I need some advice... my teacher *fixes* me when I'm in a lesson, but it all goes wrong as soon as I'm at home!!

Issue 1...
I've recently been having trouble with my left thumb, most noticeable since I've been mastering third and second position shifts. My thumb goes from one extreme to the other, either locked out (like a backwards 'r') or curled forward to the extent that it's creeping onto to G string. Every time I notice it I straighten it up so just the tip is peering over the top of the fingerboard (like my teacher shows me) but it wanders back in whichever direction it feels like.

What exercises can I do to train it into the right position? I've tried going back to basics and concentrating on scales and whatnot (rather than the Grade 4 pieces I'm trying) but it still wanders...


Issue 2...
I'm trying to learn vibrato. When I think about it, it sometimes happens naturally from the wrist. However, I've recently developed a trick of vibrato without moving wrist or arm at all, kind of varying the pressure on the string so it kind of "buzzes" (in a nice way!). Now this isn't anything like what my teacher shows me (and what I can occasionally do myself where the finger rocks) but I REALLY like the sound.

Is this wrong?!?! Can I just enjoy doing the finger thing and keep working on the wrist vibrato? Or am I seriously scuppering my chance of 'proper' vibrato playing with my finger thing?

I'm not sure I can help you with your left thumb - I haven't actually come across this problem before. But if you can straighten it up when you notice it, then it would seem that you need to notice it more. You could try "noticing" before every piece, scale etc you play, or put a post-it on your music stand, for instance - anything that will help you to remember to see what it's doing. But I am sure your teacher will be able to give you more specific advice since she will be able to see exactly what is happening.

I wouldn't continue with the finger vibrato as it isn't strictly correct. You won't be scuppering your chances of doing proper vibrato, but it won't help your technique any! If it happens naturally from the wrist, I would be more inclined to pursue that - but if you can get the movement to come from the whole of the lower arm, you will develop a much better, more flexible (ie you can change it to suit the piece) vibrato. Actual finger vibrato is quite an advanced technique, and it isn't what you are doing.

Hope it all goes OK.

I have one 'inherited' pupil at the moment who is having exactly the same thumb problems. Unfortunately and unlike you, his first teacher (who taught him for three years) didn't even bother to try and correct it, so now it's become such an ingrained habit getting rid of it is proving to be a problem on top of another problem.

The approach I'm trying at the moment is to get him to think "loose thumbs up".

Dealing with one technique issue at a time is somewhat better than trying to deal with it all in one go. Your brain can only assimilate so much information in one go, so I would advise leaving the vibrato alone altogether at the moment. Don't continue with the finger vibrato, otherwise it will become an ingrained habit.

Hi, I can't comment about the thumb problem but for me the finger vibrato problem has been an enormous obstacle to developing a more reliable hand or arm vibrato.
I learned to use finger vibrato almost straight away and unfortunately it has been almost impossible to 'unlearn' it, so that three years later I am still finding it very difficult to establish a good sound. If I were teaching someone I would really try to avoid introducing it at first - it can sound quite good initially but is not as variable, sustainable or rich as with hand or arm method. It also seems to have contributed to quite a lot of tension in my left hand.
(Any useful solutions most welcome!)
I would leave it out until using hand or arm vibrato becomes a more habitual route to getting the sound you want.
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thanks folks. i really like the loose thumbs up - thanks amanda - and am making lots of effort to control thumb. a shame about the advice to stop the finger thing (although i do love the sound) but i think deep down i knew what you'd say!

as it happens, i can't practice for a couple of weeks owing to a cracked rib that hurts like ###### when i lift my violin up. so hopefully, when i start again, it'll be easier to unlearn bad habits...

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