VIOLIN/VIOLA POSTURE & POSITION

Violin/Viola Posture
Start standing position and sit down with instrument in position
Stand with feet shoulder width apart with toes pointed slightly outward
Encourage students to stand during home practice and for solo performances with feet flat on the floor
Sit on edge of chair with feet flat on the floor with knees apart (as if holding an imaginary cello) to facilitate bowing
between the knees on the highest string
Put instrument in playing position and hold without any hands
Proper use of shoulder rest

Violin/Viola Left Hand

Straight thumb with a maximum of a 1/4 inch above the fingerboard
Thumb should be aligned with first finger tape or slightly behind
Pointer finger touches the instrument neck where the finger joins the hand (until vibrato skills begin)
Play on finger tips
Resting fingers should be hovering over strings (relaxed and curved)
The elbow is under the instrument
Nails on left hand should be short

Violin/Viola Bow Hold

Middle and ring fingers lay over the stick with middle finger across from the thumb
Pinky is curled and on the stick (not on adjusting screw)
Index finger rests on the grip between the 1st and 2nd knuckles
Tip of thumb by the fingernail is on the bump of the frog and thumb is bent
Bow arm should be relaxed and flexible
Correct arm level (rock back and forth over the strings)
Bow is drawn parallel to the bridge. (Adv. students may be taught stick away from the bridge tilt technique)
Right hand should be flexible and relaxed

CELLO POSTURE & POSITION

Cello Posture
Sit on edge of seat
Feet flat and firm
Straight, tall back
Rest cello on mid chest
Cpeg should be placed behind students left ear
Knee cradle placement of cello at knees (lower bout)

Cello Left Hand

Cshape with fingers curved
Play on finger tips
Curved thumb should be behind middle finger
Nails on left hand should be short
Hand and wrist are in straight line with arm
Resting fingers should be hovering over the tapes (relaxed and curved)
Elbow should be slightly raised (not resting on instruments shoulder)

Cello Bow Hold

Middle and ring fingers over the stick with middle finger on the ferrule
Ring finger should rest on the frog
Pinky should be next to the ring finger (but not on top of stick)
Index finger rests on the grip between the 1st and 2nd knuckles
Thumb is bent and contacts the stick between the winding and the frog
Bow is drawn parallel to the bridge. (Adv. students may be taught stick away from the bridge tilt technique)
Right hand should be flexible and relaxed

BASS POSTURE & POSITION

Bass Posture
In playing position, the shoulders should be parallel to the floor with feet shoulder width apart and with the weight of
the torso evenly distributed on the pelvis
Keep the head square on the shoulders or it will cause back pain
Standing straight, rotate bass slightly to the right and lean the upper bout into the left side of the stomach
Instrument height is based on keeping the bow arm straight while drawing the bow halfway between the bridge and
fingerboard

Bass Left Hand

Forearm perpendicular to neck of bass
Curved thumb opposes the second finger in the middle of the neck and lies horizontally
Fingers gently curved and resting fingers hover over the tapes
The finger spacing between fingers 1 and 2 should be the same distance between 2 and 4
Press the string with the pad of the finger

Bass Bow Hold

(Frenchbenchmark assessments will reflect this style since it is used most widely in our district)
Thumb is bent and contacts the stick between the winding and the frog
Middle finger touches the ferrule and edge of the hair (middle to the metal)
Pinky goes in the center of the frog
Middle and index fingers slightly spaced
Ring finger lies relaxed on side of frog
Bow is drawn parallel to the bridge with all bow hair touching the string (not tilted)
Bow arm should swing (think of a swinging elephants trunk)
Right hand should be flexible and relaxed

Bass Bow Hold (German)

Thumb and index finger create a circle. (make the OK sign.)
Remaining fingers are cupped below the index finger in the same curved shape, as if holding a small soda can.
The screw of the bow rests on top of the bone of the knuckle and underneath the tip of the thumb. The bow
does not rest in the fleshy part of the hand. Tip of the thumb is on the top of the stick.
Index finger rests on the side of the stick next to the thumb.
Middle, ring and pinky finger are cupped together but not going through the frog.
Pinky and/or ring finger will touch the bottom of the frog at the metal.
Arm is straight with elbow toward the body of the student, as you would shake somebodys hand.
Bow is drawn parallel to the bridge with all hair on the string (not tilted).
Elbow should only bend when playing close to the frog.
Right hand and fingers should be flexible and relaxed.