Well OK, can you name me any orchestra that will accept left handed players? I know of none.

Liz

well here is another 3 questions...

how many teachers will:

-take on a left handed student to learn left handed at the student`s/parent`s request?

-suggest to a student/parent that left handed playing is an option for a left hander having a lot of difficulty with the basics?

- ask about hand orientation during the initial inquiry?

As for orchestras that do and have accepted left-handed violinists--there have been/are several. Some of the large city orchestras have had them. A little research in libraries or maybe even the internet will show this---the history lesson is up to you.


Here`s a question:
Can you name a prominent string quartet with a left-handed violinist? Here`s a hint: The quartet was named after the left-handed violinist. And, yet another hint: The violinist has some association with Shoenberg.
Enough said.

"The man who does not read good books is at no advantage over the man who can`t" --Twain

As for teachers willing to teach a left-hander: Thankfully, there are more these days. You can see left-handed students playing left-handed instruments in some of the finest music conservatories as well as universities.

No doubt, you will see more in the future as more instrument manufacturers cater to this market. Currently, there are several that do make production-run left-handed instrument at beginner`s prices.

Any good teacher will be willing to teach a student so inclined. If they don`t, find another!

Here`s another left-handed string player trivia question: What famous left-handed violinist and cellist penned the song "Smile?"

And to set the record straight:

THERE ARE such things as left-handed flutes and clarinets made for left handers and pianos (in rebuttal to the comment earlier: "But you don`t see flutes and clarinets made for left handers, or pianos").
True they are not made in nearly the same quantity as other instruments, but they do exist and are currently being used.

Any artifact known to mankind has some left-handed version (if handedness applies to it).

And this author is one human being that has actually had the privilege to play a left-handed piano!

Really? Flutes and clarinets? Have you any urls?

Liz

Liz - I`ve seen a lot of left handed flutes, but these were wooden flutes with 4-8 keys for playing Irish Trad. I`m sure they cost more than right handed ones.

I read recently that the right side of the brain (which controls the left hand) is responsible for our sense of pitch, while the left side (controlling the right band) is responsible for rhythm.

If this is correct, it would be a far more compelling reason to stick with conventional righthand hold. Luckily, being right handed anyway, it`s not a pronblem for me!

Liz - I`ve seen a lot of left handed flutes, but these were wooden flutes with 4-8 keys for playing Irish Trad. I`m sure they cost more than right handed ones.

I read recently that the right side of the brain (which controls the left hand) is responsible for our sense of pitch, while the left side (controlling the right band) is responsible for rhythm.

If this is correct, it would be a far more compelling reason to stick with conventional righthand hold. Luckily, being right handed anyway, it`s not a pronblem for me!

I`m not a violin/fiddle player - I`m a banjo player, and my husband recently told me that he would love to learn fiddle, and he`s a lefty (with little musical experience, by the way). He said he would just learn right handed, but because if he does learn it`s not like he`ll be in an orchestra, I`d rather him learn left handed, because he is. Personally, I can`t imagine trying to play banjo left-handed. So, where would one begin to look for an affordable left handed violin? Someone mentioned something about Chinese makers including lefty models in their line - what maker is this? I don`t want to spend a lot of money in case he decides not to stick with it.

Thanks,
Kelley

Gliga will do one. I don`t think anyone does the beginner price outfits in left handed.

Lzi

i`ve been mailing
www.nashvilleviolins.com
about an instrument

they stock lefties (beginner to intermediate quality) for $295

http://www.gligaviolins.com/ShowCategLeft_Hand.php?%20&Vioara

gliga seem to have a good selection too

I`m a lefty that was tought by my father to throw a ball right handed due to the fact that my left-handed brother was better throwing with his right hand. We were also taught to bat right handed. I`ve never been very good at softball and I believe it has a lot to do with that fact.

When taking a elementary left-right brain test, I scored a 5.5, where 10 is totally right brained and 1 is totally left brained. That explains my adaptability to changing back and forth. As a child, I did most tasks with my right hand, due to the fact that the way most tools are made to fit best right-handed (ie. scissors.) Also, most people use their off-hand to carry things, therefore making it stronger than their preferred hand. Most righties will carry a sack of groceries with their left arm and open the door with their right.

Therefore, my right hand/arm became stronger. This explains, at least in my case, why the common line that I`ve heard from right handers who coach lefties to play left handed, "Well, if you`re left handed, then you should be faster at fingering and therefore you shouldn`t change," doesn`t hold true for me. For a classic right hander, it does because they`ve got a stronger left hand/arm allowing them to get through the beginning stages of soreness that comes with getting started on a string instrument. If you dissagree, then answer this question, "Would you rather your student play a chord quickly or correctly?" Most of the teachers that I`ve had have told me to concentrate on getting the chords right and I would get quicker over time. Therefore, why would you tell a lefty to play right handed for dexterity`s sake? Playing a chord correctly is more a matter of hand strength.

You need more strength, than dexterity in your fingering hand (at least, in the beginning) and being more dexterous in your rhythm hand always pays off.

How many of you have started a weight training program, using freeweights or dumbbells (where you depend more on your grip than machines,) to find out that your playing was more stilted. Strength decreases flexability. Flexability is essential to speed.

Now, I was convinced, by a friend of mine who is right handed, to play the guitar right handed by being told that "Left handed guitars are too expensive/hard to find." I`ve been at it for over 10 years now, and I`m still at the beginner level. You could say that it is because I`m just lazy and never practice, but I would counter that argument by saying that I never practice due to the fact that it`s hard to make any progress when your fingering hand is always aching and your rhythm hand is too slow. This same friend convinced me, using the same reasoning, to take up golf as a right hander. "The clubs are too expensive for left handers and you`ll never be able to sell them if you quit." Well, golf is one place that you can truly tell what your dominant hand is. It was obvious from the beginning that I was having a hard time learning right handed. Thankfully, there was another lefty who worked at the course that had an extra five iron. I borrowed it and right away it was clear that I was swinging better as a lefty. This started me questioning why I had always had trouble playing sports and using tools. Right away, I started retraining myself to eat left-handed, use tools left handed, drive on the left side of the road (just kidding.) It seemed like a natural transition.

Everyone is different. My advice to parent, friends or teachers of new students is to encourage them to try both and see which feels more natural and by no means try to convince them one way or the other because of expense. What`s the difference if someone saves $200 on a right handed model over the left handed one, if it takes them years worth of music lessons to progress to the level that they would have been at with their natural talent?

Judge for yourself. No one else can tell you what feels right.

BTW: The theory about left handed people being more creative and right handers being more analytical is bunk. I`m a programmer/analyst, which is totally logical and deals with mathematics while my best friend, the musician/poet, couldn`t cut his steak left handed.

So then.....

we know that left handed people should play left handed violin/guitar etc.

we know of at least 2 companies that will supply budget left handed instruments (see the links i posted above)

now we just need teachers to respect this and accept people wishing to learn left handed (it`s not hard, i teach right mostly right handed people).

so enough of this "it doesn`t matter, everyone holds it the same way" nonsense.

I agree whole-heartedly! And I must add that the science behind the Left/right brain thing at this point in our evolution is about as advanced as rain-making was in the 12th century! There is far too much evidence to point to the fact that the "findings" really do not lend themselves to explaining the individual and his/her experience. So...be gone with this nonsense about one part of the brain "controling" another. It is not THAT simple. The individual makes the choice, not some scientist`s attempt to catalogue and poorly explain functions of the human body and mind using a method based on a construct.