Left-Handed Tamburasi

[tamburasa]

Okay, so I seem to have a bit of a dilemma. I'm starting into my 4th year of teaching the junior tambura groups at our church and I've come across something that I haven't yet encountered- a left-handed player. Sidenote: am only a little one myself (17) so haven't had the opportunity to play with too many others or meet any others in the same situation.

Anywho, after the first bit of music theory lessons I started them on tambure. In the class I have a left-handed girl who is struggling because all our instruments are for right-handed. In a sense it's as if we were to switch what each hand did. So my question: would it work if I was to just restring the instrument (so the neck of it would rest on her right side, but string order remain the same as it is for the rest of us) or ask our church to invest in a left-handed instrument (church supplies the instruments)?

Thank you very puno much,
tamburasa :)

[thecroat]

@tamburasa...I have a left handed player..lol..we just restrung the tambura for him and now he plays comfortably well...that's what I suggest. ;)

[tamburasa]

haha thanks thecroat. You never told me you had a lefty in your class! lol

[thecroat]

you never asked ;) he's been in my class for two years now...the best player in my class right now actually..followed closely by this girl. He does take guitar lessons though..so his learning curve is greatly increased

[jokirinaround]

Quite frankly I think you guys might be mixed up? Vjeko Dimter and I are left handed and it occurs to us that we are playing left handed already. :)

So maybe you righteous righty's are playing left handed and you don't know it.

WHAT?? makes one lefty vs righty when both hands are doing something completely different? This would be clear in writing, throwing and bowling. but in swinging a bat or taking a slap shot the left is over the right.

additionally I really don't care about this and I've wasted mine your time having you written this so..........to je to.

jka

[Djuroslav]

I like your 'new' look, jokin. Quite T-Rromaish I'd say... :eek: ;)

[Clive]

@ tamburasa

I was in your shoes 2 years ago. A child who started out tambura in my class always had the inclination to hold it the the opposite way. I told him, no that's not how it's played. His parents said he was a lefty but that didn't matter. I kept correcting him and eventually he held it and played it the correct way. It just takes a little bit of persistance I think.

Here in Canada and America cars are made to drive on the right side of the road, and the driver sits in the left front seat. It'd be like having someone from britian asking if they could drive their ride sided driving car on the left side of the road. It's not conventional. I dont think our governements would say, sure go ahead and drive that way if it makes you comfortable. Same goes for tambura. If Jka and Vjeko can do it, that's excellent. I'm in no way trying to offend left handed tambura players, I just think if we can teach a kid from the start to play conventionally then there is no problem

[tamburasa]

Thanks Ivan!

It all worked out in the end. She decided she'd like to play like everyone else and knows it'll take some extra practice, she's getting pretty good considering. :)