Books › Modern violin-playing, 1920 › scan 129
Scan 129
Modern violin-playing, 1920
24 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 61. See the scan on archive.org.
1the correct position re-found; after which, the vibrato should be essayed. But if the theoretical principles which we have already laid down are faithfully carried out in practice, this exercise will be entirely successful. Its possible failure can only be due to one of the following causes:
31. There is play at the knuckle.
42. The knuckle has been lifted out of the striking-plane; so that the finger is insecure, and the nail comes into contact with the string.
53. The other fingers are not relaxed.
64. The thumb and finger are acting as pincers.
75. The violin is not resting on the thumb.
86. The hand, as a whole, is not independent of the thumb.
97. The wrist is flexible.
11Of all these causes, No. 7 is the least likely to occur; because the thumb is inevitably projected backwards in the higher positions, and so there is very little tendency to swing from it.
13The position of the thumb is governed by the size and shape of the individual hand. But approximately, in the seventh position it touches the thumb-side of the curve of the neck between the third joint and the tip.
15The student should next essay the ninth position, in which the thumb is generally drawn a little further round the neck, so that the lowest part of the curve of the neck rests upon the thumb near the tip.
17For the tenth position the thumb is swung still further round the neck. The thumb then supports it on the finger-side of the curve, and, from then on to the higher positions, retains that position.
19In trying these two positions, note (as before) the extent to which the wrist is bent. Note also what is the exact position of the thumb that makes the finger-action most convenient and comfortable. And take care that the connection between thumb and first finger is not made rigid through the position of the wrist.
21It may be mentioned here that the further the thumb is drawn round the neck in any one position, the further back will the wrist be pushed. And this, again, will increase the rigidity. At no time, therefore, should the thumb be drawn any further round the neck than is necessary to allow the wrist to clear the body of the instrument, and to assure a convenient placing of the fingers. The test of correctness is always the presence of security, ease, and a free expressive vibrato.
23The student has now experimented with the seventh, the ninth,
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.