Date: Thu, 13 May 2004 22:54:09 EDT
Subject: VIOLIN ?

Hello- I absolutely love your site but I have one slight problem. I'M LEFT HANDED and my Violin is left handed also. I can't find a teacher to teach me so I had to come on the web to find free lessons and came across your awesome web-site. I wanted to know can I just read everything backwards? In your violin scales section can I just flip the cords and strings around? I don't know what to do and I see that i'm gonna have to learn on my own so all I have is your site because it was the only helpful site. Thanks again and I appreciate this site very much

sincerely,
Shauntell

Greetings Shauntell,

Yes, you can become accustomed to reading the sheet music backwards...you're only having to become accustomed to the orientation of the notes...the notes mean the same thing and denote the exact same position as if you were playing right-handed. Yes, the chords are only reversed...if you get used to reading the sheet music as a left-hander, you'll be well on your way to advancing your abilities. It's well worth the effort. I'm a left-hander that learned to play right-handed...Mickey

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Date: Sat, 10 Apr 2004 14:08:24 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: left handed playing

Greetings Andrew,

I have recently purchased my first violin at 40 years of age. I have no musical ability but have alway's had a passion for the violin so rather than lay wonder what if in the winter of life i have taken the plunge.

I simply want to learn for fun and of course have no inclination to become a concert violinist. I have read the other posts regarding left handed playing and have taken the advice on board.

My question is this. I have a right handed violin that was supposed to have been converted to left handed on purchase. The store is more than happy to carry out the conversion but i thought i would perservere first to see what felt more natural.

I write left handed but naturally carry out many tasks right handed. If I was to simulate playing the violin (air violin I suppose you could call it) it feels more natural to bow left handed however place the instrument in my hands and it does not feel natural to finger right handed, bowing feels great left handed. I then tried bowing with my right and fingering left. Fingering feels more natural with my left hand and bowing with my right while it does not feel as natural as with my left does not feel as though I could not get used to it.

In your opinion what is the lesser of two evils. Do I bow left and perservere with the un-natural fingering or go with what feels more comfortable with the fingering and perservere with the bowing. As said bowing with my less than dominant hand does not feel that bad. It is not like if I was asked to write with my right hand. this would instantly feel unnatural.

I'm also left handed...and currently I write and eat left-handed...and, as you're aware, we've had to adapt to a backwards world. Now, I play violin right-handed and I believe it's given me some edge...I feel my left hand has all the dexterity I can ever demand of it....and, I believe you'll also find the same to be true...hence, my suggestion would be to give it your best to learn to play right handed. There are many advantages to this:
1. Learning from a teacher or video is more direct...
2. Having the option to try out most any violin handed to you...
3. Playing in an orchestra you'll be properly aligned with your fellow violinists...
4. The violin itself has a bass bar...and, any converted lefty violin that wasn't built as a left-handed violin will have a different tonal range than it was intended to have...

Hopefully, this will further enforce the advantages of playing right-handed as a left-hander...Mickey

Andrew. 

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Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2003 19:07:30 -0500
Subject: FAQ

Thank you for providing this site.

I plan to purchase one of your fiddles.

I am left-handed. Can a person play your fiddles from either side or do I need to play with the bow in my right hand?

I am 57. As a child and teen-ager, I played according, piano and organ.

Thanks,
Russ Koester

Greetings Russ,

Glad to assist:

Yes, we do lefty conversions on most any violin of your choice...this is fine to do on a student level violin...however, on a really expensive violin, you'll want the conversion done before it's built...so that the bass bar resides on the bass end of the violin. This tone variance is not as critical on student-level violins.

If playing left-handed, you would really want the strings to be reversed...hence, you'll want to make sure that any violin you purchase does have a conversion performed on it before it ships.

I'm a left-hander that learned to play right-handed...

Hope this helps, Mickey

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Subject: Violin/Fiddle
Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2003 19:42:22 -0500


Re: SV-175 Violin Outfit

Dear Mickey,

Greetings Robin,


I discovered Folk of the Wood while browsing the internet looking for information on violins. I found your web site very informative and encouraging.

