Violin Techniques - Left Hand Frame [Part 1]

[@pytys]

Just want to say, you are amazing. I'm a self-taught adult. Within 3 weeks of following your guidelines my left hand pain is almost gone. And with all due respect, you are hot. Don't stop doing what you're doing with these videos!

[@ViolinClassUSA]

I am glad I could help.

[@Myself-jk2mi]

This is the clearest and most to the point video I have seen on this topic. So good.

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Glad it was helpful!

[@peterspagnolo2505]

Probably the best instructor in this country. And evidently a marvelous human being. Thankyou maestra.

[@samamani5423]

i always look forward to watch your tutorials i wish i had the opportunity to learn from you in person , you are very articulate and on point . thank you

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Glad you like them!

[@s.lerner7330]

Definitely the best detailed “3 straight lines” explanation. Thank you. Looking forward to part 2

[@TheJmills39]

Never heard second and third, followed by fourth, then first. I like it! Gonna try it out in my practice. Great videos you have!

[@mo-jj9pp]

I am a 1-month adult beginner. I have so many question marks on how the textbook/my teacher in coaching the postures (violin hold, bow hold, finger placement). It simply not making any sense to place the violin without considering the left hand motion, and so do the finger by finger placement (yes from the index finger) without considering the pinky! After watching your videos (thanks god!) I am very sure that I am correct. The problem is that I was unable to have a good teacher : ( Prof. you are really an Angel of all beginners. Love you~

[@garysimkins2179]

I have viewed and appreciated all of your video's. I have been studying now for just over a year and have struggled with setting this frame. My wrist wants to bend outward, and as a result I have experienced some chronic pain in my thumb. Here you have made the importance of this frame so clear and concise, and I wish that I was studying violin with you. I am an adult who played cello for years, and started playing violin in my youth. I will adapt this approach every day forward since watching this. You are a brilliant teacher!

[@РуссоТуристо-з9щ]

Юлия, спасибо большое за Ваши видеоуроки. Я очень рада, что нашла Ваш канал!!

[@AnyoneCanCode1]

Thank you!! This breaks down the fundamentals greatly along with Simon Fischers book

[@hannahka6263]

That is so helping me! The first finger is exactly my problem especially when going from the other strings on the E- string. My teacher said everything is alright and doesn't want to explain. But now I know why my wrist always tilts to the side. Thank you! 🙂

[@onlinemusiclessonsadamphil4677]

Excellent... 0ne of my old professors - always base the left hand on the 4th finger.. she also gave me lots of Sammons exercises which place a lot of the work on workings of the fourth and third fingers

[@wartyfrog5749]

Thank you so much. I am very grateful for your teaching.

[@hilinafekadu5533]

OMG thank you in a million I have been struggling for a long time especially on the neck.

[@alexandrebernat1405]

Greetings from Brazil, Teacher Julia! Your lessons are incredible and they motivate me to practice every day a little bit more and acknowledge my tiny improvements. Thank you so much!

[@sarasamadi2196]

Thank you so much Julia, starting with the second and third finger has improved my intonation

[@peterspagnolo2505]

I always return occassionally for a refresher from il professore. I realized i was cupping my left wrist inward at times which made it difficult to get straight again especially when needing vibrato That incorrect position choked the vibrato. Thankyou. I discontinued my instructor given these videos are much more effective. spaganini

[@davevanderpol6227]

I just started to practice violin and never played any other instrument before. Your video's are super helpfull! Thanks so much!!

[@1cleandude]

Wow I started four years ago always placing the first finger and never challenged at lessons! Thanks again for your time and expertise!🙏🏻

[@igrowwearyofthisworld7369]

My teacher taught me to, in order to easily reach with the 4th, lift my wrist (into an actually slightly unhealthy position as there won't be a straight line anymore) whenever I need to put the fourth on the fingerboard. I personally don't think it's proper and don't need it, either, on the G-String very slightly. So I decided to not adopt this technical detail. Because your advice for simply turning the hand slightly works excellently. In fact, I always struggled with thirds like E-G on the A and E string BECAUSE I lifted my wrist like I was taught to, which caused huge tension. Now I simply turn my hand to and it just works easily. Thank you! She also taught me not to drop the 4th finger from above but from the side for better intonation. I notice you are dropping it from above. On this point I'm unsure whether my teacher's advice is good or not. In fact I have a history of teachers teaching me poor technique. Bow hold and all kinds of movements were taught to me poorly. But this one teacher I have right now helped me improve my tone tremendously within weeks by going over the basics with me again. So I was so happy. But now I notice she, too, is teaching me poor technique in some areas (the above mentioned ones not being all of them). I don't know what to do. :( I really, really like your teaching style, though. Not just in this video but across all your videos I've watched so far. Thank you so much!

