if I only had a music teacher.

My left hand is choking the life out of the violin neck all the time.  I've tried to relax but keep coming up short.  I kept wondering if it's me or maybe that the way I'm supposed to hold onto the neck.  I kept on trying to relax and not really getting anywhere.

Until today.

Yesterday I downloaded the lead violin score for Pachelbel's Canon in D.  Ugh, it sounds horrible.  So, I went looking for a tutorial.

I found this: 

Oh my goodness!  It's not part of this tutorial but something no video I've watched so far has explained is where my fingers go for 3rd position and she just mentioned it offhand.  And then I watched some more and looked at her left thumb and how it's positioned and thought to myself; I can do that.  Then she talked about what she does when she slides her hand from 1st position to 3rd position during the open D and a lightbulb clicked on.

Yes I'm still currently squeezing too much sometimes when I'm trying too hard, but my hand is so much more relaxed after watching that video.  If I had a music teacher maybe they would have seen it and/or suggested learning the hand position for 3rd position and/or the shifting required in order to soften my grip.

Life would be so much easier that way.