Helloooo! While waiting for some whistles I am trading out to arrive, I got a fiddle! Been wanting one for years so I am really excited. I see Many of the same people over here as are in the whistle forum! The fiddle is already a better fit for me than my guitar has been in 10 yrs. It is like a homecoming. I was able to pick out a tune suprisingly fast, now for technique, bowing skills, etc., etc. I Have put in too many hours in the 24 hours I’ve had it. Am a bit sore now so forced myslef to put it down. I’ve read a bit about correct posture and how to hold the thing but any tips would be greatly appreciated. I am self taught on every instrument I have ever learned and don’t want a teacher, so please don’t recommend I find one. nOthing against them at all but I am fortunate to have a friend who is a really good fiddler and I plan to pick her brain as much as possible but I can’t till next week so, for now, I am picking all of your brains!
Most accessible right now, in this moment?
Surf “Youtube” for fiddlers and take special notice of the way they hold the fiddle and bow
and then watch yourself practicing in front of a mirror to see if you can mimic their grace.
Any tightness you might hold in your body now could turn into a physical injury or road block to performance down the road if its made habit.
No teacher? Then I would totally advise a good tutorial DVD especially for stuff like good positions for left hand and bow hold. The best I know is Brian Wicklund’s American Fiddle Method Vol 1, which I have recommended here in the past (and surely will again).
Also see the instruction videos by this guy:
http://uk.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=professorV
I’d recommend downloading the videos to your PC as stuff on Youtube sometimes vanishes.
Also see the Violin Masterclass site at:
http://violinmasterclass.com/mc_menu.php
The videos at Musicmoose.org are also worth a look, but not as good as some of the others.
Once you’ve got the basics down is probably the time to start worrying about a specific genre. In the beginning, the stuff you need to know is much the same for ITM, bluegrass, old time… whatever.
PS:
I second Hylde’s suggestion about the mirror. I don’t know how anybody manages without one. Especially useful for training yourself to bow nice and straight and parallel to the bridge.
I also agree about tension. It’s a killer. Warm up both arms and your neck with some gentle shake-outs and stretches before and during your practice. EVERY time you feel a hand or arm tensing up, pause and consciously relax it before continuing. For the first few weeks I’d suggest practice of a half-hour a day until you get over the ‘rigid-beginner’ phase. After that it should be safe to work your way up to an hour or two.
Specific tips?
Don’t grip the neck, just let it rest in the “V” between your thumb and index finger. It can actually be quite hard to resist the urge to grip!
Don’t let the neck settle into the palm of your left hand (assuming y’re right handed). Keep the wrist straight (but relaxed), so it’s that “V” providing the little support that the left hand provides.
Much of the supporting should be done by the shoulder and chin. You should be able to hold your fiddle in position with your chin. “Look, Ma… no hands.” The left hand is free to move as it needs to.
Let your left hand fingers curve over so your finger tips come down almost vertically onto the strings. It’s just the tips you want to use.
When changing strings during staccato bowing, try to time the roll across to the new string to happen at that stationary moment just as the bow changes direction.
Don’t have the bow hair too tight or it’ll bounce all over.
This is a personal one that might not work for everyone. I find that if I walk around while playing it helps me to avoid tensing up.
Thanks so much for the replies. Great links. I’ve checked the mirror and made some adjustments but I can’t seem to hold the fiddle between my chin and shoulder w/out hands - I’m not sure if it is my positioning or the chinrest needing adjustment. I have discovered that if I stand I’m less tense and when I walk around a bit I remember to remember to relax. Very helpful. Thanks again, oh and I am reading the other newbie posts for more info.
PS I love the fiddle!
I don’t see that you mentioned a shoulder rest. Try one out, it will improve your chin/shoulder grip immensely.
Definitely.
One of this kind does the job great.
http://www.gear4music.com/inventory-detail/index/?int_product_id=8633&gad=COO_5foBEgjUTSM1_6-iXBi0mZL_AyDfv5AR
Is Kevin Burke’s Irish Fiddle-tutorials from Homespun any good?