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Beth,

I just wanted to send you an email to tell you that I just found your site today via some of your YouTube videos on learning violin. I’m an adult who started taking Bluegrass Fiddle lessons about 5 months ago and I am loving it! I played the piano for years and always wanted to learn the violin so it has been a lifelong dream of mine come true. However, I have had shoulder and neck problems over the years and was afraid that playing the violin would exacerbate those problems. And it did seem to really be adding to them, but even worse I was having extreme left forearm pain – almost like tennis elbow but on both sides of my forearm. My instructor couldn’t understand how my arm hurt and said it should be pain-free. He plays a number of stringed instruments in addition to the fiddle. banjo, bass, guitar and mandolin and has had years of holding up his left arm playing so thought maybe he had more strength in his arm. I thought that it was my grip on the neck so I started searching YouTube for solutions to my pain problem.

After watching a number of ‘how to hold the violin properly’ videos I finally chanced upon your “Left Hand Squeezing: How to Stop” video and you have solved my problem!!!! I was unconsciously gripping with my thumb and your explanation of how to place your thumb and the proper pressure has dramatically improved my hold! Thank you so much for sharing your years of experience and knowledge. I just wish I lived near Austin so I could stop in your shop sometime. The next time I make it there I will.

Thank you so much, Beth!

All the best,

Deb Roberge

Debra Roberge