This playlist of YouTube videos covers most of the basic information we will cover in the first 1-2 lessons on violin or viola for young children. This information may also be useful to older students who are just beginning lessons.

This video is designed for young children who are just beginning lessons, but may be useful to new older students as well. We usually cover this information in the first 1-4 lessons.

This shows the very basics of left hand setup on violin and viola, as we will learn it in the first 1-2 months of lessons.

This video shows the basics of correct full-body alignment when playing violin or viola, which significantly affects both the left hand and bow technique.

This video demonstrates the process of determining which chin rest and shoulder rest will optimally fit a violinist or violist. Most children do not need custom-sized chin rests, but teenagers and adults often need to purchase different chin rests than the ones that come with their instruments to develop proper alignment while playing.

These exercises strengthen right hand muscles, increase range of motion of joints, and develop coordination of the bow hand. This presentation of these exercises is designed for beginning to intermediate students; advanced students will want to further refine the degrees of motion of the bow and the hand.

This video goes more into depth on left hand setup for adult students who have been playing for at least 1 month, or children who have been playing for several months.

This video provides a thorough overview of optimal left hand setup for adult beginning-intermediate students, or children who have been playing for more than 2 years.