Body Position for String Players

Technique is a subject musicians will constantly obsess over. If the player is a beginner he worries about making unappealing noises. If the player is advanced, he will work on adjusting here or moving there in order to achieve the best possible sound.

When working on technique, musicians generally focus on the sound coming out of their instrument and the immediate body part connected with the sound they wish to improve (such as the motion of the bow hand). However, the body is not a collection of separate parts. Rather, it is a complete “package” which must be addressed as a whole in order for the player to truly improve.

There are many different schools of thought on how a string instrument should be played. The purpose of this booklet is to give the musician a brief overview of their body and how it “performs” so that injury can be prevented and technique sharpened.

You can find this manual on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and most other major e-book stores.

Comments

Like Brushing Your Teeth

One of my teacher trainers told me that practicing should be like brushing your teeth. There is never a day when your tooth brushing is affected by other events in your day. The process is completely emotionally detached. I mulled over her words of wisdom for quite some time after she said them to me. What struck me the most was the suggestion of emotionally detaching myself. All my life I have been told that music is supposed to express emotion. So it was almost like it would be wrong to try and strip that away. For me, the teeth brushing example was a very interesting concept. I realized that the level of habitual repetition of that daily routine is rarely achieved in any other life areas. Dishes get put off, vacuuming, shopping for groceries.... but I always make the time to brush my teeth. Always making the time for practice? A lofty ideal indeed.

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