Violin Techniques - Stretching (Left Hand)

Professor of Violin Julia Bushkova shows how to properly and effectively stretch the Left Hand.
www.bushkova.com

[@TangoMasterclass]

Thank you so much, Prof. Bushkova! You are such an inspiration!

[@traditionalirishmusic9550]

Can’t thank you enough for these videos, I have a very badly paid job, and a love for music which don’t go together👀 so I can’t afford a teacher. Your videos are extremely helpful especially the bowing mechanics.

[@zvonimirkrpan1162]

Love your videos! Also, I was wondering, could you make a video regarding violin hold and setup( chinrests and shoulder rests) and your opinion on them based on your own experience and as a teacher helping the students find a comfortable posture. It would be highly appreciated! Kind regards!

[@letrasimperfectas]

Glad to see you again!

[@KriZtiaN17VL]

Thank you Prof. Bushkova!

[@alenachekhova_violin]

Спасибо большое за Ваш канал!!!

[@michelevolz7769]

Love your teaching!❤️

[@jswlo]

Thank you for your tips!

[@sofia3star]

I am loving your videos! Thank you very much for sharing such valuable insights with us 💜

[@michaelreaper666]

Thanks ..really good tips

[@pbaban]

Dear Mrs Julia Many thanks for sharing this video ,,, Actually this is a very interesting exercise of doing 10th . And very nice explained by you are. I am a violin teacher my self and I use the same technique for practising of 10th. Thanks.

[@daniilkiselev1939]

Thank you so much for everything you do! I'm an adult beginner and your lessons are your just above and beyond anything else I've seen - your time invested in pedagogy really shows. Lots of ah-ha moments when watching your tutorials. Your work is making it possible for thousands of students to further their passions and delve deeper into the art. My left hand is very stiff because of a serious injury in my earlier years and stretching my fingers without 'excess tension' in my thumb and palm has been very hard. I end up over compensating for lack of mobility in the forearm and wrist turning. I can barely place my fingers properly on the E string in the first position. G and D strings are fully inaccessible to me without seriously breaking up the form, but some of the stretches in this video have helped position on the A string properly. Would you have any suggestions for stretches specifically tailored to the 'turn of the forearm and wrist' needed to achieve a tension-free placement of the left hand? Thank you for your time :)

[@TheSkyCaLL]

I had the same trouble reaching a note from my first finger to pinky so I shift instead. I will try this later. Thanks for sharing.

[@afroblue9427]

Excellent!

[@andrewgraybill7920]

Thank you!

[@lu0844]

THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing this valuable tip!! 😅 I've been doing it wrong, but nevermore!

[@annahgraceaying2991]

Thank u so much such a great help. I've been struggling of my fingering, because my pinky can't reach the higher notes. Now I'm learning this, and I'll start stretching the correct one, from higher to lower notes. Thank u so much agaaaaaain. Xoxo

[@lupefer]

that was awesome!

[@antonioromera8880]

Thank you very much! Very pleased you share your advices. If you are so kind, could you please give some advice dealing with the training of a collapsed or locked left 4th finger? This is a problem really difficult for me to cope with some of my students.

[@ViolinClassUSA]

I will make a video on this subject soon!

[@tessfra7695]

have watched your other videos, & really appreciate your 'natural' approach to arrive at pure sound....never had those kinds of ideas before...could you pls give some hints on bow bounce....i just cant understand why it happens & even worse, what to do to remedy it...thank you.

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Would you please formulate your request a bit more clearly? I am not sure which "bounce" you mean.

[@gailvcrawford2476]

So you’re doing this stretch over a and e strings?

[@soloviolino]

When stretching does the pinky still maintain its beautiful form of rounded joints or is it acceptable for the pinky to flatten during those big stretches?

[@ViolinClassUSA]

During huge stretches the pinky flattens

[@gertmana1789]

Hey, when i put my 2nd finger right next to my 1st i can't reach the correct position for my 3th finger ( hole step between 2nd and 3th) so in the proces of reaching that 3th position i have to slide my 2nd finger up. Do you have any advice for me to allow me to keep the 2nd finger in place?

[@ViolinClassUSA]

You are apparently a beginner. You might benefit from my beginner videos on Left Hand.

[@sanchopansa1950]

I have trouble playing fourth finger on the g-string. I think I am not flexible enough. my arm is completely contorted which feels awkward and uncomfortable. can anyone give me some advice ?

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Depending on the age of the player, achieving the desired position of the hand may be much easier or much harder. At any age, one needs to turn the Left Hand toward the fingerboard on the side of the pinky (4th finger). You can achieve this (in very small increments as it is a stretch) by turning your left FOREARM so that the pinky can reach the G string easier. The whole arm does come "in" (toward the center of your torso) but not too much. Let me know if that helps

[@alidanesheim8742]

Very good video! But why is stretching that important?

[@ViolinClassUSA]

Because all advanced virtuosic pieces and concerti are written in such a way that without stretching we would never be able to play them.