How to do Violin Shifting Without a Shoulder Rest (or with one!): A Step-By-Step Guide.

[@a.r.mackinnon2451]

That's for all your help. I'm an 'old man' learner at the 2 year mark. No shoulder rest and high thumb from the start. Beginning shifting without a fully mobile thumb caused a few hiccups. I found a dab of talc powder below my first thumb joint freed up my hand enough to get the feel of a good shift, or more accurately, I was forced to overcome the sense of security from a rigid hand. It took a couple of weeks for me to get used to the what a loose hand felt like. It plays havoc with intonation but luckily you're only using it until your body memory is set.

[@ibrahimkhalil8767]

This channel is unbelievably underrated.. Respect to your analyses and knowledge. Thank you.

[@keesdekkers1293]

Great information! Thanks!

[@鄭仁魁]

fabulous presentation and explicit interpretation, looking forward in every setting of ur video

[@ritabanerjee9103]

Thank you very much for your videos and the valuable tips on the various stages of learning to play the violin.

[@TheWinwil]

Another great lesson. Many thanks

[@cindi7228]

I have found your videos to be the best in the land of instructional videos. I am a fiddle player of 40 years, but a lazy one who developed many bad habits. Your instruction has helped my technique immensely. PS- I have never played with a shoulder rest. I find them cumbersome and uncomfortable. I recently decided to try to find one, thinking it might help some neck pain. WRONG. Horrible experiment. What was I thinking 🤦‍♀️

[@shipsahoy1793]

Man, what an excellent, excellent video on shifting! 👍So very motivating, I’m very happy!!🥳 Thank You!!

[@revdbsa]

Hi - I would love to play without a shoulder rest but my shoulders are way shorter than yours - even a shoulder bag is hard work! I resorted to a kun bravo to keep the resonance but now reverting to a wolf primo... Thanks for the excellent videos. Good stuff. BSA

[@cigarnationwarriors3981]

Folding a microfiber cloth seems to be the fix for working w/o a shoulder rest. Btw, since I have flexibility issues and a VERY short left pinky, I’m considering dropping down to a 7/8 size fiddle. Have you had any experience with a 7/8 helping players? Thanks. William🎻

[@MurphyMusicAcademy]

I've never had a student use one, but I know a couple of people who use them and couldn't play without one.

[@xinzhouping]

hi, I'm not sure if you're still reading these comments, but I hope you do. first, great video, it definitely helped. however, I have a question: can you hold your violin freely (without your hands) without a shoulder rest? is it helpful for me to be able to do that or should it not be an issue as long as i can do shifts? maybe you answered this question in another video, but i just came across your channel now, so i was curious. thanks!

[@gustavocamey4860]

Thank you very much for the explanations! I'm having troubles with shifting down, when you shift down, do you still mantain the index finger holding the violin? Or you let go and just hold the violin with the joint of your thumb? Thank you very much!

[@mikeystevenson6982]

"And Violist, possibly", hehe

[@road2acoustic99]

Great ressource ! Thanks a lot :-)

[@MurphyMusicAcademy]

Thanks for watching!

[@davedonnie6425]

If all the weight of the violin is on the thumb, then how does it move freely during the shift?

[@traptown6396]

Murphy Music Academy Violin School

[@MurphyMusicAcademy]

Speak of the Devil, and he shall appear!

[@rubendarioaquizepalacios8307]

I think he has a shoulder pad under his polo shirt, over his left shoulder.

[@johannevanderghote7577]

I don't understand how to shift down from 3rd or 4rth to 1rst position without losing the stability of my violin ... It's easy to go up, but l really struggle to go down... 🙄😕 What did l miss?

[@mikeystevenson6982]

My viola is rigged up with some new evah pirazzi gold strings... Coming from a set of dominants, I'm loving the tone of these gold pirazzis. Opinions on strings anyone?

[@MurphyMusicAcademy]

I've only tried the green evahs, and I wasn't a fan. Dominants are a reliable string. I use Vision Solos. PIs are good, but I've never found them good enough to justify the price tag

[@mikeystevenson6982]

Oh ya, $145 for 4 strings... that kinda hurt, but the tone!!! :"')

[@mikeystevenson6982]

I'm a big fan of baroque, counterpoint, and baroque improvisation, so I'll have to try pure gut someday

[@MurphyMusicAcademy]

Mikey Stevenson if you love it enough, it’s worth it

[@mikeystevenson6982]

To love is to go broke... I guess Sing to me, sweet Evah!

[@Leila876]

Thank you 🙏

[@mandojazz7269]

Can you do that down shift without shaving?

[@vitamartinenko4747]

🔥🔥🔥

[@frederickgauss]

1:40 do you have a little pillow under you shirt, on your left shoulder?

[@MurphyMusicAcademy]

It's a small hand-towel, actually. I'm a fan of pads if someone needs them. If you are switching from rested playing to no rest it is often necessary. It fills out some space but also allows for the violin not to be locked into one place and angle.

[@CRadiusOfficial]

Am I the only one noticing the pattern that most people who advocate for no shoulder rest ... have no neck? lol

[@cigarnationwarriors3981]

Students who don’t folliw your instructions EXACTLY are the worst kinda of fellars🎻🤣

[@MurphyMusicAcademy]

Oh, I see you did find my shifting video!

[@mikeystevenson6982]

LOL poor violin

[@johannesgajdosik7098]

I like your video a lot, thanks, but the aspect ratio is totally distorted, you look fat an worst of all: the angles of your fingers are not shown correctly. So please change from 4:3 to 16:9. I use an ordinary android tablet an youtube app for watching.

[@leopardtiger1022]

Talking too much ....no good .wasting time ...no good....

[@clairedionne559]

People in the very early learning process DO need MANY explanations AND repetitions. Called pedagogy skills... quite efficient!