Spencerian Penmanship for beginners Part 1 | How to write in Spencerian script | Cursive handwriting

[@TheNormalHandwriting]

You can find the practice sheets here: www.etsy.com/listing/1365054144/printable-spencerian-penmanship-practice

[@hyquiemistheg.o.a.t1671]

do you write with your wrist planted down or hovering above the paper?

[@c4sp3r-13]

For the basic strokes write out a whole page of each one. It’ll improve it a lot better than a few times then jumping into words. This is the biggest part of this script. You need your strokes to be consistent which means making it muscle memory

[@margyb7469]

Writing out a whole page in one hit is counter productive. Boredom will set in after a couple of line, then sloppiness set in. It is better to do a line or two regularly.

[@willrummell3670]

@@margyb7469 I feel like a mixture is a decent approach. Learning is different for everybody but I see a lot benefits to just absolutely grinding something out in the beginning until you are good enough to enjoy practicing. Guitar for example- when I was learning, (taught myself while at uni), in the very beginning, I would pound our 4 hour sessions of literally just trying to make chord shapes or picking individual strings consistently. You’re right, there were times where I would get absolutely sloppy- but almost infallibly, the next day when I have a fresh head and do the same practice routine, it would be noticeably easier. You ever slam your head against a level in a video game, rage quit, and then come back a few hours later and nail it on your first try?

[@architchoudhary4782]

@@willrummell3670 Absolutely!

[@patriciajrs46]

That's very true.

[@apscafe]

Really appreciate

[@ntmn8444]

I never used to appreciate handwriting but as an adult in a technological world, I now do. I now picked up calligraphy to address my own envelopes.

[@marlonquintana3466]

Same. It's a dying art. 😢

[@TheSaneHatter]

This music makes me feel downright melancholy for the days when I was learning cursive in school, despite how hard it was at the time: I had no idea how important this was, and no one told me how good I was at it. I missed a really good opportunity to build confidence there, and to start learning a new kind of art.

[@shermagustave837]

I understand but start again. I started drawing flowers 6 months.

[@AllSortsOfScripts]

This is THE BEST Spencerian tutorial I’ve seen. No words needed. Thanks to your video I’ve been able to see details that matter. You also chose the best music to go along with it. Thank you so much for sharing❗️

[@VilleWitt]

I tried to copy it completely. I found out that the small c is incorrect, so I tried to search elsewhere. It's very nice, but watch out if you want to be very good at >using< it to quickly write: the hand is held incorrect etc.

[@apscafe]

Fantastic

[@Harry_Ballsac]

Not trying to glaze but this vid is literally a cheat code to learn spencerian without wating time, thanks!

[@contactsaavy]

Finally, a video that connects all the disciplines together. I have been learning for a couple of weeks and I was mis-interpreting the letters in the Spencerian book. You made me recognise the leading into and trailing out of each letter, now I can interpret the words in the book correctly and I have re-started at book one again this time proper. Also the spacing and fractions of the letters you wrote was something I was missing, now it’s all connecting together. From the countless videos I have watched from becoming addicted a few weeks ago yours is the best. Thank you for your valuable video :)

[@RajkumarAdhikari]

When your handwringing is so good that your teacher thinks you printed it so you get an Fail :D

[@angelus_solus]

That's when you sit down and show them in person what you're capable of.

[@DityaSangGita]

OmG that's so excruciatingly hilarious 😝😂

[@センナ-h4c]

Wringing? Holy shit

[@seal_shepherd8148]

when your english is so bad that there's no way they would've understood your wringing regardless

[@Paruzzdrawzz]

Not D You need to say E 😂😂😂😂

[@friedrich4071]

Practicing Spencerian is a good mental break for me.

[@dorafatima10]

It's soo satisfying to do

[@ivorybow]

Handwriting hs no longer being taught in Colorado schools. So I got the Spencerian teaching set and helped her learn in 8th grade. She is so proud of her beautiful hand, and she was the only one in her classes who could read and write script. This is a national travesty, to stop teaching this art. It builds confidence and I believe, increases intelligence.

[@dennybonicolini7665]

SPENCERIAN, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL HANDWRITING IN THE WORLD. STUNNING!!!

[@ЕкатеринаЛбова-з6ъ]

Спасибо!

[@DB-cx6cb]

Beautiful.❤ As a youngster I was a terrible student. At 71 years old learning Spencerian penmanship. Love your abilities and so helpful. Thank you for sharing.

[@Mysasser1]

Omg! This is how I was taught cursive. Now wonder all my life people liked my handwriting!

