Teaching the Violin and Viola:

Creating a Healthy Foundation

Stacia Spencer
Violin and Viola Setup Position Steps

Setup Steps

Rest Position

The violin is cradled under the right arm in front

of the body. The left hand is curved around the
neck with the hand resting over the high dot.

Violin in rest position

Feet together
Make a V
Take a step (left foot) shoulder wide
Rock side to side
Tap fingers over high dot
Slide on Magic X
Hand over high dot
Statue of Liberty
Bring violin to shoulder
Hand over high dot
Take hand away
Place left hand on right shoulder
Hand over high dot
Look up, down, left and right

Statue of Liberty
Begin in rest position
Lift the instrument to Statue of Liberty
position
Check the left bicep for a big practice muscle!
Guide the student from Statue of Liberty to
placing the violin on the collarbone
Be sure that the head stays straight and that
the student places the jaw in the chinrest and
not the actual chin!

Magic X
Mark an X on the base joint of the index
finger of the left hand
Reference point for correct left hand
placement
Begin in rest position and then slide left hand
up and down the neck on the Magic X.
*This exercise promotes relaxation as well as being an
introduction to shifting

Playing Position
There should be no space between the neck
and the instrument
The button lines up in the middle of the
Adams apple
The student should be able to take away the
hand and hold the violin comfortably with the
weight of the head
Swing the arms