[@ViolinClassUSA]

You are most welcome! Please remember that all teachers try to do their best... Sometimes, one comment may work very well for one student but not for the other. It is most important that you look for help (like you are doing!) and try to better your own playing by observation and analysis. Never settle for something that does not really work. I wish you much success.

[@juleslemelle9027]

So glad to have discovered your insightful videos; there is so much to know about the Violin that escapes casual observance. ❤️

[@GRANT-W-NEALE]

I bought my(51) violin and I always look forward to watching your soo precious videos. It also seems that I needed this lesson 🤗😷

[@ViolinClassUSA]

You can do it!

[@jorgevallin2983]

You are amazing… Thank you… We love your classes ❤️🎻❤️🎻❤️🎻❤️🎻

[@bruceedington2645]

I have 4th finger pain and I will try this method. After 50 years of amateur playing I am going back to basics

[@songsabai3794]

Nice to see you back. Excellent & informative video as all-ways - Thank You!!

[@nb7524]

Thank you! I look forward to the next video.

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Thanks for watching!

[@mykofreder1682]

I'm not a good player because I have only been playing 6 months, but this is useful to eventually do things right. I am aware of the right elbow but never thought about the left elbow, I will keep this in the back of my mind and as I feel more comfortable with my left hand, I will try to reach ideal position of the fingers and elbow. I do a warmup where I quickly do scales back and forth over all the string and eventually my left thumb, right elbow, bowing, and bow grip reached close to ideal, I will add this to things to think about during this warmup.

[@kpcheck1]

Thank you, for sharing Professor Julia, very helpful to me.

[@ViolinClassUSA]

You're very welcome!

[@antonioromera8880]

Thank you very much for your video. Very clear and concise exposition, as well as convenient viewing angles!! It’s so important when you receive these advices from such a super teacher! I hope you can continue making much more videos. I’m really thankful Professor Bushkova 😊👏🏻👏🏻

[@ViolinClassUSA]

You're very welcome!

[@michaeltaylor7407]

Thanks Julia! You are an outstanding teacher!

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Glad you think so!

[@kyproset]

Simply amazing. How revealing going back to basics and seeing how one might have changed in all the years.

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Glad it was helpful!

[@shipsahoy1793]

Yes Yes Yes Yes This must be done or you will always be fighting the violin, and the only way you can successfully graduate into higher positions, have muscle memory, good intonation, etc. Ultimately, the right hand takes a lot of your attention at many stages of development, so the more quickly you develop good violin and left hand positioning, the better !

[@minlee3375]

Today, this video gave me reflection and instruction once again;-)

[@chrislau7426]

Thank you for these tutorials.

[@buzilacristina964]

Very good ! We always need an advice even if we are teachers or students. Thanks!

[@laudemgloriae3]

This is soooo helpful!!! Thank you!!!

[@mushroom4713]

excellent excellent tutorial!!

[@andreasmoulin]

Great tutorials ! Very well explained !

[@richardmelhuish4733]

Such a wonderful teacher. I have a very short pinky and have had many injuries over the years. Now I have a plan of attack lol. Thanks again

[@chriswalker3187]

Greetings, Thank you for your informative videos. As an adult beginner I believe they will help with creating good habits. I haven't has time to go through both parts of this hand frame series. I was wondering if you address how the frame applies for double, triple and quadruple stops? Also how do you address positions where the first finger needs to be behind the thumb? Example the F on the E string in first position when playing in C major/Am

[@personalnotesmusic]

Great explanation about the frame!

[@annmanning1655]

Thank you I will definitely take your advice and try that out. Really informative and explained very clearly.