[@cathykrueger4899]

I am mesmerized. This is the cursive I was taught in school but with lines instead of graph paper. My handwriting is nowhere near this lovely but it’s good enough that I receive the occasional complement. I, too, learned with a fountain pen. I wish I still had one. This is a wonderful tutorial.

[@kot3405]

I've never thought id be moved by handwriting

[@silverjinglebobspur1]

Composing it through his writing, I believe.

[@saitohajime5378]

¡Beautiful calligraphy!. I want to buy spencerian exercise books to practice this Christmas. At the moment I practice with beautiful videos like yours. Thanks for your tutorials!

[@spooler1]

This is how I learned to write at school as a 6 year old. I still write like that. That was in 1983/4.

[@malasoni1326]

You are not normal for me Salute to your patience ☺️☺️

[@dankelly9304]

The video that helped improve my handwriting more than any other. Thank you.

[@honeydew75]

Thank you for this video and the time and effort that went into making it, so relaxing ☺️

[@limpduck1753]

Thank you. The video itself is a piece of art.

[@eternal-dreamer]

Best Spencerian calligraphy video on KZbin! 💜💜💜 Thank you so much!

[@jens6076]

this is exactly what my soul needed. thank you…

[@muneebaqureshi4049]

This is really helpful and only effective channel that helped me get through my exams

[@doro8856]

What gorgeous handwriting.

[@michaellewis7920]

Never taught cursive in school, thanks very much!

[@sumitbali9194]

Thank you for your time and effort hone in making this video 🙂

[@TheNormalHandwriting]

My pleasure :)

[@ShAkbar-lk4bc]

@@TheNormalHandwriting can you help me about handwriting...?

[@rigvedrane]

@@TheNormalHandwriting Could you please tell me what kind of nib is necessary for this? A flex? A stub? A fine/medium/broad?

[@AyushRaj]

@@rigvedrane I think this is a normal M nib but moved around in certain way to create line variation

[@rigvedrane]

@@AyushRaj DAMN, that's hard work and determination

[@silverjinglebobspur1]

This musical composition was developed to be performed as if it were flowing, the pen, a wand, and you, the conductor of a heart filling masterpiece.

[@freddym223]

Very helpful since i have the five copy books . but it's nicer to get the correct angle from the paper your using than trying to get a 52 degree angle . Plus you really get into the detail about things like the spaces and things so i can't go too wrong Thank you very much !!!!!!!!!!

[@apscafe]

Such a satisfaction watching this beautiful beautiful calligraphy

[@florentchif4551]

Your writing exhibits commendable quality; however, your pen grip and the restricted use of only your wrist rather than the full motion of your arm detract from the overall effectiveness of your technique. This aspect is particularly critical for Spencerian script, which was designed and taught to enable individuals to write swiftly and fluidly, emphasizing the importance of graceful, tension-free movements for achieving its characteristic elegance.

[@MierdaAzul]

Interesting! However, I am left-handed, what would be the best way to write Spencerian?

[@nandir.m.9061]

@@MierdaAzullol...with the full motion of your left arm...

[@ZastrowFamilyAntiques]

Quite so

[@lauralbriar]

Beautiful and good camera work so it's easy to follow! Thank you - I have subscribed (and I love your music too!)

[@avikasav]

It's absolutely gorgeous! ❤️ Thank you!

[@precilago3352]

First strokes outlines the letters triggering the final strokes to signify the whole argument underneath unspoken letters. Turn out pretty load n clear. 👍👍👍

[@xXLtDudeXx]

Not the sub you wanted but the sub you got. Nice video, both informative and relaxing. Thank you sir.

[@DeaK5]

Amazing calligraphy! Great tutorials!

[@tafi_viejo.1060]

Totally awesome. Thanks for this material, greetings from Argentina

[@TheNormalHandwriting]

😉

[@dougsensei]

This video helped a lot, especially with the boxes.

[@duk-sun1809]

Your handwriting is gorgeous!

[@TheNormalHandwriting]

Thanks :)

[@victorliew3280]

thank you for the video -- is there a part 2 for this? also interested in seeing your body / paper and arm position if possible :)

[@TheNormalHandwriting]

Hi Victor :). Yes part 2 will be coming in October

[@lorbunlong6683]

This video is really helpful for me. I'm really really interested in the handwriting with fountain pen so much. Thank you for your sharing

[@mingxuanshen]

Just planning to start practicing and thanks for the detailed video!!!

