Hello everyone. I know how to play the guitar, drums, and piano, so I chose to then take up violin. I just recieved it today. On a few books and things ive seen, it says to hold the violin so when you take off your left hand, your violin is still held up by your shuolder and head, without any effort. Ive been going at it for some time now, and whenever I take off the left hand, the violin falls. It seems that im mostly holding it up by my arm.
Any ideas?

Do you have a shoulder rest? If not, go get one! It will make the violin much easier to position, and much more comfortable to play.

Out of curiousity, where did you get your violin, and who made it?

Try this:

1. Put your left hand on your right shoulder.
2. With your right arm, place the violin (with shoulder-rest!) on your left shoulder.
3. Turn your head to the left until your chin can sit on the chinrest and your nose is in line with the fingerboard (think `ski ramp`)
4. Lower your head so the weight of it holds the violin - do not grip as this will cause lots of problems further down the track (trust me, I know!).
5. Once you are able to hold the violin steady enough to walk around the room, you can move your left hand to the proper position - without taking any of the weight from your head.
6. Keep checking your head is still holding the violin by letting your arm drop occasionally.

Fingers crossed!

Thank you for the information on how to position the violin so it doesn`t fall down. I have been struggling with this since I started, I go to a violin teacher and she has shown me several times, but I just don`t get it, but when I do it your way, it works, really works! I have been playing or learning to for a year, and sometimes its a cinch and other times its a pain, and its hard to hang in and keep doing it, not only that, I am learning to read music at the same time. I am 50 so its a real challenge, but I love the violin, when I play it right, it soothes me!! This will make it easier for me, to feel confident I am doing it right! Thank you!