Discover how to improve playing in positions on the violin
Do you want to improve your position playing on the violin? Are you tired of panicking every time you have to shift to the stratosphere? Perhaps you have had a violinist Freak Out Moment? One of my teenage students years ago called them by their acronym FOM….
What exactly is a FOM?
A FOM is when you look at the high notes and FREAK OUT…. almost like paralysis, deer in the headlights look, frozen stiff etc.
This panic may set in during an orchestra rehearsal when you are sight reading music and realize you don’t even know the names of the notes above four leger lines let alone where they live on the violin and in what position…
Position panic may happen in orchestra right before you come to that high passage that you have practiced incessantly yet right before you play it you forget how the heck to get your hand where it needs to go….
The key to FOMs is to know that everything is figureoutable…
yes, it is true.
Take out the scary, insecure, freak out victim – take a deep breath, analyze, discover and learn!
Have fun with the challenging passage. Think of it like a puzzle and work on it piece by piece.
Improve playing in positions on the violin by turning your weaknesses into strengths.
For example, many violin students have a difficult time reading in the upper positions and they find this out perhaps in orchestra rehearsals when they don’t understand what to do in the music. They find themselves playing out of tune and they don’t know what finger goes where.
Well, it is a very easy fix. Whatever position you feel insecure in – and that insecurity can be with intonation, reading the notes and/or fingerings, practice that position every day reading the notes. Find every etude that is specifically in that position and focus working on fluency and impeccable intonation.
Why are violinists insecure in certain positions as opposed to others?
Easy – Violinists spend more times in certain positions than others. For example it is very possible to spend more time in first, third, and fifth because those are typically taught and learned first. It is natural to feel insecure in second, fourth, sixth and seventh because not as much time has been devoted to those specific positions.
So how can this be changed? Grab every etude you can get your hands on specifically targeted for your uncomfortable positions and practice. To build up your confidence the etude should specifically be in that uncomfortable position and not shifting to or from other positions – only the uncomfortable position – EASY 🙂 Problem solved 🙂
Once the insecurity diminishes within that position then start practicing to and from that specific position.
POSITION PRACTICE TIPS
Happy Practicing changing your insecurities to securities!!
I would love to hear from you! What is your strongest position and what position of yours needs more work? Please share in the comments below.
Happy Magical Practices,
LEARN SEVEN POSITIONS IN EIGHT WEEKS!
No violinist needs to struggle for years to master violin positions.
Position Mastery Academy gives you ALL the tools you need to improve your current position playing and learn new positions in the shortest amount of time possible. Your technical practice is all laid out for you for you to see massive improvements even if all you have is 15 minutes a day of concentrated mindful technique practice.
With diligent daily practice applying techniques taught within this academy, you will no longer have to fear or have freak out moments working in positions.
Discover Position Mastery Academy here.
Heather is a classically trained concert violinist performing with the Yambol Chamber Orchestra, Bulgaria. She received her BM violin performance degree from CU-Boulder, studied with top teachers including Rachel Barton Pine. Heather has held leadership positions with multiple orchestras in the Greater Chicago-Milwaukee area. She has instructed millions of violinists globally via Youtube videos, online academies, group coaching and one on one sessions. Heather’s students have won multiple awards, concerto competitions, held concertmaster positions in orchestras and even performed in Carnegie Hall. Heather is an advocate of a holistic violin lifestyle – putting one’s mind, body and spirit as a violin journey priority.
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