BEGINNING VIOLIN & VIOLA POSTURE INFO

VIOLIN & VIOLA HOLD
Bowhold on a pencil:
Right Hand holds the pencil!
Thumb TIP touches pencil.
Thumb is curved.
Middle finger folds over the pencil, touching at first knuckle across from thumb.
Ring finger folds over pencil, also touching at first knuckle. Hug the FROG!
Index finger flops over and lands on the pencil between the first and second knuckle.
Pinky tip rests lightly on top of pencil.
All joints should be rounded, flexible, relaxed. In case of double joints, the joints should be eased into the right position with the help of the other hand. The more you practice un-sticking the joints, the sooner they will stop locking up.

Exercises:
Bunny munches the pencil
Bunny ears wiggle
Tap the pencil with different fingers (TAP TAP taptap Tap; T-A-P T-A-P; Pinky pinky pinky tap; Circle circle; Pet The Frog)
Elevator
Rocket ship
Place pencil on head, shoulders, forhead, nose (any place would be great to add taps).
Windshield wipers, fast and slow
Wrist waves Hello, Side to side, Circles
Hills and Valleys
Rhythm exercises with pencil in hand and focusing on opening and closing the elbow
Mississippi Hot Dog (Pepperoni Pizza)
Down kitty Up kitty
Peanut Butter Jelly Sandwich
Red Light (STOP!) Go
Also do rhythm exercises without bow with right hand moving along the
left arm. Start each rhythm by going in the “DOWN’ direction.

Getting the violin/viola into playing position:
Make sure you have a sponge or shoulder rest on!!
Feet together
Make a “V”
Step left foot out a little
Sway like a tree in the breeze/Rock-n-Roll
Slide left hand on “magic X”
Place left hand over "high dot" of violin
Statue of Liberty
Flip
Land the violin/viola on your SHOULDER (not chest / collar bone)
Nose, scroll, and left foot should all be lined up, "V" with arms
Try “no hands”
Violin/viola is parallel to the floor.
A little animal lives between your arm and ribs, tickle space
Slide “magic X” toward the scroll
NO PIZZA SERVER!!
Check for light in the valley and/or mouse hole
Place finger TIPS on the tapes on the fingerboard
Does your wrist look like a pizza server?? (Straight wrist please)
Fingertips should look “square” and be able to balance a penny on the tops - you might need to cut your nails!!
Elbow under the violin/viola

Beginning Songs
Ant Song
E E E- A A A- D D D- G G G-
(Each each each, each and every
Ant, ant ant, digging in the
Dirt, dirt, dirt, underneath the
Ground, ground, ground)

DAD Song
D A D -
D A D -
D D A A
D A D -

Hot Cross Buns on D string
F# E D -
F# E D -
DDDD EEEE
F# E D -

Boil Them Cabbages on D string
F#F#F#F# G-G-
F#F#F#F# E-E-
F#F#F#F# GGGG
F#F#EE
D- D-