[@TheNormalHandwriting]

You're welcome :)

[@keithlightminder3005]

the result is quite lovely, But a teacher of Spencerian Writing system would have several areas to critique- the position of the hand on the pen, the angle of the page, etc... but it looks just like Spencerian in the end so it doesn't matter much. your hand might tire more easily with your grip and it might take longer to complete a page. If there are not concerns for you, they are not concerns. Thank you so much for recording this. for a reference for others to learn from.

[@kahl4077]

Yeah, I learned Spencerian in school too, and the hand position confused me in this vid. I can't say much, though. I can't hold my hand any differently than the person in the vid does. Probably why I have so many wrist problems now. XD

[@zerjiozerjio]

Agreed. I think the OP, with all the passion dedicated to this art form, might benefit from studying arm movement techniques from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Back then secretaries had to have great penmanship because typewriters were still not super common. And they had to be able to write for a long, long time. So they left a wealth of knowledge about ways to write that are ergonomic, efficient, and beautiful!

[@freddym223]

@@zerjiozerjio i know the books say to rest on the flesh below the elbow and use the nails of the ring finger and pinky to rest on the paper which does not feel comfortable to me . so i watched michael sull who ain't too bad , and he rests on the pinky and the pad below . there are many ways to skin a cat . i see people all over youtube with the ugliest grips write beautifully . but i agree . if i was young , i would really go by the book and do it exactly by the book.

[@Tmanaz480]

In the pre typewriter era, teachers were very picky about form because there was a chance students might end up working in an office, writing and copying documents all day. Spencer designed his system for speed and endurance.

[@plutoniumreal]

Bro got mw writing English+, thanks.

[@stargazer1359]

And the student becomes the teacher..... Nice music. 🖋🎼🕊

[@TheNormalHandwriting]

Thanks :). I've been practicing so far and really enjoy it 😄

[@promillaverma6445]

Wonderful hand writing

[@promillaverma6445]

Beautiful writing you have 👍🏻👍🏻

[@TheTravellingObserver]

Beautiful and elegant script. I am just mesemrized. You are doing it so effortlessly tgat you just *make* it look easy. I know because I am trying - and it aint easy. From a pure technical point of view, if you dont mind me ctating this for purposes of technical clarification for your audience, this script is much closer to ‘American Cursive’ script described by Michael Sull who indeed based it on Spencerian Script. However, he describes American Cursive as much easier to learn and master than the Spencerian script’s ovals and slamt angles (main and connecting slant angles: 52 and 30 degrees respectively). They are esp more challenging to learn and master for those who didnt grew up practicing it. The angles you are doing are over 35 and 55 degrees for connecting and main slant (respectively). But hey! Your writing is super beautiful and elegant. I am just beginning to learn. I have all the books to be had for Spencerian as well as those on American Cursive svript authored by Master Penman Michael Sull. Infact, I have had the honour of speaking to him over the phone last year and I picked his brain for a good while on this issue of slant angles with him and he was kind enought to explain to me why he based and preferred the slant angles he has described in his books on American Cursive. But again, uour handwriting is just beautiful. And it is not easy to do what you are doing it so easy. You are doing it so effortlessly tgat you just *make* it look easy. I know because I am trying - and it aint easy.

[@TheNormalHandwriting]

Thanks a lot for your precious and constructive words :). I honestly did not pay enough attention to the angle which is an obvious flaw. Thanks for pointing that out 🙂 And hope you enjoy practicing as well 😉

[@plouteo6612]

Thanks for your input ... I too, am lost in all the technicalities. I am a novice calligrapher, who learned Copperplate, and now I want to learn Spencerian too, but I don't know where to start. The earlier books on Spencerian are fortunately beyond their copyright and are now in the public domain, so I guess reading those books will be a good start. And thank you The Normal for starting this series. Instructional videos on Spencerian, aren't that readily available compared to the other scripts.

[@TheTravellingObserver]

The Normal A technical flaw only if one is considering it in cotnext of Spencerian Script specifixations. I would give anything to have your writing. 🙂

[@TheTravellingObserver]

Asaph73 Those five books are a good start. There are heaps of other resources for Spenceiran: 1) IAMPETH website 2) Google ‘Random guideline generator’ and there is a tool you can use to print guidliensnand x height and ascenders descenders - the whole lot- for a variety of Scripts including but not limited to Spencerian and British Roundhand. 3) There is another webpage that I downloaded practice sheets for Spencerian and that is A MUST for all aspiring to learn Spenceiran Script. I will check if i can find the link but the problem is : a) youtube doesnt allow posting links (and i know a workaround that). B) I have these practice sheets on my laptop but I dont remember where I downloaded those files from. If I find that link I will post it here. 3) LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST, oractice the angles on lined paper and checkyourself with a protractor if you are gettung the angles correctly. Evebn better would be to draw your own lines on a blank paper and THEN practice angles and letters. 4) and buggest hurdle is what is x height and width of letters in Spenceiran? Every body mentions height but getting the width is more tricky becausr you cant *draw* the letter correctly unelss you know all the dimensions. And its all in *one eighth of an inch; one ninth of an inch*. What all that means is you have to learn *theory* and learn it PRECISELY if you really wanna learn Spencerian. After a lot of search I have got the book that deacribes all that. I will post the name and page number for you. I spent a lot of time doing conversions from inches to cm and vice versa using rulers to take the measurements. So, I can state , quite ironically, that I am *-inching-* closer.

