4/4 bow for 3/4 violin?

June 1, 2008 at 05:12 PM · My daughter is 8.5 yrs, plays a 3/4 violin, and needs a good bow. So far, we cannot find a good enough 3/4 bow, so recently she tried my 4/4 bow and prefers it. The 4/4 bow is significantly better than the 3/4 bow in all respects.

If she continues to use a 4/4 bow for 3/4 violin, will she be doing herself harm or developing bad techniques?

I may be imagining things, but from what I see and hear, her techinique actually improves with the 4/4 bow. Our prof say no to this idea, but does not explain why.

thanks.

Replies (6)

Stephen Brivati

June 1, 2008 at 10:38 PM · Greetings,

it is simply a question of arm length. If the bow is too long and your daughter tries to use all of it then problems will ensue. It is also posisble that it is too heavy. This can be dangerous to young arm muscle sand tendons.

I sympathize though. Most `beginner` bows are complete trash just at the time when a studnets need sa good bow to nurture their technique.

Cheers,

Buri

Ron Gorthuis

June 2, 2008 at 05:46 AM · thanks. what is too long? too heavy?

Stephen Brivati

June 3, 2008 at 04:20 AM · Greetings,

too long is where it is impossible to get near the point because of shortage of arm. This may result in gyrations of the instrument but bowing around the corner as well.

A full size bow usually weighs in at between 58 and 62 grams. The latte ris pretty heavy. The addition of even a gram or two can make a serious differnec eto the amount of strain put on the hand and arm, even for proffesionals. There seemed to be a vogue among viola player sa while back to use cello bows. Don`t know if it ever really caught on. Origin was probably the viola player accidently taking a firends cello and bow out of the case thinking it was their@s. Those that survived the spike through the neck perservered with the bow.

Cheers,

buri

Gene Wie

June 3, 2008 at 07:40 AM · If you can find a full size bow that is not too heavy and your daughter does not try to play to the extreme tip with motions that attempt to compromise for her arm length (and thus risk injury), then it should be okay.

I've had the same issue with some of my younger students, and really, the trick here is to educate the player properly about what is and isn't acceptable in their current range of physical motion.

Also, know that the length of bows is not completely standardized either. I've had variations in length of up to 1cm in either direction...

Ron Gorthuis

June 5, 2008 at 02:06 AM · thanks!

Stephen Brivati

June 5, 2008 at 04:22 AM · Greetings,

you might consider a carbon fibre. That may be subtantilaly lighte and then you only have the length problem to be careful of.

Cheer,s

Buri

This discussion has been archived and is no longer accepting responses.