Thank you so much for sharing this teaching. It has helped me so much! Watching your older videos, I can see that your playing has improved so much since you have started blocking 5ths.
Thank you David for your input with more details on the 5ths - may I add that the fifths placement makes Stamitz opening chords, Beethoven 5 2nd mvt except beginning, and countless others so much easier as well. Hope you have a great day.
Thanks for sharing this marvelous and yet so simple technique! I watched it with my viola class at Unicamp (Brazil) and we are all trying and enjoying it! It really helps and makes playing the viola easier and more enjoyable!
Thanks Emerson, I'm so glad it is helpful. It has been a real game changer for me. I'm still relearning all my old repertoire with this technique. It takes time....but it is easier, isn't it? Take care! :)
oh my god, this is ridiculously simple.. and effective! as a self-learner, this changes my whole game plan, i guess. recently i began to think my viola is too big for my fingers (and how much they can stretch), and that all my practise had been futile... well, i am glad i had stumbled upon this video! thank you
It is so simple! I'm amazed it isn't more commonly known or done. I've been really doing it now for about 4 months, and am just continually amazed at how much easier and better it is than the normal way. I'm glad it is helpful!
Great!! Pinchas Zukerman talked to me about this many years ago: The concept of FRAME and BALANCE. He was mentioning it in the context of sound and of much richer vibrato, but that we might have to adjust a bit to play faster. This way most double-stops are always in tune, we move the hand much less for adjusting to the different intervals and things feel more centered in the hand because of the distribution of the weight.
Zukerman is an unbelievably great model for finding a hand frame which maximized sound and vibrato. I think I probably still watch at least one video of him per month....just to admire the approach he had to the fingerboard (and also the bow arm).
Bloody brilliant explanation and very useful, enlightening. Thank you for this. It's great to see how this works so fantastically even on the viola, with its wider string spacing. Thanks again.
The wrist position and playing with more of the pads than the tips was a tremendous help for my violin playing (beginner violin as a classical guitar player).I did not know that also you have to be hitting both strings, as it seems it is worth practise the fifths!
It does help a lot, doesn't it? I find myself putting the first finger on 2 strings almost always now. The 2nd finger less so, only when necessary for 3 and 4. But yeah, that in combination with the elbow being further to the left and playing on the pads...it works great he? Glad it is helpful for you!
Hi David this is Emily Zaita and her husband Fernando. Hope the y’all are doing well! Emily remembers you flossing the boy’s teeth on the floor. I (Fernando) encountered Rodneys masterclass a few months ago and started using it and sharing it with everyone. It’s the best thing since sliced bread! It greatly improved my sound and intonation.
Fernando! Would you believe that we still play our Wii, and when you and Emily came over years ago we made Wii characters for you. We see you every now and then when we play!!! Well....the boys floss their own teeth now (at least they're supposed to....)....and in fact the oldest kid will be going to college next year. Do you feel old? Yes.....the 5ths thing is easily the most amazing thing that has happened for my left hand in the last 30 years. I basically play on 3 strings now....I almost never have my fingers only on one string. Like you, it has improved my intonation and approach to the viola immeasurably. Please give my love to Emily! Glad to hear from you :)
I remember downloading an old violin method by a student of Auer who suggested routinely blocking both strings with the first finger. But she didn't explain the rationale the way Friend does, so I just thought it was an eccentric idea instead of a fundamental element of the hand frame... I like your point about how octaves and thirds are far more natural. In effect, you are halving the distance the hand has to span between the strings. As a Scots fiddler, it also means I have a variety of chords available all the time to use as ornaments - not something you classical folks are allowed!
Yeah, I've looked at old editions too, and in particular old fingerings - and so many things have struck me - not the least of which that Mr. Friend has brought to light a dying but once widely used technique. For me, this discovery was the most important thing for my technique in the last 20 years. I would imagine this would be a big help for fiddling! Especially playing in multiple keys with that old first finger hanging out on the next string down. It's like making new open strings! Take care!
Hey Boaz - this whole idea came from a violin teacher in the UK. I think I linked the original video in the description. It's great for violin, but actually I think even better for viola. It definitely limits the wear and tear on the hand.
Totally amazing!! I’ve been working on this for about a week and it’s a game changer!! Watched Rodney Friend too. Thanks so much for sharing this, I wish I had known about this years ago!! 🙏🎻
Thank you so much for sharing this teaching. It has helped me so much! Watching your older videos, I can see that your playing has improved so much since you have started blocking 5ths.
Thank you David for your input with more details on the 5ths - may I add that the fifths placement makes Stamitz opening chords, Beethoven 5 2nd mvt except beginning, and countless others so much easier as well. Hope you have a great day.
Thanks for sharing this marvelous and yet so simple technique! I watched it with my viola class at Unicamp (Brazil) and we are all trying and enjoying it! It really helps and makes playing the viola easier and more enjoyable!
