Violin School Beginners Lesson 2: Bowing!

Summary

In this violin lesson, students learn the correct bow hold and technique. The instructor demonstrates how to properly tighten the bow, apply rosin, and execute smooth bow strokes. Key points include the importance of elbow movement, wrist flexibility, and maintaining the bow's position between the bridge and fingerboard. The lesson also addresses common mistakes, such as incorrect bow pressure and placement, and encourages practice on all strings.

Takeaways

• 🎻 Remember to place the violin on the left shoulder, with the left hand on the fingerboard and a space between the hand and the board.
• 🪄 Start with the bow by ensuring there's a gap between the horse hairs and the wood, which is adjusted by tightening the bow's nut clockwise.
• 🚫 Avoid over-tightening the bow as it can cause damage; the gap should allow a pinky finger to fit without touching the wood or hairs.
• 📍 Rosin the bow once a week to help it grip the strings, but only if necessary.
• 🤚 Practice the right arm movements with an imaginary bow, focusing on elbow open and close, wrist pushing and folding, and slight 'chicken arm' lifts.
• 👁️ Use a mirror to ensure the bow moves in a straight line between the bridge and the fingerboard.
• 🤞 Learn the bow grip with the right hand, placing the thumb under the bow and fingers wrapped comfortably around it, with the pinky finger slightly bent.
• 🎵 Practice bowing on the A string first, then progress to the D, G, and E strings, ensuring a smooth transition between them.
• ⏰ Regular practice of 5 to 10 minutes a day is recommended, focusing on maintaining a consistent bow pressure and straight bow movement.
• 🔍 Common mistakes include too much or too little bow pressure, bowing too close to the fingerboard or bridge, and uneven bow strokes due to insufficient wrist flexion.

Q & A

What is the main focus of lesson two in Meg's violin school?

The main focus of lesson two is learning about the bow hold.

How should the violin sit on the player's body?

The violin should sit on the left shoulder, between the chin and the shoulder.

What is the correct gap between the horse hairs and the wood of the bow before playing?

There should be a gap about the width of a pinky finger when placed in the middle of the bow.

How often should you apply rosin to your bow?

You should rosin your bow once a week, not every day.

What is the initial bow hold technique taught in the lesson?

The initial bow hold technique involves pinching the hand together like a little duck, as if holding an invisible bow.

What are the three main movements involved in bowing the violin?

The three main movements are the elbow opening and closing, the wrist pushing and folding, and the chicken arm going up and down.

How should the thumb be positioned when holding the bow?

The thumb should be bent underneath the bow, sitting in a little gap just by the wrap on the bow.

What is the purpose of practicing bow strokes without the violin?

Practicing bow strokes without the violin helps to focus on the right arm movements and develop a smooth bowing technique.

What is the correct bowing area on the strings of the violin?

The bow should be between the bridge and the fingerboard, avoiding the area over the fingerboard or too close to the bridge.

How can you tell if you are bowing in the wrong place on the strings?

If you are bowing in the wrong place, the rosin will leave a white mark on the strings, indicating the area where you have been bowing.

What is the advice for practicing the bow hold and bowing technique?

The advice is to practice the bow hold and bowing technique for five to ten minutes every day, focusing on a consistent amount of pressure and straight bowing between the fingerboard and the bridge.

Outlines

00:00

🎻 Introduction to Bow Hold in Violin Playing

In the second lesson of Music with Meg's Violin School, the focus is on learning the correct bow hold. After a quick review of violin holding, the instructor emphasizes the importance of bow preparation. The bow should have a gap between the horse hairs and the wood, which is achieved by tightening the bow's nut clockwise. The instructor advises against over-tightening to prevent damage. Rosin is then applied to the bow to help it grip the strings. The lesson continues with practicing the right arm movements for bowing, using a mirror for guidance. The correct bow hold is demonstrated, highlighting the role of the elbow, wrist, and the 'chicken arm' motion. The instructor provides a practical guide on how to hold the bow with the right hand, ensuring a comfortable grip and proper finger placement.