[@plouteo6612]

@@TheTravellingObserver Thank you for the comprehensive reply. I did find two websites that give free pdf downloads for Spencerian worksheets.

[@liisaelts7522]

We learned it in school, we were given those small pamphlets and had the fillable ink pens in the first class. We only were allowed ballpoint next year, "a'las our little hands would be permanently ruined and our handwriting with it". I think it's when they actually came here, those ballpoint. Oddly, my handwriting is still similar to it, my sister's is completely different.

[@pechupechaairukkattum6986]

What's the background music called? It's beautiful, so is your handwriting.

[@shamsherali323]

This is really a great time being watched this video.

[@jaysinggavit9183]

Nice handwriting

[@macabredisguise4852]

it's not handwriting, its calligraphy

[@Igor_Itkin]

How do you rest the hand so that you can move it along the word?

[@clairejones1076]

This is beautiful work! Do you happen to have a website with sheets with these breakdowns? :)

[@TheNormalHandwriting]

Thanks Claire. I haven't thought about it, but this could be a good idea :).

[@ItsTooLateForMe]

Please! I too would love some printable sheets. 🥺

[@richardrapp4133]

@@TheNormalHandwriting I just found your videos and was going to ask this exact question. I would love exemplar sheets, especially on grid paper like in your videos!

[@زهراء-ع1خ2ج]

You helped me alot , God bless you 🙏

[@sangeonahn9155]

This is real art!!! I'd like to trace your cursive. If I had a chance to get the worksheet with 26 big letters and 26 small letters on it...

[@Edirich99]

Keahlian anda dalam menulis font kursif dengan tangan anda sangat luar biasa hasilnya.. saya bisa banyak belajar dari anda 👍🔥💯🙏

[@maximusgamer761]

Thank you so much, greeting from Chile.

[@amarelasector]

congratulations for the beautiful video that together with the music give a feeling of relaxation. I am Italian and I already write italic cursive, but I would like to learn the spencer but I do not know anything about this style, which pens are the most suitable for this type of writing. Thank you

[@K.Alvi_Al_Mahmud]

Is the square block 5*5mm in size? In Bangladesh, Rhodia Notebook is not available. If you could confirm the size, I can buy other notebooks of the same block size. TIA.

[@lyndahoang7433]

Can you do the alphabet from a-z and possibly in capital letters?

[@TheNormalHandwriting]

You can find the video for capital letters in my Spencerian playlist :). I have the link in the description box too 😊

[@artwithak47]

So amazing ink pen writing

[@roofoose]

Does anybody know the name or the author of the background music?

[@RS-wg5ky]

How does one do this on copy paper without lines???

[@KatWoodland]

First you practice with lines then you gain the skill to write without them.

[@diverseconscious5262]

Music please?? Beautiful!!!

[@mementomori520]

Thank you

[@ade1963]

Love it

[@zpasjidomuzyki9390]

Wonderful writing. What is this music?

[@jameshodds8800]

really good resource, but is there other parts to come

[@TheNormalHandwriting]

Thanks James :). And yes, there will be another part coming in October 🙂

[@carolmurphy4627]

This is such a beautiful video. May I ask what the music is please?

[@larwenceswarez9751]

What's this song being played on the piano called

[@jakefolly161]

Mi Jesus by Commodore Herky J.Smurktukski

[@bbhall020202]

No. 6 In My Dreams - Esther Abrami

[@MaHM95]

Great, I'm interested in the Spencerian style, but I'm not sure if I have to follow Spencerian instructions about arm movement or my usual hand position to achieve the goal. Please advise.

