How to Help Your Child Begin Learning a String Instrument: What a Good Job Looks Like:

Posture (pictures are on p. 3 of Essential Elements, also check out the DVD):
Violin and viola
• Standing - left foot forward, feet shoulder width. Violin extends over the left shoulder pointing in the same direction as the left foot. The weight of the violin is supported by the chin (using the chin rest) and the shoulder. Head is straight, violin is angled. The scroll is out straight, not pointing to the floor.
• Sitting – exactly as above, only knees are bent until the player is seted on the front edge of the chair.
Cello
• End pin is adjusted so that the cello angles back into the player and the C tuning peg is just behind the left ear – the end pin is usually pretty far out. Cello is placed between the legs.
Left hand position:
Violin and viola
• Thumb is placed on the side of the neck, on the line between the black fingerboard and the lighter colored wood of the neck.
• Wrist is straight, not touching the body of the instrument.
• Hand forms a kind of C shape as if holding a tennis ball, leaving a “hamster hole” (Don’t crush the hamster!)
• Tips of fingers, not flats of fingers, press down the string. It is important at this stage that fingers do not “lock” or hyperextend. This happens because of insufficient finger strength.
Cello:
• Same as above, only the left thumb is on the back of the neck rather than the side.
Right Hand for pizzicato (plucking strings) – all instruments
• Right thumb is anchored on the corner of the finger board.
• Index finger plucks string just over the finger board, avoiding the space between the fingerboard and bridge.
Important things for students to know:
• The parts of the instrument (p. 2 of Essential Elements)
• The names of the strings (p. 2 of Essential Elements)
Beginning Exercises:
• Take the left hand away for the violin or viola, supporting it out straight over the shoulder with the head straight.
Purpose: Teaches how to support the instrument with the chin and shoulder so that hands are free to play it.
• Elbow swings: Student places the left hand correctly on the neck near the scroll and swings the elbow back and forth while supporting the instrument with the neck and shoulder.
Purpose: Teaches how to move the elbow in order to access all of the strings with the fingers.
• Zips: Student places all four fingers on the highest string (A or E) with correct left hand position (see above) and “zips” up and down the string, keeping all four fingers in contact with the string. Repeat with each of the other strings. Elbow will have to be pulled under the instrument to access the lower strings.
Purpose: Create comfort and experience placing and moving the fingers on all four strings. Cannot be done if the hand is supporting the weight of the instrument.
• Finger taps: Student, using correct left hand position, taps index finger hard on the highest pitched string several times, holds the index finger down tight on the string and taps the middle finger, then holds down those two fingers tight on the string and taps the ring finger, holds three fingers down and taps the pinky. Repeat on each of the other three strings.
Purpose: 1) Builds finger strength, 2) builds finger independence, 3) creates calluses or pads on the fingertips, which make playing more comfortable. Even though kids generally shy away from this exercise, this is extremely valuable
• There is a sheet of open string music in transitional notation. This gives kids something to play right away. It should be self-explanatory. This should be practiced after the above exercises have been completed.
Purpose: 1) To learn the names and sound of the strings, 2) to experience simple notation, 3) to practice correct pizzicato (plucking – see above.)