05:01

🎵 Practicing Bow Strokes and Common Mistakes

The second paragraph delves into practicing bow strokes without the violin, focusing on the right arm's movements. The instructor demonstrates how to move the elbow and wrist to achieve a smooth bow stroke, emphasizing the importance of not moving the shoulder. After practicing these movements, learners are guided to pick up the violin and start bowing the open A string. The instructor provides tips for a proper down bow and up bow, ensuring the bow moves smoothly between the bridge and the fingerboard. The segment concludes with the instructor demonstrating common bowing mistakes, such as applying too much or too little pressure, bowing too close to the fingerboard or bridge, and uneven bow strokes due to insufficient wrist flexion. Learners are encouraged to practice these techniques to achieve a consistent and clear sound across all strings.

10:02

📘 Bowing Techniques and Tips for Progression

In the final paragraph, the instructor provides a recap of the bow hold and the importance of practicing the movements of the elbow and wrist for a straight bow. Learners are encouraged to practice bowing one string at a time, starting with a down bow followed by an up bow, and then combining them. The instructor also suggests practicing string changes and using a mirror to ensure the bow remains straight and between the fingerboard and the bridge. The lesson ends with advice on consistent practice, emphasizing the importance of mastering the bow hold before moving on. The instructor also invites contributions to support the music lessons and signs off, promising to see everyone in the next lesson.

Keywords

💡Bow hold

The bow hold refers to the proper way of gripping and holding the bow while playing the violin. It is crucial for producing a good sound and controlling the bow's movement across the strings. In the script, the instructor demonstrates how to hold the bow with the right hand, ensuring the thumb is tucked underneath and the other fingers wrap around it, with the pinky finger providing support on top.

💡Rosin

Rosin is a substance applied to the bow's hair to increase friction between the bow and the violin strings, which is essential for producing sound. The script mentions that rosin should be applied to the bow, but not every day, to avoid excessive build-up and to maintain the right amount of grip.

💡Elbow movement

Elbow movement is a key aspect of bowing technique in violin playing. It involves the opening and closing of the elbow joint to control the bow's length on the strings. The script emphasizes the importance of this movement, illustrating that it should come from the elbow and not from the shoulder, to ensure a smooth and even bow stroke.

💡Wrist movement

Wrist movement, specifically the pushing and folding action, is highlighted in the script as a细微但重要的 part of bowing technique. It helps in maintaining a straight bow hair across the strings and contributes to the evenness of the sound produced. The instructor advises watching the wrist in a mirror to ensure proper technique.

💡Chicken arm

The term 'chicken arm' refers to the slight lifting and lowering of the arm while crossing strings. This movement is necessary to keep the bow in contact with the strings as it moves from one string to another. The script provides guidance on how to execute this movement without being too exaggerated.

💡Down bow

A down bow is the part of the bow stroke where the bow moves from the frog (the heel of the bow) towards the tip, drawing the bow across the strings in a downward direction. The script describes the execution of a down bow, emphasizing the need for a lifted elbow and the coordination of wrist and elbow movements.

💡Up bow

An up bow is the opposite of a down bow, where the bow moves from the tip towards the frog in an upward direction. The script provides instructions on how to perform an up bow, noting the importance of wrist folding as the elbow bends.

💡Bowing pressure

Bowing pressure refers to the amount of weight applied to the strings by the bow. The script cautions against both too much and too little pressure, explaining that the right balance is needed to produce a clear and consistent sound. The instructor provides auditory examples to illustrate the effects of incorrect pressure.

💡Bowing between the bridge and fingerboard

This concept refers to the correct placement of the bow on the strings, which should be between the bridge and the fingerboard of the violin. The script explains that bowing too close to either the bridge or the fingerboard can result in an undesirable sound, and the instructor demonstrates the correct technique.

💡Mirror practice

Mirror practice is a technique recommended in the script where the violinist uses a mirror to observe their own bowing technique. This method helps in self-correcting movements and ensuring that the bow travels in a straight line across the strings, which is crucial for a good tone.

💡Consistent bowing

Consistent bowing is the ability to maintain an even and straight bow stroke across all strings. The script emphasizes the importance of this for producing a uniform sound quality. The instructor provides tips on how to achieve this, including the use of the wrist and the control of bow pressure.

Highlights

Introduction to the bow hold in violin playing.

Review of last week's lesson on violin holding position.

Proper bow preparation by tightening without causing damage.

Importance of creating a gap between the horse hairs and the wood of the bow.

Testing the correct bow tension with a pinky finger.

Instructions on applying rosin to the bow for better string adherence.

Technique for right arm movement focusing on elbow and wrist.

