Violin/Fiddle for Left-Handed Players Learning Violin or Fiddle Lefty Style

Subject: mentor
Date: Fri, 20 Sep 2002 01:44:26 -0400

Your web site has spured a query: My son Erik Stahr decided 3 years ago
that he wanted to play the violin. We bought him a violin and between his
school orchestra and a private teacher he advance quickly. Erik, now 14, is
playing the violin in high school. He is doing well but stopped his private
lessons about a year ago.

I believe he needs a mentor, not just a straight laced teacher. Since he is
now just taking the easy "A" in orchestra, he is just coasting. I'd be
interested in you thoughts. Since you've read this far I'd like to give you
another interesting fact about this kid: He is left-handed, but plays right
so as not to stand out in the orchestra. He does fine right-handed, but
check this out: He spells forward and backward - big words (I have to read
the words to know he is right). Ok, that's not really all that impressive,
but one day I tried another stretcher for him: I asked him to change hands
with his violin. He did, and immediately transformed the fingering and
bowing and played fine! How is that possible? The strings had not been
turned over he just translated the whole process in his head and played. So
here's the question: Are there many "switch hitters" out there? Are left
handed violins strung differently? I would think so, and if so would the
switched strings help him when he switches?

He seems to have the most fun playing fiddle music. Erik played in a solo
competition (the only solo from his school 2 years ago in 7th grade) he did
great with a fiddle tune that he still has a lot of fun with.

Here's a thought: What would you think of me getting him a fiddle, strung
left handed and let him "Whoop it up" lefty? Have some fun, maybe find a
fiddle mentor, maybe a player in a band. I think he has the mental power to
separate his concert playing (he has been chosen for the all county
orchestra the past two years) from his fun playing. Have you ever heard of
such a thing? He really needs to be pushed creatively and technically or
else he just gets bored. We live in a fairly small town and I feel the need
to go beyond our borders to help stretch this kid.

I'd be interested in your thoughts and a direction for finding a starter
left-handed fiddle.

Thank you for your thoughts, Michael Stahr

Greetings Michael,

Sounds like you're providing the necessary positive reinforcement...and, yes, it would be a tremendous idea to find a mentor (fiddler) to instruct him further...and, hopefully, inspire to continue with his natural talents...

Left-Handed Violin: Within an orchestra setting, or formal violin pursuits, left-handers are always encouraged, and instructed, to play right-handed...this is so a stage setting is symmetrical without tips of bows conflicting with others' playing efforts...

Now, when it comes to fiddling, there's more latitude to pursue what would normally be considered unorthodox...this is also true of formal position and playing technique itself...in other words, it's more loosely considered without rules. The violin tradition has long been established with rules and a formal approach that cannot be transgressed without criticism.

Yes, I would encourage your son to pursue both violin and fiddling and to absorb as much information from both playing traditions as he can muster...it will, in my opinion, make him a more rounded violinist...and, it will certainly open up many more doors of opportunity.

As far as re-stringing a violin for left-handed playing, I would let him determine if he's comfortable pursuing both...I would be concerned about the pro-active interference...this happens when two similar, yet slightly dissimilar, mediums cross over and create confusion...as long as it doesn't impede his progress, it may be contributory to his showmanship...at the very least, I haven't seen anyone accomplish this very same feat.

At your disposal, Mickey