Mind the Gap: free your violin left hand

[@vincenzodidonna5958]

Thank you so much, I knew this technique but here you explained it in a superb way!

[@justusforviolin2719]

The Millstein exercise!! I saw this one from Julia Bushkova first. But she talked about it only as a fix for flat pinky, this explanation is much more complete and thorough, and seems it solves more issues.

[@Violinna]

This exercise confirmed something for me. To create a comfortable frame in 1st (and half) position with less tension and more freedom, with my small hands, I need to place the hand in general much lower down and not come from above the string as much with 1st finger. i.e. - Making contact btwn base of the index finger and the neck much further away from base knuckle. Thanks for sharing this trick, Nathan!

[@natesviolin]

Good observation for your hands Inna, thanks!

[@deltafour1212]

This is gold! Love the fact you aren't using a shoulder rest.

[@natesviolin]

I made the change almost 10 years ago at this point!

[@patfiddles]

Very helpful- I've seen this trick before, but never had it explained so well. After watching this, I had to go back to the scene of the crime.- as I would slowly turn my hand inward and start grasping the neck, I could actually see the daylight between the fingers start to disappear. After doing this exercise, my fingers remain spread and my hand feels more cupped (like I'm holding a tennis ball) as opposed to that side-by-side vice grip. Seeing the right way to do it gets you started, but then understanding how it should "feel" brings it home. Thanks for the video.

[@mathildemaijer2396]

This is mind blowing. When I learned the violin (55 years ago) I learned to place my left-hand thumb in the gap at the end of the fingerboard (that spot has a name, in Dutch it is called kielhoutje). Since some years I am thinking that this is not a very practical spot, because it makes the 4th finger the most difficult one. Too far away, always stretched, in a constant tension (or too low). This video helps me finding the right spot for me. Higher up, first finger reaching back, pinky without stress. Next step is un-learning 55 years of practice the wrong way.......

[@natesviolin]

I hope you have a smooth journey!

[@tullochgorum6323]

I'm just an amateur, but here's a simple-minded idea that works for me in 1st position. First I place my 3rd and 4th on the A, with my thumb in the position that allows a comfortable trill (in my case - a slow trill!). Then I reach back with 2 and 1. On my hand this places the thumb roughly opposite 2. I play without a shoulder rest, and I've also switched to the high thumb position that was pretty much universal in the restless players of the Golden Age. This brings my fingers more over the string, and seems to help keep the base of the thumb soft. I've also found that the thumb feels more secure, so it's less rigid and more mobile. If you watch the old players, their thumbs are always in movement as it adjusts to the demands of the music. With this higher 1st position my 4th finger now works far better, and my 3rd finger vibrato too. (4th finger vibrato still a work in progress ...) This check literally only takes a couple of seconds and gives me a frame pretty close to the ideal that Nathan describes, with nice gaps at the base of 1/2 and 2/3. I found that his Mind the Space exercise gave a similar result, so I'm hoping I'm on the right track. If you care to try it, I'd be interested to hear whether works for you too.

[@marcogabbarini7105]

Nathan, you are really amazing. I did steal a bunch of stunning tips from your beautiful tutorials! Thanks a lot

[@violinlab]

I love the "wrong side of the tracks" exercise! So innovative. And I'm so jealous of your wickedly fast 4th finger.😉 🎻

[@natesviolin]

Thanks, and happy to see your latest video too!

[@peterbaxter8151]

That’s a very interesting exercise which I had never heard of. I’ll give it a try today.😊

[@natesviolin]

Let me know how it works!

[@thecatofnineswords]

Every time I watch you, I learn several new things.

[@saea58]

Thank you Nathan. I will try this too. ☺️

[@nicholettefetsch2245]

Thalnk you, Nate.

[@GlennFiddles]

I believe some people call this the Milstein Exercise. Julia Bushkova has a nice video about it and a Bulgarian violin pedagogue who recommends setting the frame to first establish where 3 and 4 go comfortably and learning to reach back for 1st finger.

[@natesviolin]

Thanks for the info, I’ll check out her video on this… I like her teaching!

[@nskimharris]

First position was definitely further up than I thought. This is mind blowing!

[@natesviolin]

Yes, that’s often the case!

[@xiaoleideng]

This helped me so much! I took a month long break and when I re-started my practice the first thing I noticed was the tensions you described. I tried to be mindful and my speed went a lot faster, and my vibrato a lot better. I followed your video and it got even better! Thank you very much. I need to take your advice on patience and slow down my practice and watch out for tension.

[@natesviolin]

That’s the way to do it!

[@TNungesser]

Thank you Nathan.

[@jillrice2577]

Thank you so much! Great info and I really appreciate the guide.

[@spacejackson1612]

Thank you for the video! May I know what is the famous lefthand practice routine you mentioned that Heifetz practiced every day?

[@Aymeric_Bonhomme]

You're a tremendous inspiration sir!

[@shiragoldmusic]

How do you bring the first finger back without compromising the other fingers positions?

[@Samlaren]

Great Christopher Walken impression at 6:09 ;)

[@natesviolin]

Had to look to see what you meant, and now I get it!

[@Ciaccona255]

I can't see it. Is it the head motion?

[@nash_jab4665]

Thanks for this nice video. Do you teach in Lexington, KY?

[@brunomaunier4051]

Thank you for this wonderful advice. However, when I try to download the manual, I get to a 404 error message after providing my first name and email address. Is this manual still available?

[@panthersherry1157]

Thanks a lot!

[@emersonlmak1625]

i find it to hard to do this exercise since i can’t put my first finger on G without not being able to do 2,3 and 4 on A string what can i do? 😢

[@iainbremner8909]

I'm returning to violin after many years of intermittent playing, and I appreciate your advice in this video. Unfortunately the link to the free Practice Essentials returns an error 404. How can I obtain the guide?

[@paulagarciapresas8598]

Great video! Thanks from Argentina!

[@natemidnight]

I was watching a Yehudi Menuhin left hand technique video. It appears he only contacts the violin with his thumb and has a space on the other side of the neck. It doesn't appear you play this way. I find it near impossible to support the violin doing it Menuhin's way. I can see how if you could you would gain incredible freedom in the left hand but it seems impossible for me. I think many violinists do not play this way so I would say it's not necessary but I wondered if you could comment on this. Have you tried at all to play that way?

[@jackiexu3683]

Hi, Thanks for sharing! I noticed that the link seems to expire. Any possible links to download now?

[@midnighttutor]

Earth to Nathan: in German the dipthong ie is pronounced like a long E so the guy's name is pronounced ShradEEk rhymes with GEEK. You can slightly roll the R too just to show that you know what you are talking about.

[@natesviolin]

Noted! How did “the gap” help you play the etude?

[@midnighttutor]

@@natesviolin I had seen the same concept and activity with moving the index finger over in one of your videos a few years aqo. I tried it then and found it interesting. Squeezing pieces of the left hand turns out to not be my major issue at this point, which is getting my left hand to work at lightning speed when needed and I have seen your videos on that too.

[@olgamarshall8965]

So hard to play a violin

[@Lamadesbois]

9:39 _Enola Gay, you should have stayed at home yesterday_ Joke aside, thank you for the creative trick 🙂