There are many techniques that contribute to how well you play a musical instrument. Did you know that posture is one of those key techniques? Your posture can affect how you play and the quality of sound you produce. Here are some tips for proper posture.
Left Arm Posture For left arm posture, keep the left wrist straight. It should not touch the neck of the instrument. Your fingers should be kept curved over the strings, like a tunnel. Your thumb stays relaxed on the neck of the instrument. Your left elbow should be rotated inwards towards the right. Example of Good Left Arm Posture
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Examples of Bad Left Arm Posture
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Left Elbow Posture
Another important part of good left arm posture is your elbow. When playing in first position, your elbow should be approximately below the body of the violin. However as you shift higher up the instrument, your elbow should rotate more inward towards your body (that is, to your right) in order to better reach the higher notes on the fingerboard.
Examples of Elbow Posture in 1st Position
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Example of Elbow Posture in 5th Position
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