Part 3a Left Hand:  Shape of hand
Violin & Viola Cello Bass
• For the Essential Elements for Strings, students begin with the first finger pattern
• The 2nd & 3rd fingers are close together and there is a space between the other fingers
• Teach the finger numbers for strings, because piano numbers them differently
• Students makes a circle between their middle finger and thumb to set up the hand shape 
• For the Essential Elements for Strings, students begin with the first finger pattern, but with Cello we do not address this until we put the hand to the instrument
• Teach the finger numbers for strings, because piano numbers them differently
• Student makes a circle between their middle finger and thumb to set up the hand shape
• For the Essential Elements for Strings, students begin with the first finger pattern
• Basses need a big space between the first and second fingers.  You can use the spacing between their nose and eyebrow as a guide
• Teach the finger numbers for strings, because piano numbers them differently

String Pedagogy for High School Mentors
©2002 - Michael C. Watson