Thanks for the kind words...we try our best.

My only musical background is 7 years of clarinet in our school band&Mac183;and that&Mac226;s been many years ago!!! I love music, have always loved fiddle/violin music and decided I wanted a rewarding challenge&Mac183;so here I am, ordering a violin from you and an instructional video to get myself started. I am hoping to find someone locally to give me lessons eventually.

After reading the question and answer section of your web site, I ascertained that for a beginner, the SV-175 would be a good instrument.  I am left handed and I think I would be more comfortable with the instrument resting on my right shoulder and holding the bow in the left. Has that been your experience with left handed people?

Yes, the SV-175 is an excellent beginner-level violin...I happen to be a left-hander that learned to play right--handed. In violin settings, music directors encourage all beginning left-handers to learn to play right-handed. This is because the line-up on stage for concerts make more sense...other right-handers will not have the conflict of bow hitting bow when sitting close to a left-hander. Now, if you're not planning on becoming a concert violinist, my suggestion would be to follow your natural inclinations of playing left-handed. Many fiddlers have no conflict learning to play left-handed...it appears that the issue only arises in formal violin playing situations.


Can I order this with credit card via the internet/email? 

Yes, we accept credit cards via e-mail...we suggest that you divide up your number into two parts and into two separate e-mails. We also have a online secure store where the violin can be purchased directly off of our site:
http://www.affordableonlinestores.com/stores/folkofthewood/merchant.ihtml

However, if you're ordering a left-handed conversion, it might be best to order it by e-mail or by phone.

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Subject: lefthanded violin
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 2003 01:17:29 +0000

Mickey, Iam interested in playing the violin\fiddle however I need to find a left handed model. The reason for the need of a left handed model is that I grow my fingernails a little longer on my left hand so I can finger pick my guitar. I have been told by several violin shops to simply cut my nails and learn to play right handed. This is very discouraging. Is there someplace I can find lefthanded violins ? Thanks
Phil

Greetings Phil,

My recommendation would be to pursue the left-handed approach...do not let others, who really do not know what you're up against delegate something off the cuff. I'm left-handed...yet, I did teach myself to play right-handed. Even so, it's been an arduous journey at best. And, when I borrowed my uncle's guitar, I didn't know that a guitar could be re-strung and played left-handed. If your natural inclination is to play left-handed, then follow this path. You'll find yourself absorbing the necessary skills quite a bit faster and with natural channels of thought and dexterity.

I also grow my nails to fingerpick guitar...don't give this up either...

Left-handed violins are difficult to find...yes, we convert violins to left-handed models...without too much of a problem. And, yes, they're perfect to learn on...however, after a couple of years of playing, and attuning your ear to the tonal range of a violin, you'll then want a high quality violin that's made for left-handed playing...with the correct left-hand bracing...

Another area that needs to be addressed is if you ever have plans of playing in an orchestra, a left-handed violin will not synchronize visually or functionally...due to all violinists being aligned from chair to chair.

Hope something here helps you...most importantly, I hope something here offers inspiration...Mickey

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Date: Sat, 13 Dec 2003 16:58:29 EST
Subject: violin

Dear Micky,

Greetings Gail,

Glad to assist:

I've been "studying" your site and still undecided what to do. I have
inherited 2 violins from my grandfather's estate (they were his, he was a fiddler in
the '20s in NYS) and I restrung one (a Strad copy) and was playing around
with it for a while.

Be sure to hold on to these...as part of your family's heritage...

My difficulty is in the fact that I am left-handed (I know
you have heard this a few times already). I have tried it right-handed and it
is not working out for me at all.

I'm left-handed and forced myself to learn to play right-handed. I honestly believe you should play within the position you're most comfortable in.

Basically, it just doesn't feel right. I
studied piano for several years, can read music, and had played classical
guitar (right-handed) with some trouble. I understand violins can be converted to
left, but I really don't want to "mess" with these old fiddles of my
grandfathers, rather preserve them as they are "right-handed".

Exactly! You don't want to do any modifications to violins of this nature...

