Playing Violin and Fiddle Left Handed
The world's first documentary book that makes the case for
Left Handed Violin Playing! - $24.95
"Yes, you can play left handed and be a great
violinist or fiddler - it's not necessary to play like a
righty!"
How did this book come about? Click here to read
an essay by Ryan Thomson which was published in
several music education journals including New
Hampshire Quarter Notes, and Utah Music
This book is a compendium of left handed violin
and fiddling facts and contains everything you
might want to know about the subject of 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 chapter 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.
Click here to read a review of this book.
This is NOT an instruction book about HOW to play the violin, but Includes 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 the righty
player, string and music teacher! 8.5" x 11" size, illustrated, table of contents, index. ISBN
978-0-931877-42-1 $24.95 Secure Online Payment. Free shipping within the
USA
Click here for instructions to mail payment or figure foreign shipping costs.
In the field of folk fiddling and non-classical violin playing I recommend these instruction
materials:
Left Handed Fiddling for Beginners, book and video DVD. Click here for more information.
Irish Fiddle, First Lesson, for left handed playing, video DVD. Click here for more
information.
