AboutDavid Expertise I mainly aim to answer questions about playing techniques--intonation,
vibrato, bowing etc. I am somewhat familiar with Baroque and Classical music, though not as much with Romantic. I am unable to answer questions about advanced music theory, violin crafters/brands or the monetary value of a violin.
Experience I have played the violin about nine discontinuous years. Most of my work has been orchestral, with some soloing throughout. I was principal 2nd violinist of the Disney Honors Orchestra in 1998, a six-time All-State Orchestra violinist, a two-time assistant concertmaster and two-time concertmaster of my All-County Orchestra. I also have perfect pitch, which I believe can be learned (though I do not claim to know how to teach it).
Since starting medical school in 2004, I have had fewer chances to play, but I hope to someday resume on a regular basis.
Expert: David Date: 9/26/2004 Subject: fourth finger
Question I'm a young adult beginner, and I've been having trouble with my fourth finger. I find that it's very difficult to comfortably place my hand so that I can reach the low 2nd finger and and fourth finger notes simultaneously. As such, a slur from low 2 (C on the A-string) to 4 (E on the A-string), generally gives a flat E. I've read that my fingers should be poised over the strings, ready to fall on the notes as they need, but I find this very tough. The only advice I've been given thus far is to pull my elbow under the instrument for more reach. This technique does help reach with the fourth finger, but at the expense of the low 2.
I would appreciate any help.
Answer Hi John,
I'll try to help you out with your problem. First of all, I'm curious as to whether you have a short fourth finger relative to your other fingers, but may not have noticed it before. Hold up your left hand with your palm flat and facing you, and your fingers together. If the tip of your fourth finger falls well short of the smallest joint of your third finger, then your fourth finger is relatively short and the elbow technique you're using to compensate may be worth continuing. To help out the problem with the low 2, try a "finger split" exercise for your L hand, where you put your 1st and 2nd fingers together (again with your hand in front of you and palm toward you) and your 3rd and 4th fingers together. Then lean your 1st/2nd fingers toward your left and your 3rd/4th fingers toward your right. If you can't do it with your L hand alone, use your R hand to help then release your R hand. The goal is to get your hand muscles used to the motion (it is possible from my experience--I couldn't always do it). Believe it or not, there are many muscles in the hand...I know because I just learned about them in school :)
If, however, the length of your 4th finger is not the problem, then try this. Hold your L arm in front of you, as though you were playing violin (but your L arm is more to the front than the side, so that it is not the *real* violin playing position). Rotate your palm so that it faces L. Now curl your L hand fingers in approximate playing position, and note the "line" that the finger tips form. This line should be almost parallel to the line formed by your L forearm. If the line formed by your fingertips is almost perpendicular to your forearm as you hold it up, then your palm needs to be "twisted" more. Not enough rotation of the palm will make 4th finger playing difficult for anyone, regardless of finger length.
Another possibility is that you may be holding your violin too much on the side or to the front, making positioning of your fingers awkward. Here's a small guide that isn't too precise but can help...if you hold your violin up, face your head forward and close your L eye, you should not be able to see your L hand with your R eye (if you can, you're too much toward the front). However your L eye should be able to see your L hand easily; if you can barely see your L hand with your L eye, you're too much on the side.
Hope this is of some help, good luck in your endeavors!
Sincerely David
