DESCRIPTION:
I'm Nathan Cole from http://natesviolin.com.

If it looks like my head is in a vice, it's because today's topic is pressure! Left-hand finger pressure, that is. Some violinists are taught that you really need to slam the fingers down on the string in order to have a clean technique. But in fact, the opposite is true: you only need the minimum pressure to fully stop the string!

If you use too much finger pressure, over time you'll find that your technique is compromised: it can be difficult to play quickly and effortlessly, and accuracy suffers as well. In the worst cases, your hands and arms will tire quickly and you will build up tension that can cause injury.

That's why I'm going to show you my system for finding your MVP: Minimum Viable Pressure.

Imagine the possible finger pressures on a scale from 0-10. Zero means that you aren't touching the string at all. Ten means that you're gripping as hard as you can.

In between 0 and 10 there are four different checkpoints to find. Those checkpoints occur at different numeric values for different people, but in order from least to greatest pressure, they are:

First: Harmonic sound (no pitch audible except for harmonics)
Second: mostly noise, with just a little pitch
Third: mostly pitch, but with a little noise
Fourth: pure tone (all pitch)

Note that whenever you practice finding your MVP, you must use a strong (forte) bow at all times. This will likely feel unnatural at first, but it's a requirement for this technique to work properly!

Now pick a passage, preferably something fast and slurred. If you would like to practice a passage of separate notes, simply slur them for this exercise.

The first checkpoint is always at pressure 1. After getting comfortable with harmonic finger pressure but a strong bow, increase the finger pressure just a tiny bit, to 2.

At 2 or possibly at 3, you will find that you can detect the intended pitches, but it's still mostly noise. That's your second checkpoint.

As you increase bit by bit, you will come to the third checkpoint: where you hear mostly the intended pitches, but a bit of noise along with them.

Then, after one or two more increases in pressure, you've found it: your MVP. For me it's always 4, 5, or 6. That's the pressure you should play with all the time.

Watch the video to see how to practice once you've found that number for yourself!