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I’ve been trying to improve my tone- trying to get it more consistent and I keep seeing the minute bow exercise and reading how it improves the tone! What I don’t understand is how does it improve the tone ? What am I missing ? I can manage 44 seconds at the moment but I’m thinking why am I doing this? Thanks a lot !!
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Teaches control of the bow, you are supposed to get a constant sound. with no stops or gaps.
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Got ya! Thanks for that.
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So the aim is to get as even tone as possible and as slow as poss. Mine sounds like nails down a chalk board ha ha
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This explains it completely, dont try the vibrato on it, its not needed, dont worry you wont get a great sound no one does the slower you go the worse it sounds, you think it isnt improving yqour technique but it really does
Cant beat a sunny day
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By the way I find it easier the closer to the bridge I am.
Cant beat a sunny day
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I had a Horticulture Teacher in High School that started his first class by running his fingernails down the chalkboard. He'd say, "by the end of the Semester, this won't bother you a bit". Beginning of every class, same thing. Sometimes he just wanted to get our attention - nails down the chalkboard. 😖
Pretty soon... it didn't sound so bad, shortly there after - didn't bother any of us in his class. 🥱😴
Then, the fun began! 😏
Any time someone entered our classroom, who wasn't part of our class, our teacher would run his nails down the chalkboard - and that outsider would go crazy! 😈
We all laughed.
...I'm always afraid I'll get used to how I sound - before I should. 🤭
- Emily
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stringy said
By the way I find it easier the closer to the bridge I am.
Yes, the closer you are to the bridge, the slower you bow for the same pressure, otherwise you skim the surface of the string.
But I wouldn't recommend the minute bow exercise until people are advanced.
Good tone requires a good pressure-to-speed ratio, and the minute bow almost guarantees that, but good tone also requires rock-steady speed, and the minute bow will make a beginner far too nervous for that. It's like telling a beginner on the tight-rope to go as slowly as possible.
Beginners need to learn good tone from normal bowing.
Andrew
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Gordon Shumway said
stringy said
By the way I find it easier the closer to the bridge I am.
Yes, the closer you are to the bridge, the slower you bow, with more pressure, and therefore louder.
But I wouldn't recommend the minute bow exercise until people are advanced.
Good tone requires a good pressure-to-speed ratio, and the minute bow almost guarantees that, but good tone also requires rock-steady speed, and the minute bow will make a beginner far too nervous for that. It's like telling a beginner on the tight-rope to go as slowly as possible.
Beginners need to learn good tone from normal bowing.
Agree entirely with this -- at the very least, bowing with reasonably good tone should be second nature first. The minute bow is to train close control after you already have a solid bow stroke.
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Thanks for the info! Emily that makes my hair stand on end !!
Today is exactly 1 year since i started violin !!
Thanks everyone for the advice comments etc!! 😀
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I suppose this is a great exercise but forget the 1 minute bow.... No-one can do that. Let's be real happy if you can do the 20 second bow.
Close to the bridge for slow bowing. Also more pressure which also means that you won't be able to have a perfect sound at 20 seconds, but the exercise is great.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Fiddlerman said
I suppose this is a great exercise but forget the 1 minute bow.... No-one can do that. Let's be real happy if you can do the 20 second bow.Close to the bridge for slow bowing. Also more pressure which also means that you won't be able to have a perfect sound at 20 seconds, but the exercise is great.
Funny you should mention this, back in April I tried the Eddie Chen exercises. He got up to 37 and I was proud that I hit 25!
The old curmudgeon!
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Think I recommended that Eddie Chen video, very sorry now. 😒
Originally, I thought there were good points to many of the exercises, e.g., bowing open strings, paying attention to the sound, bowing straight, even bow strokes, loosen up with the finger lifting, and practice tilting the bow.
Never thought anyone would take the 'minute bow' seriously. ...well, not for more than 'a minute'! (lol)
Sorry that the 'minute bow' is what made an impression. 😔
I place more value on learning to keep a flexible wrist/hand/fingers for a relaxed bow hold. Also, people forget, it takes time to build a relationship with the bow - for good string contact, smooth string-crossings and being able to play near the frog.
Contrary to the hand taking a ride on the bow, the bow is an extension of our fingers/hand/arm - watch how an Artist holds & uses a piece of charcoal, oil pastel, or paint brush. Relaxed & flexible, but in control at all times. 🥰
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Don't be sorry Emily, all those videos and suggestions are great. You just have to take them for what they are. I'm glad that you are posting those videos.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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