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Here's my very simplified and abbreviated rendition of My Heart Will Go On (Titanic theme). It's actually a very simple melody that's easy to memorize, which made it a good choice for practicing extending my bow stroke.
I really hope that I can do this song with proper vibrato someday. I wouldn't even bother posting it now, but feedback on my previous videos has been so helpful.
Thanks in advance for any advice!
When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,
I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.
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You play waaayyy better than I do. I am the last one to be commenting about form [being completely suckish in that respect], but is your bowing arm comfortable? It looked a little tense, like you would be uncomfortable playing for very long.
Very nice job, KS........ your bow look's a bit tight, is it ?
Keep up the good work. 
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dionysia said
You play waaayyy better than I do. I am the last one to be commenting about form [being completely suckish in that respect], but is your bowing arm comfortable? It looked a little tense, like you would be uncomfortable playing for very long.
Thanks D. You're right, my arm does look like it's at an odd angle. I've been working to try and keep the violin level on the advice of my teacher, but maybe I'm over-compensating. It's funny that I thought I was fairly upright when I was playing but in the video I look hunched over.
Fiddlestix said
Very nice job, KS........ your bow look's a bit tight, is it ?Keep up the good work.
Thank you, Fiddlestix. I think you're right. I was getting a lot of bounce, so I tightened it up, which seemed to help, but maybe I tightened it too much.
Just the kind of input I was hoping for!
When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,
I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.
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Very nice , good tone.
Wish my fingers would arch around like that.
Speaking of arch I think that bow could use a little. 
Keep up the good work!
No matter where you go, there you are!
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I can't read music, but I understand it perfectly.
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KindaScratchy said
I was getting a lot of bounce, so I tightened it up, which seemed to help, but maybe I tightened it too much.
I thought bounce was because the bow is too tight? A pencil width is what you are aiming for between the wood and the hair at the middle.
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Yes loosen that bow.
GREAT job KS 
As far as your right arm goes, here are a few suggestions. When you play up bow lead slightly with your elbow as though someone is pulling your upbow with a string attached to your elbow. When bowing down allow the elbow to drop (you keep it high) and lead the bow. Work on finger flexibility. I have a video somewhere on that.
I don't know if you can get used to it but it would be nice to see you hold the violin higher up. Right now it looks like you could potentially get tired in your neck easily and maybe even troubles with your neck.
Try balancing it on your shoulder and using your jaw bone instead of your chin to hold it.
Keep up the great work.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Fiddlerman said
Try balancing it on your shoulder and using your jaw bone instead of your chin to hold it.
I always thought "CHINrest" was a bit of a misnomer, since most people I see rest their jaw on it... maybe the term 'jawcradle' will catch on! 
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Very well played! I love how smooth you you sound is when you lift the bow and put it down for the next note, something I cannot do yet! 
"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov
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Very well played KS! Nice to see you holding the fingers close to the finger-board(Naska your comments?). Is there any reason for keeping the index finger in the first position? You could have smiled at least at the end having done it well.
If music be the food of love, play on;
Give me excess of it ..(William Shakespeare in Twelfth Night)
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Very nice playing. For sure think about making your right hand wrist a little looser so you don't have to think about your arm and elbow position so much and I agree. Loosen up the tension on your bow. You are doing great and have a great ear for hearing the notes.
I like how You can play without bouncing with such tensed bow 
.. Wonderful!
Also i can suggest sevral things to make the right hand not so stiff - put the bow on the strings and hold it with only 2 fingers (thumb and middle) for a while. Then relax the hand completely and wave it up and down. Then put all the rest fingers on te stick and play full bow strokes for a while, concentrate only on relaxing your hand.. If You want to keep it relaxed make that excercise before every practice. It helped me. Though i'm still working on it too. My teacher is unhappy about my right hand. =)
suresh said
Very well played KS! Nice to see you holding the fingers close to the finger-board(Naska your comments?).
Haha yep.. i'm always happy to see that others CAN do it. I keep working, i promise 
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Good work! How long have you been playing?
If I could offer an additional suggestion for bowing - if you can relax your 1st finger a little bit (outstretching it can help with this) so that the overall "grip" is more relaxed, I think you will reduce the tension in your arm. Maybe you're arm is not tense, but it looks that way to me
Keep it up!
Jim
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Thanks for all the great advice everyone!
I tried to work on all your recommendations tonight...it was a lot to remember... 
but I think I was able to make some improvements.
I know my bow was too tight in the video -- it really did seem to bounce less that way -- but I was careful not to tighten too much tonight and not much bouncing (except on D on the A string, which is usually my worst note for bouncing and scratching).
I put the violin up more on my shoulder, per FM's advice, and it did sound better. In fact, I was also getting vibration of the music through my collar bone, which was weird but sort of nice, too. The downside was that my left arm got really tired, really quickly. 
Regarding the stiffness...while I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I'm just stiff by nature, 
I appreciate the suggestions to help me limber up. I will give them a try.
When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,
I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.
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