Thanks Emerson, I'm so glad it is helpful. It has been a real game changer for me. I'm still relearning all my old repertoire with this technique. It takes time....but it is easier, isn't it? Take care! :)
oh my god, this is ridiculously simple.. and effective! as a self-learner, this changes my whole game plan, i guess. recently i began to think my viola is too big for my fingers (and how much they can stretch), and that all my practise had been futile... well, i am glad i had stumbled upon this video! thank you
It is so simple! I'm amazed it isn't more commonly known or done. I've been really doing it now for about 4 months, and am just continually amazed at how much easier and better it is than the normal way. I'm glad it is helpful!
Also the Schradieck exercises are great for improving finger reach (only practice until your hand starts to hurt, then stop for the day)
Need to try this - thanks for sharing!
And, oh, such a nice warm tone that your viola has!
Thanks Gudrun, I hope it is helpful for you!
Great!! Pinchas Zukerman talked to me about this many years ago: The concept of FRAME and BALANCE. He was mentioning it in the context of sound and of much richer vibrato, but that we might have to adjust a bit to play faster. This way most double-stops are always in tune, we move the hand much less for adjusting to the different intervals and things feel more centered in the hand because of the distribution of the weight.
Zukerman is an unbelievably great model for finding a hand frame which maximized sound and vibrato. I think I probably still watch at least one video of him per month....just to admire the approach he had to the fingerboard (and also the bow arm).
Bloody brilliant explanation and very useful, enlightening. Thank you for this. It's great to see how this works so fantastically even on the viola, with its wider string spacing. Thanks again.
I'm glad this was helpful for you. It's been very helpful for me too.
Thank you! I found this video trying to learn how to cover the fifth
I hope it helped somewhat. I used to really, really hate fifths. I'm growing to like them now (slowly!). Have a great day :)
The wrist position and playing with more of the pads than the tips was a tremendous help for my violin playing (beginner violin as a classical guitar player).I did not know that also you have to be hitting both strings, as it seems it is worth practise the fifths!
It does help a lot, doesn't it? I find myself putting the first finger on 2 strings almost always now. The 2nd finger less so, only when necessary for 3 and 4. But yeah, that in combination with the elbow being further to the left and playing on the pads...it works great he? Glad it is helpful for you!
Thanks so much for sharing!
Hi David this is Emily Zaita and her husband Fernando. Hope the y’all are doing well! Emily remembers you flossing the boy’s teeth on the floor.
I (Fernando) encountered Rodneys masterclass a few months ago and started using it and sharing it with everyone. It’s the best thing since sliced bread! It greatly improved my sound and intonation.
Fernando! Would you believe that we still play our Wii, and when you and Emily came over years ago we made Wii characters for you. We see you every now and then when we play!!! Well....the boys floss their own teeth now (at least they're supposed to....)....and in fact the oldest kid will be going to college next year. Do you feel old? Yes.....the 5ths thing is easily the most amazing thing that has happened for my left hand in the last 30 years. I basically play on 3 strings now....I almost never have my fingers only on one string. Like you, it has improved my intonation and approach to the viola immeasurably. Please give my love to Emily! Glad to hear from you :)
Muy interesante. He hecho algunas cosas similares, voy a intentar esta con el violín. Muchas gracias saludos. k.anton. Arg.
I'm glad! It does help, doesn't it? Have a great day.
I remember downloading an old violin method by a student of Auer who suggested routinely blocking both strings with the first finger. But she didn't explain the rationale the way Friend does, so I just thought it was an eccentric idea instead of a fundamental element of the hand frame... I like your point about how octaves and thirds are far more natural. In effect, you are halving the distance the hand has to span between the strings. As a Scots fiddler, it also means I have a variety of chords available all the time to use as ornaments - not something you classical folks are allowed!
Yeah, I've looked at old editions too, and in particular old fingerings - and so many things have struck me - not the least of which that Mr. Friend has brought to light a dying but once widely used technique. For me, this discovery was the most important thing for my technique in the last 20 years. I would imagine this would be a big help for fiddling! Especially playing in multiple keys with that old first finger hanging out on the next string down. It's like making new open strings! Take care!
wow! do these idea also work in the violin world? I am curious to try it out
Hey Boaz - this whole idea came from a violin teacher in the UK. I think I linked the original video in the description. It's great for violin, but actually I think even better for viola. It definitely limits the wear and tear on the hand.
you are the boss
Totally amazing!! I’ve been working on this for about a week and it’s a game changer!! Watched Rodney Friend too. Thanks so much for sharing this, I wish I had known about this years ago!! 🙏🎻
Yeah me too! I'm having to relearn all my old music with this new technique....but it really is a game changer :) Take care Anne.