2. the perfect bow hold

February 2, 2012 at 2:25 PM

2. BOW HOLD
The bow hold is fundamental to the principles of the violin. Both awkward and extraordinary, a solid bow hold is worth more in weight than solid gold. Let's begin.
A. Finger placement
1. Hold your bow with your left hand. First, bend your thumb at a 90 degree angle and place it flat up against the bow so that the hair rests on the side of your thumb. The tip of your thumb should be on the stick of the bow. Then (veeerrry important) turn your thumb to the right slightly, so the stick hits the tip of your thumb at an angle. The thumb needs always to be bent and curved like this. Watch carefully as you play, to make sure it doesn't slip, straighten out, or get caught in the gully of your bow near the frog.
2. Curve your index finger and place the first knuckle on the stick. The thumb and index finger will be the primo support for your bowing AT ALL TIMES. Practice these two fingers together as the core for your bow hold.
3. With the thumb and index finger carefully in place, turn the bow upward toward the ceiling and place the index finger on the bow so that the second knuckle is attached to the bow. This will create a beautiful curve in your bow hold that is essential to the angle at which you will play.
4. Put the ring finger (first knuckle) and pinky finger (curved, tip on stick) on the bow.
5. Now, this is the carefully dedicated part. The fingers must feel relaxed. The bow hold is an unnatural pose for a hand. It must be learned in all cases. Take utmost care and time in establishing your bow position as automatic. Do this by taking your hand off the bow, then on again in perfect fashion. Do this many times during the day, using a pencil, anything around. Practice the thumb and index finger as the core.
B. Rudimentary Bow Strokes
1. Play long tones on your violin, keeping the thumb curved properly and fingers curved, not flat or bent. Keep the bow of the violin between the bridge and the fingerboard, not anywhere too close to the bridge, or too close and over the fingerboard. Get all the way to the frog. Do this for ten to fifteen minutes morning and night for two weeks.
2. Play up at the first 3 inches of the frog, using only finger and wrist movements to achieve perfect, solid contact with the bow and string up at the heaviest part of the bow. This will feel awkward but it must be mastered immediately so that your bow strokes are solid, and so that the entire bow can be utilized for performance purposes. Be extra slow and careful in considering this part of your bow. First, place the fingers in the correct position and center your frog on the strings. Stop, and relax your hand. Then, play one short stroke, keeping in perfect contact with the string. Then, play another stroke, going the other direction. Your fingers themselves will be involved and less arm will be involved. Do this just as much as the long bows. Ten minutes twice a day for two weeks.

3. THE BOW ARM (wow, this will be hard to explain... how will I do it??? Baby is sleeping soundly).

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2. the perfect bow hold

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