Books › A Tune a Day: Violin (A Tune a Day), 1933 › scan 9
Scan 9
A Tune a Day: Violin (A Tune a Day), 1933
22 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1Things to Watch
3The violin should slant about 45 degrees to the right, and at such a height that the scroll of the violin is in line with the eye. Left elbow well under the violin. The nail of the first finger (left hand) should face you. This applies to the A and E strings only. The tip of the thumb should point out. Space between under side of neck and fleshy part of hand between thumb and first finger. From the knuckles of the left hand to the elbow should be a straight line.
5Holding the Bow
7Take the bow in the left hand, and hold at the extreme end below the frog, in such a position that the hair is facing up and the tip of the bow is pointing away from you. (1) Place the TIP of the thumb (right hand), slightly curved at the joint, against the stick so that it touches the raised part of the frog on the stick. The joint should be about 1/4 inch from the hair. (2) Allow the middle finger to curve around the stick at the first joint (from the tip) opposite the thumb. (3) Place the third, or ring-finger, next to the middle finger so that it curves around the stick at the first joint, and rests against the side of the frog. (4) Allow the first finger to rest on the stick in the first joint. (5) The tip of the little finger rests on the stick in a natural position. Release the left hand.
8The fingers should be close together. (Touching)
10Silent Exercises for the Bow
12With the violin in position, place the bow on the A string at different points, i.e., at the middle (Fig. 1), point (Fig. 2) and frog (Fig. 3). At each point hold the bow perfectly still for 2 minutes. Take notice of the position of arm, wrist, etc., as follows: The bow must always be at right angles to the strings, i.e., parallel with the bridge, and midway between the fingerboard and bridge. When the bow is at the point the wrist should be sunk in (very slightly) and when at the frog, should be curved up (not too much). The back of the hand always flat, and always in the same relative position to the bow. Do not allow the fingers to move on the bow-stick. When placing the bow on the strings, the stick is turned slightly towards the fingerboard, so that only the edge of the hair touches the strings. This rule varies according to the dynamic effect desired. Practise this on all strings. Notice that the elbow is slightly higher when playing on the D and G strings, but never should the elbow be higher than the hand. Raise the hand to the level of the string desired, keeping the elbow entirely relaxed. Any exertion of the upper arm muscles is very harmful to a good tone.
14Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3
16Signs and Abbreviations for Bowing
18n means Down Bow
19V means Up Bow
20W.B. means Whole Bow
21M.H. means Middle half of Bow
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.