Demonstration of the 'chicken arm' movement for string crossing.

Bow hold practice with an invisible bow for muscle memory.

Correct thumb placement under the bow for grip.

Finger positioning for comfortable bow grip.

Adjusting pinky finger position for optimal bow control.

Balancing bow weight and practicing bow lifts with the pinky finger.

Executing smooth bow strokes with coordinated arm movements.

Practicing bowing on the A string with proper elbow and wrist technique.

Common bowing mistakes and how to correct them for better sound quality.

Guidance on bow placement to avoid unwanted sounds.

Using a mirror for visual feedback during bowing practice.

Transitioning bow strokes from down to up on the A string.

Encouragement to practice bow hold and movements daily.

Advice on not rushing and focusing on mastering the bow technique.

Invitation to support the music lessons through Patreon or PayPal.

Transcripts

hi everybody and welcome to music with

Meg's violin school it's lesson two and

today we're going to be learning about

the bow hold everybody follow

[Music]

so last week we learned how to hold the

violin and I hope that you've been

practicing this week

let's just remind ourselves

our violin sits on our left shoulder

between our chin and our shoulder

and our left hand goes up here on the

fingerboard and there's a nice space

between our hand and the fingerboard

but for now we can put our violin down

because we're going to start with our

bow

now when you get your bow out there

should be no gap between the horse hairs

and the wood of the bow but in order to

play our violin we need there to be a

nice Gap there so to do this we tighten

the bow using this nut at the end

clockwise to tighten

so you twist that nut and keep watching

your bow

now it's very tempting when you're

beginning to tighten your bow too much

and this can really damage the bow so

what we're looking for is a gap about

that wide if you're not sure the good

way to test is to put your pinky finger

in the middle of the bow it shouldn't be

touching the wood or the horse's hair

but that's about the thickness that

we're looking for the next thing we need

to do is put some rosin on now you don't

need to put rosin on your bow every day

so if you've already done it then don't

do it again you probably only need to

rosin your bow once a week but putting

rosin on our bow helps it to stick to

the strings now we're ready to go so

we're going to pop our bow down for a

second

and we're just going to work on what our

right arm is actually doing it's very

important that we get this right and

this is where a mirror is going to come

really handy so pinch your hand together

like this like a little duck

this is our bow hold for now

and we've got an invisible bow and we're

going to move the bow backwards and

forwards across the string now let's

just pay attention to what our elbow is

doing our elbow is opening and closing

that's the only movement at the moment

we're not bowing from our shoulder like

this

everything comes from here open

close

open

close so that's the main movement our

elbow opening and closing

but as well as our elbow moving our

wrist is doing some little tiny

movements too and those movements are

pushing

and folding if you watch my wrist here

you'll see that it's pushing down

and folding back up

and that helps us to keep the bow in a

straight line so while our elbow opens

our wrist is pushing

and while our elbow closes our wrist is

folding pushing

folding

this will help our bow to stay in a

straight line

finally we also are going to be doing a

little bit of chicken arm

now not too much but when we're crossing

the strings we do need to lift our arm

up and down to help us keep the bow on

the strings

so those are our three movements we've

got the elbow opening and closing we've

got the wrist pushing and folding and we

have the chicken arm going up and down

is that and then let's pick up our bow

and practice with the real thing

so let's learn our bow hold let's use

our left hand to hold the bow somewhere

in the center here

and with our right hand we're going to

learn the bow grip

so your thumb needs to be bent

underneath the bow here if you can see

this little bit of wrap on your bow

your thumb should sit in a little Gap

just by that wrap

and the rest of our fingers the second

third and fourth finger are going to

wrap around the bow on top like that

find a way that feels comfortable for

you that it should look something like

this and our pinky finger sits on top of

the bow like this

and it should be roughly above the

Little Dot that we've got at the end

there now try and keep your pinky finger

bent if you're like me and you're double

jointed you will have a really hard time

bending your pinky finger so in this

instance it's a case of do as I say not

do as I do if you see that my pinky

finger is looking a bit funny that's

because I'm double jointed

try and keep your pinky finger bent now

when you're ready and you feel that that

position is nice and comfortable let's

try letting go with our left hand

you should feel the weight of the bow

you should feel the most weight on your

pinky finger and you can use that finger

to lift the bow up and down so let's

practice that press down with your pinky

finger and the tip of the bow should go

up and let go with your pinky finger and

