How to Relax While Playing the Violin

Learning to relax while you play the violin will actually allow you to play better. Part of playing the violin is being fluid smooth while both bowing and fingering. Holding your body under tension will stop this from happening and hurt your playing.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Place the violin gently on your shoulder and place your chin on the rest. Just the weight of your head will hold the violin in place. All violinists are somewhat worried about the instrument slipping off their shoulders. But only a small amount of pressure is needed to hold the violin securely. Practice holding the violin with just your shoulder and chin relaxed and as little pressure as possible.

2. Grip the neck of the violin gently with your left hand. This hand needs to be able to move smoothly and quickly up and down the neck of the violin to different positions. There is no need to hold the neck tightly between your thumb and index finger. The violin should rest gently on the curve of your hand below the thumb.

3. Press gently on the strings. There is no need for a lot of pressure to be placed on the strings to make a note. Pressing down hard slowly down your left hand and creates a lot more work for the muscles in your hand.

4. Relax your right shoulder and use your elbow to raise your bowing hand. Bowing should be the most relax and smooth motion. Tensing your shoulder to raise the angle of the bow on the string ruins the fluid motion of the bow and creates problems.

5. Focus on your breathing and relaxing while you play. Moving your body to play should feel as easy and natural as walking. It's shouldn't require tensing any of your muscles. If you feel sore after playing, you're tensing while you play.

6. Concentrate on practicing steps 1 through 4 in order to get into the habit of relaxing while you play. Playing and practicing should be an enjoyable and relaxing experience.