I am a 4-12 string teacher. I have a beginner student playing the violin. His parent sent in a note requesting me to change the strings, switch the chin rest and to teach him left handed instead of right handed. I am not sure if I should do this. THe parent claimed it had made an improvement, but I am not sure what exactly an improvement would be from his/her end. Anyone have some suggestions as to what I should do or say to the parent without being too "it is wrong".
Thanks

Being left handed myself, in my experience it is better to leave the strings "normal". It can be very annoying not to be able to just pick up a violin and play it, because you cannot play it normally. We live in a right-handed world. It will be better if your student learns to play it regularly, it will be of value and he will appreciate it later in life.
And if the student learns this from early on, his performance, in most cases, will not be affected longterm. If the parents make a big deal about it, this may be a sign that his parents don`t trust their students teacher, this affects your credibility towards your student as well.

Good luck,

Nathan

By saying that we "live in a right-handed world" we are perpetuating a myth. We don`t live in that world...anymore. And for that matter, most of the world never has. I would advise you to do some reading on the subject at your local library. Thre are volumns on this topic. The history is quite interesting, but alas, this subject of left-handed string playing is imbued with quite a bit of folk-lore, supersition and ignorance. Unfortunately, the prohibition against playing left-handed is propogated by "well meaning" but very mis-directed individuals.

We know from history what forcing a left-handed child to write with the right hand can do, it is none the less disastrous for those of us who naturally would play a left-handed instrument.

Time to grow up and take note!

As for questions about young childred learning left-handed. There is no physical or logical reason not to. Instruments are readily available, the arguement that Orchestral playing is impacted is a trite at best and not correct in the real world, as there have been several accomplished left-handed players playing left handed insfruments as solosits, orchestra members and chamber players over the past couple hundred years---granted to read of them, you really need to hit the books, not just the syllabus teacher gave you.

Starting a young child on a left-handed instrument is only a problem if the teacher has a problem with it. If this is the case, my advice to the student: find another teacher!

Now, if we accept that left-handed violin players are a reality, then we must move onto how do you teach them?

That would be a topic indeed!!!!!!

As for your imediate dilema:

Direct the student to purchase a left-handed insturment (these are available in quite a range of prices and models).

As an educator, do not worry too much about traditional texts being written from the right-hand vantage point. If the student writes left-handed, they have already beaten you to the task for several years. Lefties quicly learn to switch instructions round to make sense of the world.

As an educator, realize that your student actually has a better model in you than your right-handed students. When they look at you play, they are seeing exactly what they see when they look in a mirror--which can enhance their ability for self critique when they practice at home.

As an educator, do not fall into the misguided belive that the fingering hand is the end-all of string studies--it is not. Bowing is what all great violinsits practiced and practiced until their dying days.

When introducing your left-handed player to ensembles, realize that arrangments (where they stand, sit, & etc.) of instruments is not written in stone (this goes for Orchestral works as well--see orchestral history books for information on the evolution of the modern symphony orchestra---you will find that it is a rather recent undertaking AND really only applies to a narrow period of music AND that it is not intended for all periods!) With that said, be creative with how you place instruments---if can be as much a learning experience for you as for your students.


Good luck!