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I thought I would start a topic on the subject of bowing a violin. Maybe, people who do violin, can post a tip per reply. I figured just maybe 1 tip per reply post. The tip would be your first line of your reply in ALL caps, them hit the return to start the tip on the next line. The reply posts would just be done as replies to this post so all the bowing information is in one spot. Feel free to reply to this thread with any subject of bowing.
Any question can be asked in anyway you want. Maybe an @username could be used to draw attention to the poster that there is an answer.
Example:
ROSINING: HOW, WHY, HOW OFTEN, AND HOW MUCH (This would be the first line)
This is where whomever can actually explain this would start the post. So, if anyone can clearly, and simply, explain why and how we rosin the bows, you can use this topic for your reply. Don’t know enough about it to clearly use this as a useful example of a possible format. I don’t want to out disinformation in it. If someone wanted to add more, it would be great to have “ROSINING” on the first line followed by a carriage return.
Using the format I suggest will help make the information more identifiable to those looking and help new questions from people needing more information on that topic of bowing to find it.
Just a suggestion. But this thread topic would be about bowing. It it doesn’t go that way, no biggy. Would be interesting to see how long it lasts, at any rate. LOL
Learn Violin and Fiddle
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Fiddlerman's Fiddle Talk Forum
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BOW HOLD AND PRESSURE.
I personally have struggled with these, to have a lose but firm grip with a flexible wrist, I have tried several ways of holding the bow to have that and still maintain control it still a work in progerss to get it the best it can be.
Being as I have always used my hands and arms to grab and hang onto equipment along with moving heavy items, that you did not want to get loose. Having a light touch especially at the frog is difficult at best for me, I tend to have a very heavy hand when bowing and when playing higher up the finger board I crush the sound all the time having to much pressure. For me it a field of study that I'm personally have a hard time mastering to my satisfaction.
Mark
Master the Frog and you have mastered the bow.
Albert Sammons
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Don't worry, Mark. You may find that overly light bowing is the more common problem, and its a bullet you have dodged! I notice my bowing growing too light, and assume it's fatigue, but my teacher says, no, it's because my brain is working too much on my left hand and losing control of my right hand.
So maybe you should try finding something more demanding for your left hand?
Either that, or your right hand is moving too slowly for the pressure you are applying.
Try some long fast bold bow strokes.
(sorry, CID, but I'm not sure I understand the thread's remit)
Andrew
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Not a problem, @Gordon Shumway. Just trying something to get some info flowing. Seems to have done a little. Will just go with the flow. Anyone new will see the bowing mentioned in the description and look and see what is mentioned and most likely anything we mention will help.
Back to that light bowing. I think I have that issue with my left and right arms not working together. It seems to be that I can’t work on fingering and bowing at the same time. It is like that in cello, viola, or violin. I try to not be so “timid” with bowing when learning fingering, but then my fingering gets lost. I think my thinking process is too organized at times and it won’t allow me to do these particular tasks at the same time.
With this issue it takes me forever to learn a new song. When I am in this “mode” my bowing is light, scratchy, and seems to fly all over. I also cannot prevent longer bow strokes than needed when in this phase and constantly run out of bow. I try to stop the bow as I try to figure out the next fingering move, but I keep bowing the same note as I move my fingers to the next note. I should stop the bow after the note count, a my cello instructor told me at my last lesson. I do for a while, and then, bam, I am doing it again.
The weird thing is, after I get a spot working right, my bowing becomes heavy. I then have to over concentrate on that bowing. It is a vicious circle.
I tried plucky the strings to get the fingering and then add the bowing. That is an issue because the bowing isn’t done at all at the beginning. When adding the bow, for me, it is like starting from scratch. A rock and a hard place. I am hoping that as my fingering and speed, or ease of learning new song (sight reading) becomes easier that this issue will disappear.
Does this seem to be in line with either of your issues, or anyone else?
Learn Violin and Fiddle
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Two comments about bowing, one, I’ve found it to be more challenging than intonation in some of the songs we are playing for our Christmas program. Also, throw in a challenging rhythm and accidentals and believe me, your head is spinning. There is so much to playing a violin that people don’t comprehend. Two, recently my wife made a video of a song I’m playing and I didn’t have a clue I was pulling the bow toward me as I was playing a long bow. I’ve found I must consciously juke the front of my shoulder out as I extend the bow to keep it straight. That has become part of my daily practice routine now. Just my 2 cents worth on the subject of bowing. Have a great Friday everyone!
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x Coach said
Two comments about bowing, one, I’ve found it to be more challenging than intonation in some of the songs we are playing for our Christmas program. Also, throw in a challenging rhythm and accidentals and believe me, your head is spinning. There is so much to playing a violin that people don’t comprehend. Two, recently my wife made a video of a song I’m playing and I didn’t have a clue I was pulling the bow toward me as I was playing a long bow. I’ve found I must consciously juke the front of my shoulder out as I extend the bow to keep it straight. That has become part of my daily practice routine now. Just my 2 cents worth on the subject of bowing. Have a great Friday everyone!
All aspects of bowing require planning and especially in the beginning.
Recording yourself playing, especially video, is an incredibly valuable teaching tool. It doesn't matter how much a teacher tells you something, you can understand way better when you see it for yourself.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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