Preparatory Shifting Exercises
Ready to start shifting? Perhaps you are already shifting in your pieces but you have no idea if you are doing it right? In this post discover preparatory shifting exercises to help your shifts become effortless.
The following preparatory shifting exercise is an excellent exercise that all students absolutely love.
First, let’s start on the E-string. Eventually you can explore the other strings but we will start on the E string. Starting in first position on your third finger shift up the instrument to no specific pitch.
It’s really important when you start in first position that your hand is nice and relaxed. Everything is relaxed and everybody moves as a team. You don’t want to have just your finger shift up and your thumb goes back. The thumb and the finger work as a team as they shift up
It’s also very important that when your thumb hits the shoulder of the violin that it stays there and your only the finger continues to go up the instrument. When your finger shifts down and joins the thumb, they work as a team and return together back to the first position.
Keep an eye on your wrist that it doesn’t stick out as you shift down. The wrist just stays nice straight and relaxed.
Are you struggling with shifting on the violin? Do you find yourself playing out of tune before and most definitely after a shift? Do you find yourself doing the shifting freakout – hope you land remotely close to the correct pitch mad guess scramble? The 5 day Seamless Shifting Challenge addresses those issues and more.
Shifting is our method of transportation from one position to another on the violin. Without a smooth and confident connection your piece playing and technique struggle. Who wants to listen to out of tune notes, right?
In the Seamless Shifting challenge you will be given opportunities to inspect and exercises to develop your shifting with 5 days of implementable action steps.
Printable exercises included!
Practice Tips
It is very easy to keep an eye that your hand is working properly by practicing this in front of a mirror. You can also video record yourself.
Practice the exercise with every finger. Start with the third finger on all strings and then second, fourth, and first.
You may find that shifting on the G string may be a little more difficult. It’s a fatter string so it’s a little harder to shift on and also it’s further away. Be sure to bring your elbow under.
Have fun with the exercise. Go back and forth as much as you want up and down but do make sure the technique is correct because there’s no sense in doing it if you don’t have the correct technique.
Let me know in the comments below your takeaways from this exercise. Any questions on how to execute, be sure to watch the video above.
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