especially if you have been cheating and playing in the wrong way. Good habits and perseverance are the only answer I'm afraid.

Yes, I have found that out for myself! I used to (unconsciounsly) stick my left wrist out towards my right when I was playing (opposite as when you end up with palm up), my teacher corrected me and when he did IT FELT SOOOOOOO uncomfortable! I was thinking: surely this is NOT meant to be this way???
But like Amanda said, I stuck to it and practiced and very quickly it became not only comfortable but it is now second nature, my wrist now is almost always in a near perfect position

Yes, my sister's teacher told her that pushing your wrist joint out away from you is the correct way to play but I was told differently yesterday which is why I have been so confused.
So to keep my wrist in a straight line with my arm is the right thing to do?...I will do that then
Thank you

It follows that this is obviously not possible when playing in higher positions on the fingerboard. The wrist will have to bend outwards for the hand to move up and over the shoulder of the instrument.

I reckon I could make a killing by producing a professional DVD about things like this. Simply don't have the financial resources to to instigate such proceedings though.

Shame - I'm sure it would be a best seller around here...

W

Mmm, I agree! I wouldn't mind a copy of that!!!

Thanks for the useful comments, I really appreciate that. I know I'm very weak as I've never had much in the way of muscle or strength, then 4 years with CFS/ME didn't help much either, so as I build upa bit, I hope it will be in the way that optimises my viola playing! Having said that, I've only been playing 3 weeks, just started on bowing today and am consciously correcting my left hand posture as often as I can (i.e. every couple of minutes!!)

It can't be that expensive to do surely? Shall I look into it for you?? I could be your 'manager'

It would need to be done professionally - I certainly wouldn't be prepared to go the DIY route - so there would be the cost of studio hire, camera man/woman, correct lighting, production of a minimum number of DVDs etc.

I know there are people on this forum who would buy a copy, but that's still a minority of sales. It would need to be a marketable DVD for the public and there's a glut of similar instructional videos already, so mine would have to compete in an already flooded market. Realistically you'd probably be looking at a few thousand pounds to get the thing done and then there's absolutely no guarantee I would sell enough DVDs to get my money back.

Much like celebrity fitness DVDs, if I was Maxim Vengerov making an instructional video about playing the violin/viola it would sell in its thousands, but I am a nobody, I'm just a freelance violinist who happens to know the rights and wrongs of violin playing and has the ability to get it across to students, but that's not enough to sell a product in today's media/celeb hyped society. The public like to buy 'names', even if the content of the product is weak or of little use.

Struggling musicians (especially string players) have enough problems paying for a suitable instrument to keep them in work, let alone blowing cash on a venture that could so easily become a financial disaster.