Hello! I’m about 54 years younger than you and I am also learning the violin! I just wanted to say that I want to wish you much luck and success on your violin journey ❤❤
I've only watched about 2-3 of your videos, but wanted to thank you for your help in my ongoing pursuit of learning to play the violin. From making a downward fist, relaxing it, then turning it upwards as a way of getting the proper left hand finger positioning to using the pads and not the tips of my fingers to using Schradieck to help improve my intonation, all of this has helped me play without twisting my hand in uncomfortable positions, in getting better sound, and making practice a joy not a chore. I'm a solo adult learner with 7 years under my belt. You've helped make it so I can see myself continuing for 7 more. Thanks!!😊
@@erictheviolinist Great, thanks! I'm already noticing improvements with some of your tips. 2 weeks learning the Viola, I'm starting to think that I might be able to do this 😅
@@erictheviolinist yeah. I got discouraged and gave up after a year and a half because the standard advice didn't work. After leaving my violin in its case basically undisturbed for 6 years, I've decided to just figure it out anyway because it is worth doing, even if I have to make seriously unorthodox adaptations to my technique.
I had two injuries when I started out 50 years ago. Got my left forefinger hit by a chainsaw, after I recovered from that, got my right shoulder separated and had surgery both times. I gave up after that, and started getting high to numb all the pain. I even gave away my fiddle. Now I’m starting over, after 45 years. I know how you feel. Django Reinhardt, the late great gypsy guitarist, had his hand damaged badly in a fire, yet he overcame that. Michael Cleveland , the great championship fiddler is legally blind and deaf in one ear. There’s hope for all of us.
@@nickiemcnichols5397 I had been training to be a professional pianist when I broke my finger. After 3 years of recovery, I still hadn't quite re-achieved the level of proficiency that I had prior to the injury and felt like I was plateauing far lower than I should have had I not been injured. I basically gave up on piano when I went to university, though I did learn guitar to work through some lingering rage over the whole ordeal via heavy metal. Resuming piano and violin seriously is like starting on a musical redemption story arc.
Im 29 years old. I broke my left arm 7 years ago. Im Not able to twist my wrist a 100 % anymore. My first Lesson is on friday :). I hope i will be able to play. Best whishes for you and greetings from germany.
Is holding it with you hand ok? I'm a mandolin player and we have no shoulder rest so many people end up defaulting to holding it up with the left hand. I have heard that this can create wrist tension. The alternative is pinning it down with your right arm but this creates shoulder and upper body tension. This is what I try to do but it has created rotator cuff issues.
Squeezing the left hand to the neck will cause tension so you definitely don't want that. You want to partially hold your left hand right above the base knuckle of the index finger. try that
Try putting your left elbow in a little more, that will give you more leverage and your fingers will reach the lower strings. Try that and let me know how it goes.