Don't underestimate the importance
of shifting and shifting properly. Shifting to higher positions without
knowledge or a good foundation can set you up for catastrophic failure.
-Heather Broadbent
What is shifting? Well, you have to
have an understanding first of the positions on the violin. The violin fingerboard
is setup as a grid and the moving of the left hand from one position to the
next is what is known as Shifting.
It is imperative to have an
understanding of the positions before shifting. If you don't know what or where
5th position is it makes it pretty difficult to accurately shift somewhere you
don't even know.
If you find yourself needing to
shift to a position - not only practice the shift but practice in that position
so you are familiar with the new lay of the land.
11 Shifting Secrets
1. Use a Tissue – In some cases,
When I introduce shifting to a student I use a tissue. This helps the student
have a feeling of polishing the strings with the finger when moving up and down
the instrument and encourages a relaxed feeling. I had one teacher compare it
to jumping of a diving board. That analogy didn't really work for me but hey if
it works for you great! What he was trying to describe was the feeling of a
solid finger playing a note then the releasing motion after the note is played
to begin the shift and landing solid again on the new pitch.
2. Stay RELAXED – Do not strangle
the instrument. It is Impossible to shift with tension. The tension is actually
creating friction on the instrument making it difficult to shift smoothly. If
you find this happening use a tissue and investigate your thumb. Is your thumb
gripping the instrument? If so practice shifting without the thumb and then
slowly bring him back into the picture. When you feel tension in your thumb do
what I call the thumb dance. Take your thumb away from the instrument and
wiggle it around.
3. Start SMALL - Start from shifting
first to third – easy enough exercise. Play B and D on the A string in first
Position. Really listen to the Pitch D, hear it in your head and then shift
from B to D with first finger.
4. Teamwork - Have the Arm hand and
fingers work as a team. Don't just shift up with the finger and leave everyone
else behind. It is all about teamwork.
5. Siren or Tornado Exercise – My
students love this exercise because they could annoy their parents or brothers
and sisters. This exercise works for all levels. First it encourages practicing
the shifting motion with teamwork. Start with any finger in first position and
just shift up and down sounding like a siren. For Intermediate Level – Know
exactly what position you are shifting to and vary positions, fingers and
strings. Advanced level – DOUNIS :)
6. Keep an Eye on that Left Elbow –
Let your elbow help you maneuver around to the higher positions. Bring it under
the instrument to have easier access to higher positions
7. I can't emphasize this enough –
Always know what position you are shifting from and to.
8. Always HEAR the new pitch in your
head before shifting to it. You will seriously be surprised at how quickly this
improves your intonation accuracy in shifting.
9. Be a posture inspector. Inspect
your hand, thumb, arm – are they truly in the correct position. It is very easy
after shifting not to know where you are in the posture department. So INSPECT.
When shifting to seventh ask yourself “Am I truly in this position?” When
shifting back to first again ask yourself”Am I truly in first?” Inspect your
thumb that he is truly in the new position. This can be a GAME CHANGER in the
intonation department let me tell you!!! This simple fix can change many
intonation problems.
10. Practice Shifting down the
instrument as much as up. So much time is spent on shifting up. Have you ever
started from seventh position and practice shifting down? When practicing
shifting don't neglect the downshifts :)
11. When isolating shifting in piece
work make sure to practice the shifts fast. This is a different and difficult
concept but just because the piece may be slow you still need to get to the new
position just as cleanly without slides in most cases so the shift needs to be
practiced fast.
If I had to narrow this all down in
three SECRETS – Always HEAR in your head the pitch you are shifting too, TRULY
BE in the position – new or old, KNOW where you are going.
Kind of sounds like life doesn't it
– Listen, Be and Know
Happy Shifting :)
Be TRUE...Be YOU...
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