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Essential Left Hand Techniques
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Hands differ, so experiment with technical approaches yourself rather than following rigid rules. Use comfort and feel as a guide.
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Drop fingers naturally using a natural “ping” motion from above instead of slow placement.
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Square vs. angled hand affects vibrato, extensions, and overall technique.
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Thumb must be mobile and move to support different fingers, not stay fixed.
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Prepare shifts from arm, Initiating shifts from upper arm.
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Choose fingerings that match with your shifting choices.
About
Brant Taylor
Brant Taylor’s varied career has included solo appearances and collaborations with leading artists in chamber music, orchestral, pedagogical and popular…
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“I am so opposed to the set hand... it is the greatest enemy of freedom... What we want... is a feeling of release, of letting the fingers go. Most sour intonation... comes because they attempt to keep as many fingers as possible down.”
— William Pleeth
