WEEK 3: It’s all about the VIOLIN!

DATE + GROUP Location: LESSON DESCRIPTION:

Monday, Oct. 6th GYM “Kleenex boxes and violin holds”
LEFT HAND WORK!

Pre-twinklers initially use boxes instead of instruments. The box is the same height as the
proper-sized instrument for each child and has a sponge attached just as the instrument will.

STEP 1: PARTS OF THE VIOLIN

LH TUNING PEGS: (used to tune the violin, if the

BUTTON: violin is REALLY out of tune!) Please handle with
located care and wait for instructions on how to use
underneath these- strings can easily get broken if just turned.
violin,
where
fingerboard FINGERBOARD or “flower bed”: where your LH
and violin ingers will be placed to play notes.
connect.
STRINGS: E, A, D, G. Play on the “Kreisler
Highway”. Stay on the highway.

BRIDGE or “stay away from the bridge”: Fine

piece of wood that acts like a bridge for the
strings to rest upon.

F HOLES: the f shaped holes where the sound

comes out of when playing the violin.

CHIN/JAW REST: where LEFT jaw is placed in

order to clamp down on the violin. LH SHOULDER
and LH JAW are responsible for holding the
violin- NOT THE LEFT HAND!

THE SPONGE: is placed underneath the jaw rest;

the width of the sponge depends on the space you
need to fill between your child’s shoulder and neck
once violin is inserted!

Add different parts to your Kleenex boxes using a felt pen or coloring crayons or stickers!
MAKE IT YOUR OWN- BE CREATIVE!
WEEK 3 REVIEW… STARTING WITH STEP 2: REST POSITION
Use your foot chart- feet are in REST position
Gently bend down or swat down to pick up your violin.
SCOOP up the violin by placing LH thumb underneath the violin (on the button) and LH
fingers wrap around the top of the violin.
The right arm gently hugs the instrument to the body
If the arm is just left behind the fine turner, the tuners will not get caught in a sweater.
BOW (down two, up two)
Place violin back onto floor. Repeat exercise.

STEP 3: PLAY POSITION

Foot chart: Use your foot chart- FEET are in REST position.

Look forward: Have your child forward (find an object/ person for them to look at)
Move feet into PLAY position FEET.
Handshake exercise:
Parent stands on the child’s LEFT side of the LH shoulder.
Give your child’s LH a handshake (parent holds violin in their LH)
Release the handshake, and parents move their child’s LH to their RH shoulder. They
need to hold onto this shoulder during the next steps.
Your child turns their HEAD only to the LEFT.
Watch that the RH shoulder does not lift; restart steps if this happens.
Parents place violin on child’s LH shoulder. Point out how you are coming down with violin
from above their ear.
Place violin on the seam of their shirt, under their ear.

JAW CLAMP:
Child clamps down on violin with their JAW. Their chin may or may not cover the entire
chin rest.
There should NOT be any gap between violin and neck. Tuck in their violins!
Child should be able to hold their violin without any HAND support; just their jaw and
shoulder.
For the first while, parents can stand by their child’s violin scroll to build confidence
and for support if necessary. Help with proper alignment.

“HEAVY HEAD” CONCEPT:

The students can experience how heavy their heads are. The teacher/parent lies on
his/her back on the floor and gives each a turn at gently lifting her head up off the
floor and carefully setting it back again. They will feel the actual heaviness of a
head. They can try lifting each other’s heads.
Concept: a Heavy head can easily hold up a violin.
VIOLIN HOLD EXERCISES:
STEP 1: Hold violin in PLAY position for 3-5 seconds (increase seconds each time!)
Other exercises to try when holding violin this way: bend your knees, turn around, walk
around the room/house, and stand on one foot. Invent other exercises to see how long
you can hold your violin up!
At first take a rest after this exercise. Parent takes violin; child’s feet are back in rest
position.

PLAY POSITION:
STEP 2: Parent helps child bring LH hand towards their violin.
Child places their LH thumb on the button underneath the violin and LH wraps around
the LH side of the violin. THIS IS CALLED PLAY POSITION. (hold for 5-8 seconds)
Other exercises to try when holding violin this way: bend your knees, turn around, walk
around the room/house, and stand on one foot.
PARENTS take violins away. Feet return to REST position; shake LH out and bow!

Please remember:
“Little steps at a time.”

Practice violin hold for a short while at first; 1-2 sec is great! Then increase
time and exercises.
Keep reviewing your bow hold and feet positions.
 What do I need to practice WEEK 3 ????
Remember to fill in your 100 charts!
Practice one thing once = colour in 1 box.
1. Rest position feet
2. Play position feet
3. Bowing
4. Scrubbing exercises- 1234 56
5. Bow- identifying parts
6. Bow hold- working on the bunny and carrot with pencil
7. Bow hold- with dowel stick
-Pinky on top
-Thumb round on bottom
-Finger hanging over like monkey tails
8. Bow hold- games and songs “Up like a rocket”, etc.
9. Scrubbing exercises-With bow on shoulder
10. Come up with another name or group of scrubbing words 1234 56
11. Identify and decorate Violin parts on Kleenex box
12. Scoop violin up to rest position
13. Bowing with violin
14. Place violin in PLAY POSITION w/feet
“Remember to fly violin down from the sky” (place it on your shirt seam)
15. Do Violin hold GAMES

TO NOTE:.
*PARENTS: PLEASE HELP YOUR CHILD THIS WEEK WITH VIOLIN
PLACEMENT ON LH SHOULDER.

*The violin hold if not placed on the shoulder from the very start can take years
to correct and can be the cause of many frustrations and squeaky sounds.
Remember to hand your sheet in once you have filled it in!
Special violin practice treats are waiting for you!