Finding the correct body alignment.

The first little exercise we’ll do is in two parts. First we will do it standing then sitting. Here’s the first part and if you’re sitting right now let’s stand for a moment. It will be very helpful to do it even if you’re planning on playing mostly sitting. So stay with your feet. At approximately hip or shoulder width apart and parallel to each other. So nothing special. Your feet should be very close to what your natural position is. No weird turns of the legs no awkward poses. You can look down at your legs. They should be more or less straight. Now going to the side not in but straight. If it feels natural to you to turn one of the feet slightly to one side that’s perfectly fine. The important part here is that we are looking for the center of balance. The center of balance should be right around the point in front of you. Hill here is a picture for you to see what I mean. That’s the foot Here’s the hill and right in front of it is what we call the center of balance. The center of your body weight distribution will build the whole posture around it. So relax your toes. The toes are tight. That will affect the muscles of the legs. So you want the toes nice and relax. Now start tracing your legs going up in the direction of the knees. Going through the ankles stack the knees on top of that center of balance in the feet not too much to the front. If the knees go to the front there will be two flexed but not too much to the back. If they go to the back they will be locked so carefully moved to the front and to the back. And do you find this sweet spot where you’re right in the middle of the balance and your kneecaps are relaxed moving up the legs stuck your hips on top of your knees and on top of this center of balance in your feet. Now imagine a string that goes up from your feet goes through your knees through your hips and then continues in the curve of your spine all the way up to the crown of your head. We are aligning the bones placing them on top of each other so the muscles have to work less to keep you balanced and are free to move and play the violin. So it’s very easy. You start with the center of your balance at the front of the hills and align ankles on top and knees than hips then move to spine all the way to the crown of your head. Every step should be comfortable for your body to feel free to move around make slight adjustments and find the most comfortable position the most natural position for you. You get let’s do it one more time. Find the center of balance right at the front of the hills. Relax your toes now start moving up. Stack the knees on top of that center of balancing the feet carefully move to the front end to the back. How do you feel balanced and the kneecaps relaxed. Continue to scan up their lives stop your hips on top of your knees and on top of this center of balance in your feet. Imagine a stream that goes up from the feet goes through your knees through the hips and then continues in the curve of your spine all the way up to the top of the head. Everything is lined and well-balanced so the muscles have to work less. Keep in mind that violin playing requires a lot of movement and this is just a guideline to find a good starting position. Don’t feel that once you get this position you have to hold it all the time just the opposite. Practice finding this alignment but allow your body to move freely around it.