Q&A for How to Hold a Violin

Make sure you have a good stance. Stand so that your feet are apart a little bit. Rest the violin on your shoulder, near your collarbone. Align the scroll of the instrument with your left foot. Stretch out your arm making sure that your arm is on the neck of the instrument and that your wrist is straight.

Do you have a shoulder and chin rest? A lot of players use a shoulder rest to make the instrument softer on the collar bone.

Most string instruments are designed to have the bowing or strumming in the right hand and the fingering or fretting in the left. Although some are made so you can switch hand positions, it's best to use the standard position. This is especially helpful if something happens to your violin and you need to borrow another one.

You only touch the fingerboard when you are going to play a different note when playing. Tune pegs should only be touched when a teacher or professional is working with it, or once you know how to tune it yourself, so you don't mess up the sound.

Some say there is no such thing, but if you wiggle your finger a little on the key, it can have the same effect. Don't try this if it feels unnatural, and remember not to wiggle your finger up and down, just side to side. Make your motions slight though, otherwise it will look very strange!

You can prevent it by having the right grip on the bow. You should have your index, middle, ring and pinkie on outside of the long piece of wood. You can have your thumb in two positions; with your thumb on the inside of the long piece of wood, or on the outside of the black connector.

The best thing is to practice scales or a memorable piece of music in front of a mirror. YouTube has some very detailed videos for this and practice over time should make your bow arm straighter.