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Myself-jk2mi]

Thank you so much for this!

[@Borka642]

You’re the most open minded, on point and wisest instructor I’ve seen🙏🏻 I have small hands, short fingers and even shorter pinky. When I’m playing E string I cant help but do the thing you demonstrated on 2:23. Especially when I need to use 3rd and 4th fingers. I also watched the 2nd part of this video but couldn’t find how to fix it. There are also not much information on Internet regarding finger positions on E string (most troublesome string for me with my small hand and fingers, weird I know) Do you have a tip about how to fix the position on 2:23?

[@vivianasaresini3079]

I am also a tiny beginner so I hear you! My teacher corrected me this way when I "crippled" my hand and wrist going on E string: the position of hand and wrist must remain the same as on A, so on top of the keyboard, facing it with all 4 fingers, with no external rotation. Basically only fingers must move, on G they are more extended and you shorten+curve them in more when going to E. Focus on keeping the base of first finger in contact with the side of the keyboard and the hand+wrist well extented. I hope this is helpful to you aswell 😊

[@mahdi9T]

It was so nice . Could you please make a video about how to have a comfortable thumb without having tension.

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Keep watching other Left Hand Videos and make sure to do the "Milstein Exercise" correctly - it frees up the thumb.

[@earlystrings1]

Julia: "We need to accommodate our fourth finger. It's the shortest and the weakest." Me: Julia's fourth finger is twice as long as mine.

[@ViolinClassUSA]

The actual length does not matter. What matters in the proportion of the index finger to the pinky. I will explain this in my next video.

[@alexkuamoo3874]

Thank you!

[@zemresende]

Great video, everything is just so well explained! could you also do a video about coordination between right and left hand? I happen to always struggle a bit with that... Thank you!

[@ViolinClassUSA]

I believe I have talked about coordination in some of my previous videos. It may have been in those Suzuki books overviews - look through the descriptions - putting hands together

[@hunterblakely87]

Thank you

[@amirbabaei1996]

Hello teacher, please explain the left hand frame in different positions

[@johnalexander301]

First finger plays F sharp on E, Second finger plays C on A, Third finger plays G on D, Fourth finger plays D on G. Hold all fingers down simultaneously. This I believe L. Auer recommended as a method to set your left hand into perfect frame then work each finger independently.

[@ViolinClassUSA]

That would successfully endanger the hands of most beginners. It is the most challenging position and should be checked (and worked in) only by much more advanced students.

[@retrops4261]

Yes, this is only for really advanced players, and its f natural not sharp These exercises are #1 in the Dounis Daily Dozen also Simon Fisher basics and there is the easier reverse position Ab on G FNatural on D Dnatural on A and B narural on E. Again, only advanced students need apply. These exercises are to increase flexibility and teach finger independence they are not beginning exercises ro set HF

[@MrGuillermoraben]

Thnks

[@suzanne9581]

Brilliant!!

[@xiaoleideng]

I have seen some professional players, especially the ones maintain the contact point between index finger and the neck of violin, break the index line like at 2:20. Is it possible to play with straight index line while maintain the contact in first position, and on e string?

[@ajncor]

Hi, first of all I would like to congratulate you for your well done videos. I've been following your youtube channel for some time and I found your videos very informative and very well explained in an easy understandable way for an even self taught learner like me. Second, I would like to ask two questions, if is it possible for you to answer: 1 - When placing the 1st finger, should the inner side of the Index finger supporting on the side of the violin, or must be a gap between both? (sorry, I could not see clearly in the video, maybe if you could make a video zoom in the hand would be more clear) 2- Is it possible for you to address in your next video about the right position of the 2nd and 3rd fingers. I'm having trouble specially with the opening of those two fingers. I mean, if I play C with 2nd finger and keep it down while reach for D with the 3rd finger I need to make an extra effort to stretch both in order to reach a perfect intonation of D. I have normal /long fingers but I must be doing something wrong... I see in your videos that you place those fingers in a very easy and relaxed way. A Big Thank you, I'll be looking forward for you next video to keep learning the basics of violin with you.