[@adampapai939]

You definitely have to learn and adjust your grip and hand / finger movements. Wrist should not move. Look up "new spencerian compendium of penmanship" pdf and learn how to properly sit / hold the pen / sit / and finger + arm + combined movements. It'll take time as you have to re-learn everything. what you can see in this video is unfortunately "drawing" the letters and not "writing" spencerian. So they're spencerian letters but they're not written the official way, they're just drawn by the original poster. So if you really want to learn spencerian, you have to properly learn everything. If you just want to do calligraphy and make the same shaped letters, you can copy the original poster, but that won't be "spencerian writing", but just copying letters by drawing the letters... which is not the case what you want. If you were to take notes using the speed she's using, it would take 10 minutes to finish a sentence. Which is hilarious for "writing" speed.

[@cmyk8964]

I always have trouble distinguishing the lowercase n and u in handwriting, so that “mmmmmmm” line practice thing might be the thing I need in my life.

[@clarizapante8409]

May I ask the title of music played in background

[@bbhall020202]

Its No. 6 In My Dreams - Esther Abrami

[@heavenbound1386]

@@bbhall020202 TYVM

[@Avatar_The_Airbender_]

Neat and Precise strokes 💯

[@freed-indeed]

the 1874 manual says the dot for the i should be one full space above?

[@debapriyaguha7594]

amazing!❤️❤️ Thank you for helping me get back my school days cursive handwriting😊 I have a small question. Can you please tell how to avoid the loops forming in the tails of p and heads of t strokes when I write at medium speed? If I wrote very slow, it's fine but if I write even a little faster, loops start forming in the upper heads and tails of letters.....

[@christinaalexander1111]

I appreciate this content thanks for sharing

[@nancylemieux8058]

Is the pen you are using fine or medium nib?

[@aggresivepassivist]

Great tutorial. I have been using graphite for my arts for along time. In October, I decided 2023 I want to go back to ink. As others have pointed out, yep I can draw.... But I'm, my penmanship.... Is not note worthy. I think it is a natural thing coming back to ink, and then thinking, "Why does my handwriting look like chicken scratch?" Great paced displaying, on graph, with do's/don'ts. Feel like I am in second grade learning cursive again.... Wait, how do these connect?

[@JeremyAntonL]

I thank you very much for this help. I am wondering how to find the paper that you list Rhodia 80 g/m2 the sites that carry Rhodia do not seem to respond to that question in the search. Is there another way to ask for the grid paper that you demonstrate with, please?

[@handwritingpoint2615]

Wow nice 👌

[@buildersmimic]

Thz for tutorial btw whatt is the audios name?

[@nidhijhawer756]

What size graph sheet is that? Thanks!

[@alexaraneda6461]

Me relaja la musica y el verso de esos trazos....gracias

[@MegaEpsilon7]

How about " j "

[@nancylemieux8058]

I too love Spencerian style....just practicing the 45 degree slant and trying to keep letters in proportion has improved my handwriting drastically. Can't wait to see more...Is this paper regular 1/4 inch grid like graph paper? Thanks for teaching... :)

[@macabredisguise4852]

spencerian is exactly 52 degrees

[@nancylemieux8058]

@@macabredisguise4852 Thank You.. .

[@margyb7469]

@@macabredisguise4852 Yes I was about to write that 😃

[@floutwrit]

Beautiful ♥️♥️♥️

[@beautifulday1665]

I am looking for some videos on German cursive handwriting.. is this it??

[@argonwheatbelly637]

No, that's quite different.

[@guillermopineda2524]

Excelente. Sabe y sabe cómo compartir lo que sabe.

[@dyloak6450]

What paper and pen is this @The Normal?

[@daniele5713]

amazing video; thank you for sharing

[@cherrychua9689]

Hello! Thank you for these tutorials, they're wonderful:) just wondering what would be a good quality yet good value pen you'd recommend for a beginner? I'm going to start learning cursive penmanship from your videos!

[@ItsTooLateForMe]

Pilot Metropolitan, $16-30 and grab some refillable cartridges so you can save money by buying your own ink!

[@Tree85115]

I recommend the pilot Kaküno with either some cartridges, or a pilot Con-70 converter with a cheap bottle of fountain pen ink!

[@trollenz]

Very inspiring, thanks

[@dianarivera3471]

Can you please add a link for your fountain pen. Thank you :)

[@dwimusudem7943]

Connecting stroke ~30 degree letter stroke ~ 52 degree. That’s the heart of Spencerian penmanship

[@williamlawrence1844]

Anyone know the name of the piano composition ? Very melodic ! :)

[@Rajatsingh-qv4gh]

What is name of this all piano music

[@bbhall020202]

No. 6 In My Dreams - Esther Abrami

[@diverseconscious5262]

Gratitude thanks very pleasing and comforting music!

[@fmshyanguya5351]

🙏🏿 But where is lowercase “j” within the groups?