My New Blue Friend

February 3, 2008 at 3:27 AM

Well, maybe this little blue rubber band is not quite my friend yet, but we are no longer fighting each other. After a evening Friday trying out this new bow hold, my first finger was sore from pressing down, which then caused tension up to my shoulder and over to my left hand destroying my vibrato and shifting.

I set out this weekend to call a truce and make peace with the blue rubber band. I took my viola out of it's music room and into my bedroom where I have a large mirror and proceded to bow - ever so slowly. At first with open strings, then Kreutzer, then scales, all the while noticing my hand formation, contact point, and how straight (or crooked) my bowing was, and any tension. After about an hour it started to become easier.

So back downstairs, to Kreutzer... again... and again... and again... watching my bow hand, contact point, etc... After about 2 hours of Kreutzer, I HAD to move on to something else or lose my sanity. What pieces do I have that would make a good bowing etude? I know!!!! Bach's Suite #4 Prelude (at a MUCH slower tempo). Out comes my musical security blanket - the Suites. Oooooh, forgot about those string crossings! Those would be good to practice my new bow hold with.

At the end of the day, my hand is relaxed, my bow hold almost "picture perfect", and ooooh, the sound! So nice!

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