2 - Relax From Violin Neck Grip
Objective : Allows fingers to be rounded over
the fingerboard instead of flat. This prevents touching
more than one string at a time with a single finger
(Many beginners think their fingers are too wide).
When you are satisfied with this sense of relaxation,
gradually relax and very slowly release the left hand
fingers of your left hand. Notice how all your fingers
are still rounded at this point and your left
palm is still somewhat facing the violin neck as shown
in the photo to the right.
This is the point of what I would call the natural
violin left hand position.
Try moving your fingers up and down on the strings
while maintaining the left hand's orientation (left
palm almost parallel or facing violin neck). Notice
that your fingers are able to touch only one string
at a time, even on the G string. If you find yourself
losing this orientation, repeat step 1 above,
starting from the violin left hand neck grip.
Once you can move your fingers freely in this position,
try playing a sequence of notes starting with the
first finger and ending on the fourth finger for each
string, checking to see if the fingers are still rounded.
So for example, on the G string, play first finger
(A) , second (B), third finger (C), fourth finger
Do not worry about intonation at this point. Your
second, third and fourth fingers will more than likely
be close together for this exercise.
The objective is to establish the physical (and perhaps
mental) habit of maintaining the natural violin left
hand position as shown in the last photo shown to
the right (i.e. Rounded fingers with left palm
almost parallel to or facing the violin neck).
If at any time you lose this orientation, repeat step