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Question about reversing bad habits
Bowing technique and sound.
Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 (0 votes) 
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vivalaviolin

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March 15, 2017 - 2:15 pm
Member Since: March 15, 2017
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Hi All,

So I have been playing the violin for about 11 years now. However, for much of that I did not have an instructor so I practiced on my own. I starting instructions again recently and I have a terrible bow grip according to my instructor. Because I have been playing for so long with this bow grip, I am finding it difficult to play holding the bow correctly. Additionally, my bow moves diagonally constantly hitting the fingerboard and I don't like the tone when I play. It sounds rather amateurish. I was hoping you could give me some advice on how to fix this. I was thinking about buying a device that goes over the bridge that ensures I play straight. Do you think that will work?

 

Thank You!

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Adaleona
Ohio, USA

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March 15, 2017 - 2:21 pm
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It could possibly work, no harm in giving it a try. What I suggest for the time being is:

 

A) For the bow grip, practice picking up your bow with the grip your teacher suggested and setting it down, picking it back up, and so on.

 

B) For the bow sliding, every time you see your bow start to slide, correct it immediately and move on. (Many people do this, including me, but if you correct it as soon as it happens, the less it will happen.)

 

For the bow grip, practice this every time you screw up a few times, then it will eventually take priority over the old habit.

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damfino
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March 15, 2017 - 2:39 pm
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An alternative to buying the bow-straight thing, you can stick straws in your F-holes, or roll up some paper into straw-liked tubes to help you out without buying something extra. This video shows straws, but there was another I saw where someone just rolled up some paper and stuck it in the f-holes. 

t=803s

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Adaleona
Ohio, USA

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March 15, 2017 - 2:42 pm
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damfino said
An alternative to buying the bow-straight thing, you can stick straws in your F-holes, or roll up some paper into straw-liked tubes to help you out without buying something extra. This video shows straws, but there was another I saw where someone just rolled up some paper and stuck it in the f-holes. 

t=803s  

I completely forgot about that! Was the other video perhaps from The Online Piano and Violin Tutor? I believe she made a video on the paper method.

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damfino
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March 15, 2017 - 2:57 pm
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That probably was the other one I was thinking of :)  

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
March 16, 2017 - 12:20 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429

Also, use more elbow to draw the bow parallel to the bridge. Think elbow......
Of course you need slight movement in the shoulder but you probably get the gist....

Maybe this will help on the grip:

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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