When I was a child, I studied the violin. I remember my first lesson vividly. Holding the instrument under my chin and supporting it with my left hand was not so difficult. But to twist that hand around the string board in order to strike a string? At first, it seemed almost impossible.
Then my violin teacher demonstrated the position that made the reach possible. After devoting myself over a period of time to practicing her position faithfully, the pain in my wrist finally disappeared, and I advanced to the correct position for holding the bow. Now I was ready to produce a sound.
Recently, as I was looking back on that experience, I realized how important it had been to learn that fundamental position, for without it, I could never have mastered the instrument—nor, certainly, enjoyed the music.
