Investigating aspects of movement in violin performance

Abstract

The violin plays a central role in Western classical music traditions. Performing on the violin requires a complex interaction between motor control and auditory perception. The development of such skills requires extensive training over a period of years.With modern movement analysis techniques, characteristic motor behaviors associated with violin performance can be revealed. This chapter overviews research findings regarding the kinematics and kinetics of posture, bowing, fingering, and limb movements of violin players. These provide insights into the mechanics of playing the violin. More importantly, they can help to improve skill acquisition, control efficiency, and, concomitantly, musical effectiveness through their discussions of motor control economy, compensatory strategies, anthropometrics, and ergonomics.