Books › Modern violin-playing, 1920 › scan 31
Scan 31
Modern violin-playing, 1920
16 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 17. See the scan on archive.org.
1Let us then fix firmly in our minds this point of theory: that the knuckle and the finger-tip must be kept in the horizontal striking-plane; and that, as the point of contact between finger-tip and string is immovable, while the pivoting-point of the knuckle is movable, it is to the latter that the chief attention must be paid.
3There is, of course, only one way in which the height of the knuckles can be altered. There is only one way in which they can be raised or lowered. And that is by means of an alteration in the curvature of the finger. We shall explain this in more detail later. Meanwhile, the practical question arises how the hand is to be held, so that it will satisfy these theoretical conditions.
5The best way to answer this question is to invite the reader's attention to Plates 1, 2, 3.
7If he will, with his own hand, assume the positions illustrated in these plates, he will recognize that Plate 1 is the "correct position" plate. The knuckle, in this plate, is held in the striking-plane. The weight of the hand is directed neither backwards nor forwards. It has no influence whatever on the finger-action; but allows the finger to touch and hold down the string with the minimum of effort and the maximum of efficiency. The result is mental satisfaction, inducing a complete sense of safety.
9Compare this with Plates 2 and 3. Plate 2 shows the hand tilted, so that its weight is thrown forward on to the nail. The knuckle is above the striking-plane. Plate 3 shows the weight of the hand hanging backwards from the finger-tip, while the knuckle is far below the striking-plane.
11With the hand held as in Plate 1, the free fingers relax and are ready for action. Thus we have the four essentials (comfort, ease, security, and independence) upon which the other two (accuracy and speed) depend. But note that, the moment the position is abandoned—the moment the knuckle is either raised or lowered—this feeling vanishes. At once insecurity steps in, bringing with it the fatal tendency to grip the neck.
13Having settled this matter of the correct hand-position, we now pass to the question which rises naturally in the reader's mind—the question how this position is to be assumed and retained.
15We have already noted the evil effects which are produced by gripping the violin with the jaw. It is unnecessary and dangerous. Provided the instrument is rested, at its one end, on the collar-bone, and, at its other, on the thumb, only the least touch of the jaw is
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.