4 Most Common Causes of Tension in Left Arm/Hand + Tension-Releasing Exercises for Violin & Viola

[@ViolinHobby]

Thank you so much, Inna, for your tremendously valuable instructions to help us prevent injuries and to possibly advance to the next level. I find this video complementary to one of your previous videos to help those with smaller hands.👍👍👍🙏❤

[@Violinna]

You're very welcome! Thank you for watching and commenting! I hope it helps others

[@vk7898]

Great lesson. 😊

[@Violinna]

Thank you!

[@RamonaSchnauzevoll]

Love this coincidence! Was planning on focusing on my left hand this month anyways and some of these exercises i didnt hear about yet!

[@Violinna]

Super! Always love these coincidences - let me know how things are going this month!

[@randykolodziej.4891]

Thank you! Especially for the fourth point

[@Violinna]

You're very welcome!

[@chrisebbesen5798]

Excellent tutorial, will return to later.

[@Violinna]

Thanks for watching & subscribing! =)

[@silvialatrofa220]

Great video. Thanks a lot. Which chin rest are you using?

[@Violinna]

You're most welcome! Thanks for watching. My chinrest is the Berber, but it was customized for me personally. The left side was removed, and it's a little bit lower than the standard one sold online. Chinrests.com

[@silvialatrofa220]

@@Violinna Looks great. Thank you again

[@AprilClaytonflute]

Very useful ideas and solutions to think about!

[@Violinna]

Glad it resonates! :)

[@jhummelgaard9310]

Very useful information thank you!

[@Violinna]

You're very welcome! Thank you for watching and subscribing =)

[@hoangvo6448]

Hi! Thank you so much for your all video instructions, very helpful. Could you make a video for practicing of wrist bow hand for flexible wrist movement? Thanks a lot

[@Violinna]

Great suggestion - I will consider it.

[@rodrigomarsan1143]

Thanks! I have them all! lol I also tense the biceps and slightly take my left hand up, causing all my intonation to be high

[@Violinna]

Do you mean when shifting or when putting your instrument into playing position?

[@rodrigomarsan1143]

@@Violinna just when I am playing, I pull up my hand by contracting the left biceps. I get tense and after 1 or 2 minutes, I realize my hand is, let´s say 1 cm up down the fingerboard, so all my notes are high.

[@Violinna]

@@rodrigomarsan1143 Got it. I can't say for sure without actually seeing you, but maybe check your left shoulder - it might be causing the bicep tension. When you bring the instrument into playing position, perhaps bring the instrument *down* onto the collarbone from above - this will engage the back muscles, so the bicep isn't doing all the work. Also practice maybe swinging your left arm back and forth under the instrument. Again, this is just my guess based on what you described without actually seeing you play

[@rodrigomarsan1143]

@@Violinna thanks a lot! It helps. I have been implementing your advice and I am focusing on the posture and my thumb tension when I practice and it seems that it is working. I will have to continue with this for a long time to eliminate the bad habit. Thanks again!

[@fedegroxo]

I cannot play a scale with my left thumb freely moving, I feel a huge amount of tension in my neck due to how much weight my fingers have to apply to the strings. I'm at a loss on what to do...

[@Violinna]

Hi, thanks for sharing. I cannot answer the question without looking at your setup and see how you play. Do you take private lessons? Either the setup needs amending, or your fingers are pressing too hard. There could be other factors but again, would need to see..

[@patfiddles]

Thanks Inna. I started to work with removing the shoulder rest and think I will try again to free up and relax my shoulder. I always have trouble placing my second finger for “close” twos on the violin and would anchor my thumb and index fingers in place so I could pull back my middle finger to play them. Have you encountered that with your students?

[@Violinna]

Hi, by "close twos" do you mean placing 2nd finger next to first? I've definitely seen this challenge in students. This is why having a mobile thumb is so important - especially thumb. If I'm understanding you correctly, what I'd recommend is to anchor with 3rd finger instead of index. This way you have even weight distribution and more range of motion reaching back.

[@patfiddles]

Thank-you Inna. this is very helpful. When I release the first finger and anchor a little with the third finger, I have more flexibility in the second finger and can practice those position changes- e.g. F natural to F sharp. The root cause of my restricted motion is certainly locking in the thumb and index finger at the neck- anchoring with the third helps me focus on releasing and relaxing the thumb and index finger.

[@peterhoman6515]

Thanks for the tips❤😊😊

[@Violinna]

You are very welcome!

[@jacobapelgrim6975]

Tension can also be caused by the feeling that the violin might fall from the shoulder..not having a good shoulder rest...once your secure that the violin stays on its place .the tension in the hand goes away

[@Violinna]

Basic setup is another cause, you are right! And sometimes it's not just about shoulder rest, but about the correct height and shape chinrest (which should be considered before adding anything underneath)

[@jacobapelgrim6975]

@@Violinna so true🌸