WonderThumb – Left Hand Teaching Aid for Violin and Viola – M

A Highly Beneficial Teaching Aid for Left Hand Posture and Relaxation While the left hand’s thumb is not used in the same way as the fingers to play violin and viola, teachers know that its position and movements are absolutely an active component of achieving good intonation, tone production, vibrato, and shifting! Many students struggle early on, not only with proper hand position and movement, but with clenching the neck of the instrument or tightening the hand. Poor thumb placement and hand tension (creating the infamous V-shape with the thumb while clenching the neck) choke out proper tone, inhibit intonation, make natural shifting and vibrato impossible, and simply make playing less comfortable. Pedagogy experts agree that the left hand also plays a part in supporting the weight of the instrument, but learning this limited role without developing bad habits can be a struggle - until now! The WonderThumb, like a warm hug for your thumb and a saddle for the instrument’s neck, not only encourages proper thumb position, but helps to support the instrument and opens the hand for secure relaxation. By simply wearing it, the player avoids several bad habits and becomes familiar with the sensation of proper hand posture, smooth shifting between the first three positions, and the freedom of a relaxed left hand. With five sizes available, it is suitable for beginners of any age or even intermediate and returning players needing left hand rehabilitation. It is a perfect companion to shifting and vibrato exercises as well as left hand dexterity etudes, beginning scales, and arpeggios. Support good posture, habits, and relaxation with the WonderThumb! Print and cut-out this sizing device to know which size will be best for you or your student. See the Features and Specifications tab for more sizing info. Comes in blue only. Latex-free and hypoallergenic. Made in the USA.Testimonials “Thank you so much for this invention! I think it’s very cool and it makes my practice so much more enjoyable. You’re onto something and I believe that you can create an amazing product and help lots of people. “ -          Kornelia R. - Violin performer and teacher in N.Y. “…I also love how it is pointing out some errors in my technique and forcing me to readjust to develop better habits. The most immediate thing I noticed is that vibrato (which I am still trying to learn how to do) is much easier with the Wonderthumb and everything just feels more comfortable….” -          Matthew D. - Adult Violin Student “So far