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Hello - 1 - When placing the 1st finger, the inner side of the Index finger should lightly touch the violin neck. 2. The opening between the 2nd and 3rd fingers is most likely the problem of hidden tension and not the problem of 'right' or 'wrong' placements...

[@ajncor]

@@ViolinClassUSA Hi, Thank you very much for answer back to me. I will pay more attention to the frame and the tension of those fingers in future and try to correct it. Thank you, I'll be looking for your next video!

[@justingreen2344]

Can I find this video someplace other than KZbin? I'd like to share this with my students, and some of them do not have access to KZbin. Thank you!

[@ViolinClassUSA]

I will ask for it to be put onto my website (if it is not yet there) - thank you for your comment!

[@mishelalipiomontoya]

Me encantaría y agradeceria muchisimo si fuera traducido en Español 🙏🙏🎻🎻🎻

[@Borka642]

How can we prevent the finger bending at 2:23? Especially on E and A strings? Detaching the base of the index finger from the neck (like Menuhin style without touching the neck) is the only solution I found yet however that style has its own hardships and problems

[@ViolinClassUSA]

If Menuhin's style does not feel comfortable either, then you have to find the way to do what I demonstrate. I remember when I was redoing my left hand (while still at school) I was also feeling trapped in "either this or that" thinking. But then, eventually, I found the right way. The hand size is not an issue.

[@Amal-ks8ln]

I definitely have a problem with the index finger. It does not form a straight line with my hand and forearm. I have no idea how to fix this. I tried to keep it straight, but the violin slips down my thumb 😕

[@fahmimegdiche2949]

Does that frame stands for higher positions than 1st and 2nd ?

[@ViolinClassUSA]

It is for the First, Second, Third and, for some, Fourth positions

[@edmonda.9748]

If I knew and mastered in first year of playing, I would have been ... Thanks

[@VladGameStory]

what about viola ,the size of the instrument is much larger and 4th finger is impossible to hold like on violin

[@Aliseelike]

I’d like some suggestion how to maintain good shape for double stops... it’s just difficult whenever it involves my pinky....

[@Aliseelike]

To be precise my wrist would poke out

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Depending on your hand size, your wrist may need to slightly "poke out" in some doubles-stops...

[@Aliseelike]

@@ViolinClassUSA thank you my hand is small..

[@osunpyry3919]

🍀

[@edmonda.9748]

Now I have a much better frame, One thing, when 1, 2H, 3 are down, I dont have problem putting my 4 down, no tension. I can keep all fingers down. But when 1, 2L and 3 are down, to put 4 down, and relieve tension, I have to lift 2L! Is it natural?

[@edmonda.9748]

I think I got my answer at 7:06, it must be ok to lift 2 and 3 (while 1 kept down) in order to put 4 down. Correct?

[@ViolinClassUSA]

If you are a beginner, it is OK to lift. 2L is a much more difficult position than the 2R (my way of calling 2H).

[@edmonda.9748]

@@ViolinClassUSA I find your videos highly technical, I really enjoy/like them, in my opinion they are followups for Ghalamian's book. Apologize for mathematical language, but in terms of skill yes I am definitely a beginner, but not in terms of years 😊

[@levissketchbook8983]

I’ve played for so many years with my hand framing wrong that my pinky tends to lock flat even when I’m trying to correct it. Anyone have this issue or a fix?

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Watch and learn the "Milstein" exercise.

[@cigarnationwarriors3981]

What about the great violinists of the 20th century who did not use a shoulder rest and always played with a High left thumb? I find I support my fingers, especially the pinky, with a high thumb position. It seems to be necessary if you play without a shoulder rest.

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Not all of them did, actually. Much depends on the structure of the hand, muscle tonus, coordination abilities, etc. The all started playing as very young children and the adjustability is very different at that age.

[@wordsoftomorrow849]

Nice haircut

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Thanks 😅

[@1cleandude]

You should have been the Bond girl in Living Daylights instead of the cellist!! Thanks 🙏🏻

[@nocturnallsnake4228]

У вас волосы такие классные.

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Thank you :)

[@peterspagnolo2505]

A dominatrix violin teacher. would be very popular. Imagine the outfit."There will be pain"

[@Pavel-qt1cw]

Неужели вы русская?)