What you may notice is, I start from a wider lens and look at the root, before trying to fix the wrist. (I'm a self-confessed perfectionist, yes I know!)
Check entire body for tension to ensure freedom of movement.
Check the instrument is well set up.
Check for easy deep breathing.
Check your thoughts towards how you feel about playing your instrument today.
Check the alignment and balance of the instrument as it's placed into playing position.
Make sure the violin is secured by the very minimum natural weight of head.
Double check body, especially shoulders, neck and jaw.
Release left hand and arm down towards the pegs to playing position.
Feel where the violin touches the hand and where the hand is free.
Swing elbow to check it's free.
Sense how loose and free the thumb is.
Keep everything fluid.
Now use imagery for the wrist alignment if you want to.
Goldilocks wrist alignment, too far, too close, just right.
Your wrist is a slide!
Use the book Vio's Violin: We Imagine Music Series by Kenesha Ryce.
Use a slap band around the wrist as a prop
Play a game of freeze and check wrist in the breaks.
Ask students to avoid pancake/pizza wrists.
Shake an egg shaker to free up wrist.
Play in front of a mirror.
Throw pom poms at student when if their wrist collapses. If you have to do it 3 times, then you win, otherwise they win!
Use left hand pizzicato to practice hand shape.
Pop tape from the middle finger down to the forearm to create awareness.
Left hand wrist is awake when collapsed as you actively have to bend it in and asleep when relaxed in it's natural form.
Pop a marble on the left hand... it should roll down and onto the floor.
Rubber band a small soft toy to the instrument and try not to squash it.
Imagine a little animal lives in the gap between the wrist and instrument. Try not to squash it.
Remind kids that in the olden days, teachers would attach sharp objects to remind children not to make contact with the instrument.
Waterfall wrist imagery.
Use a small battery operated fan to blow air between the wrist and instrument.
Use a feather to tickle in the gap between the wrist and instrument.