So, was wondering if
you could suggest a violin/bow/case for me to purchase from your company and
could you have it set up as a "leftie"?

Yes, we can set up any violin of your choice, that we currently carry, to left-handed...Be aware, the bass bar will be located on the treble side...on an intermediate violin, or a beginner-level violin, I don't believe this is critical...however, on a higher end violin, where the tone becomes more critical, and the tone is what you're paying for, I wouldn't recommend anything but a carved top, with bracing and sound post designed for left-handed playing.

If you're interested in the beginning to intermediate level violins, my suggestion would be to look at the Maestro line-up...and you might also enquire about having the tailpiece replaced with a Dr. Thomastic (as I have on my violin)...which gives you all 4 fine tuners...

You're welcome to call our in-house expert, Tradd, on violins...he'd be happy to offer you more guidance on these...a

Our price for converting violins to left-handed is 30.00...

If you're interested in a high-end violin, I'd suggest going through our builder Gianna...and, we can have the top set up for official left-handed playing as your violin is being built.

Hope this helps in some way...

Thanks for your inspiring words. I've printed all of your lessons, and I
think it is really great for you to share these things for "free" as it seems as
though everything in this world today has a price tag attached.

Thanks for the kind words...we also invite questions on the learning process...feel free to write me anytime. Mickey

Thanks
Gail Bruciak

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Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2003 02:47:08 -0400
Subject: left-handed fiddle

Hello,

I am looking for a left-handed fiddle, or at least a place that might be able to convert one. Here is the situation, my boyfriend has had his heart set on learning to play to fiddle or years, unfortunately it was not a possibility for him growing up. Him being left-handed also places a barrier in his way. I have encouraged him to continue trying to play a right handed fiddle, however he is finding it a little too difficult to master. I guess after so many years it is difficult for some to adapt. My quest now is to find him a left-handed fiddle. He has no plans of playing in an orchestra, so there is no fear there of him conflicting with anyone else.

I hope you can lead me in the right direction.

Thank you

April

Greetings April,

Glad to assist...I'm a left hander...who learned to play right handed...it wasn't easy...and, I personally would recommend that any left hander inclined to play left hand should follow his/her calling. It's almost unnatural to expect us left handers to comply with a right handers point of view...even in a symphony situation. It's just unfair.

As far as fiddle goes, there have been known to be some really good fiddlers that were left handed.

Yes, we can convert any right-handed violin we carry to left-handed, however, keep in mind, the bass bar would then be on the treble side...and, it will not carry the tone that it was designed to carry. We've done this before, which also requires cutting a new bridge...so that it angles correctly and the strings fit in their respective slots, and everyone has seemed happy just the same...now, most all of them have been for students, where it's not as critical as a performance violin...Mickey

Here's a great book for us lefty fiddlers:
http://www.tiac.net/~cfiddle/lefthandedbook.html
by Ryan J Thomson

This book, entitled - Playing Violin and Fiddle Left Handed, contains everything you might want to know about playing violin left handed. It documents the biographies and experiences of over 100 people who play violin lefthanded, including professional folk fiddlers, chamber music players, and concert violinists. There's a c hapter on where to find a left handed violin or get a right handed fiddle converted to left, including a list of violin makers who are happy to oblige lefty players and a detailed discussion of the conversion process.

Included is a critical analysis of why - It's better to bow with your dominant hand, whether you are a right or left handed person! The myth of the "left hander's advantage in playing right handed" is debunked with numerous logical, scientific, and common sense arguments! Despite the previous right handed bias towards playing bowed instruments, jazz violinists, old timey country fiddlers, Cape Breton fiddlers, symphony violinists, and leaders of several major string quartets have discovered the benefits of bowing lefty. Some fiddlers even play regular right handed violins left handed with good results!

This approach can be applied to viola, cello, and other string players as well, including folk instruments such as guitar, banjo, mandolin, sitar, ukelele, etc. Violists, cellists, and other stringed instrument players can take best advantage of their body's natural inclination, strength, and coordination. This book is a good read even for righty players, string and music teachers! ISBN 0-931877-42-3