GEMINIANI GRIP AND IT’S EFFECTS TO THE DEVELOPMEMENT OF THE VIOLIN LEFT HAND TECHNIQUE

Abstract

Playing the violin, a stringed instrument, requires the ability to apply many difficult techniques,
very good bow control, and excellent right hand technique. For this reason, most violin pedagogues
and authorities have given more importance to right and left hand techniques. However, left hand
technique is as important as right hand technique and consists of masny sub-headings. These
include the use of positions on all strings, double stops, triple and quadruple chords, natural and
artifical harmonics, double stop harmonics, trill, double stop trill, vibrato, glissando, left hand
tremolo and left hand pizzicato. In order to perform all these left hand techniques correctly, the left
hand must be positioned in the correct position on the violin neck. Francesco Geminiani developed
a technical application known as Geminiani Grip for the correct positioning of the left hand. In this
study, Geminiani Grip will be examined in detail, examples from other violin authorities influenced
by Geminiani will be given and exercises written in the light of this practice will be analyzed.