Books › Modern violin-playing, 1920 › scan 135
Scan 135
Modern violin-playing, 1920
16 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 67. See the scan on archive.org.
1on the E-string in the eighth position to B with the first finger on the A-string in the first position.
3In making this shift, the hand and the arm move backwards, until the fourth finger is approximately over F. The thumb then allows the neck to descend to the pad of the second phalange, and at once moves backwards to provide the point of rest for the violin. Meanwhile, the hand and arm continue to move away from the body until the fourth finger reaches B in the first position, when the first finger is pressed down on the A-string and the thumb is brought to a thoroughly comfortable position, as was explained before.
5The thumb is of the first importance in shifting. For, unless the violin rests securely on it, and unless hand and arm are free to operate, shifts are difficult and intonation uncertain.
7Next in importance is the knuckle. It must be presented unhesitatingly and without strain in the striking-plane. But of course this depends in great part upon the position taken by the thumb.
9Much patience is necessary in working out the shifts. The easy—and useless—way is to "make a stab at them." But the result of that way is a maximum of uncertainty and a minimum of confidence. Among the best exercises for solid study are those numbered 2y and 2z. And their value lies in the fact that, in performing them, the finger acts as the measuring-agent, not only for their special shifts, but for all the others.
11Two words of advice in conclusion.
12Do not study shifting by ear.
13Do not allow the ear to persuade you that shifting is more difficult than it really is.
15From the highest B to the B in the first position on the E-string measures less than 6½ inches, and that is the longest movement that the hand can ever be called on to make. The range of sound represented by these 6½ inches is so great that one easily forgets how slight a movement is necessary to cover the distance. Indeed, the practice of shifting loses half its terrors if the eye helps the ear.
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