The Importance of Proper Posture for Beginner Violinists

Abstract

Proper posture has always been one of the key factors in violin pedagogy. This research will describe the development of a teaching method, based on personal experience, whereby the manners presented hereinbelow provide approaches aimed at supporting good hand posture and bowing techniques for beginner violinists. Moreover, the research will attempt to introduce some information regarding the foundational steps in obtaining basic skills in violin performance. This will be done by borrowing basic knowledge from the existing body of methodological literature, which will be supplemented by personal teaching background. The purpose of the study is to examine both comparatively and independently the main pedagogic principles, which provide the best approaches toward proper posture. The research focuses on certain aspects of right and left hands’ posture, which has been found to be of great importance during the course of a long teaching career. Correct posture is fundamental for both young initiates, as well as those who begin practicing at a later stage in their lives (which is the case of many violin students at the University of Jordan). It would not be an understatement to say that the future of every musician, both in terms of technique and musical aptitude, is built on a good understanding of proper posture.