Violin Playing, how to start shift properly.

Learning to shift is not an easy task when you first start out. The first impulse and thought is, "I'm going to drop my instrument".

Before you start the shifting process make sure you are holding your instrument the right way. You should be able to hold your violin or viola with no hands and with comfort. Whether you use a shoulder rest or not the instrument should rest on both your shoulder and collar bone with your head dropping down to meet the instrument so slightly. For those who do not use a shoulder rest, if you find you have to drop your chin to the point of feeling tension on the back of your neck your instrument is not on on your shoulder. Bring it to the left a bit more.

Once you feel comfortable holding your instrument without your left hand start gliding your left hand up and down the finger board as loosely as possible. Make sure your thumb is moving with your hand and opposite the index finger. It MUST move with your hand up and down the fingerboard, glide.

Now, make sure your left hand elbow is swinging to the right as your hand slides up the fingerboard toward the bridge. Think of of it as a pendulum swinging.

One more thing left to do. As you are gliding your left hand up the finger board swing your hand around to the right side of the instrument. You should feel the palm or your hand and your thumb touching the body of your instrument. They should be moving around the side of the instrument and your thumb around the base of the neck where it is attached to the body of your violin or viola.

Keep repeating this motion until you feel comfortable and secure. It is going to take time to get the grasp of shifting. Be patient with the process and with yourself.

You are on your way to shifting.

Robert Sorel, performer and instructor, www.sorelmusicstudio.net