The Bow as a Paintbrush

February 27, 2008 at 4:17 PM

This blog is in response to a friend who had a lesson that was less than "inspirational" and was thinking of switching teachers. She is a beginning student. I will call her Susie. This is my response to her with more than nod to my teacher who gave me his best advice when I needed it.

"I have got to share my successful and joyful feeling with you. I am either doing much better myself or the use of a better bow is working--or both in combination. Thank you for loaning me your 3 bows.
Now let's concentrate on you. I have to tell you that learning bowing technique is paramont to getting farther along with your violin. Once that is in place the world opens up. I know that you are light years away from me in so far as you knowledge of notes, finger placement , chord construction etc. The difficult pieces are coming to you thick and fast but in my opinion you need to investigate what is going on with your right hand. You can learn more and more difficult pieces but learning what exercises you need to do with the right hand is very important. Bill told me once that the bow hand is like the "paint brush" I think that he was trying to find a metaphor for me since I used to study art.
Computer art programs like "Fractal Paint" that try to simulate different brush strokes and different strokes created by different medium--chalk, conte crayon, watercolor do a nice job but the muscles that you develop and the lyrical quality that only the human hand can create are missing. You have to teach your mind and your muscles to work in concert--to get that great "make me weep" sound.
Did you ever do a "paint by number?" All the colors are there. If you stand away from the painting it looks ok but what is missing? I think that you can hold the original painting next to it and count all the colors--check--ok---Count all the figures, check, ok--look at the placement-composition--amount of cool colors vs. warm colors--check--ok but the brush strokes are missing. That is what I think is missing for you. Better to have a beautifully done little simple picture than the whole Sistine Ceiling in Paint by Number."

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The Bow as a Paintbrush

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