the tip of the bow will go back to

normal let's try again up damn up down

up down now let's practice some nice

smooth bow Strokes before we pick up our

violin now just like before we're going

to open and close our elbow remember

those other parts of our body that are

moving too we're moving our wrist

that's pushing and folding

but we're not moving our shoulder at all

open and close your bow should be going

over your shoulder

well done now let's pick up our violin

and let's hold the violin nice and

comfortably if you're comfortable

holding with your left hand up here then

go for it but if the weight of the

violin is feeling a little bit too much

today then support the weight by putting

your left hand where mine is now you

don't need to worry about the left hand

because we're just going to Bow the open

strings today so let's begin with the a

string we're just going to do one

beautiful long bow stroke so let's begin

at the nut your elbow should be lifted

like mine don't be tempted to collapse

your elbow that's not going to get us

anywhere we want a lifted elbow again

not too high

just there

and let's bow one nice long stroke on

the a string

when you get to the tip Take Your Bow

off and start again

very good now you should feel that as

your elbow is opening your wrist is

pushing down

foreign

if we bow without adjusting the wrist it

will look like this

and we don't want the bow to do that so

this is where you can use your mirror

watch your reflection and make sure that

your bow is staying between the bridge

and the fingerboard here we go

and again

one more on the a string

foreign

well done now that is called a down bow

when our bow is going in a downwards

Direction across the strings and the

opposite is our up bow so let's practice

an up bow

our bow is at the tip like this so it

should be a big long stretch on your arm

try and get it as close to the tip as

you can

now this time we're bending our elbow

and as we Bend our elbow our wrist is

going to fold like this let's practice

[Music]

can you see how my wrist has folded

[Music]

very good one more

[Music]

good job everybody

now remember you're getting tired just

pop your violin under your arm give your

arm a little bit of a shake

and get ready to go again

now we've learned our downbow and we've

learned our up though so let's put them

both together this time we're going to

start at the nut the bottom end of the

bow we're going to Bow a long down bow

and as we get to the end we're going to

Bow back up again and we're going to try

and make this as smooth as possible so

you really need to think about what

you're doing here and as you get towards

the tip or the nut of the bone you need

to slow down and think about moving in

the other direction here we go on the a

string

[Music]

now make sure you keep an eye on your

reflection in the mirror because we want

that bow to be traveling nicely between

the bridge and the fingerboard

now I'm going to show you a few common

bowing mistakes and hopefully you'll be

able to hear when the violin doesn't

sound quite right

so the most common thing for beginners

is to put too much weight on the bow we

don't want to put too much weight on

because otherwise you get a scrunchy

sound like this

[Music]

so if your violin is making a scrunchy

sound then try relaxing your arm a bit

and not pressing quite so hard on the

string now the opposite is true as well

if you're too light with your bow you

won't make a good sound either

foreign

[Music]

so we want to put just the right amount

of pressure on our strings have a play

around and you'll be able to hear once

you've got it right now another common

mistake is playing our bow over the

fingerboard let me show you what it

sounds like if we do that

[Music]

the string just doesn't quite sound as

crystal clear as if you play in this

section here

likewise you can make a funny sound by

playing too close to the bridge

[Music]

we don't want any of that so make sure

that you're bowing between the

fingerboard and the bridge now the rosin

of your violin leaves a white mark on

the strings so if you've been bowing up

the fingerboard you will see the white

Mark and you'll know that you've been

Bowing in the wrong place finally let me

show you an uneven bow stroke so this is

common if we're not flexing our wrist

enough

and it looks like this

[Music]

and here that the quality of the string

is not as good we want to keep our bow

nice and straight so that the tone is

really nice and consistent now once

you've mastered the a string you can

move down to the D string

the G string

[Music]

and the E string

place your bow on the a string hold it

still and now let's just practice

lifting our chicken arm up and down

to keep the bow on all of the different

strings

that's what you're looking for when

you're Crossing strings well done today

everybody you've done a really good job

now this week we can practice our lovely

bow hold remember the thumb is tucked

underneath the three fingers are wrapped

around and our pinky finger is propped

up on top like this remember you can

support the bow with the left hand to

help you get a really good bow hold

before you let go

before we pick up our violin in our

practice this week let's just work on

those arm movements from the elbow and

the wrist which will help us to get a

nice straight bow and then finally you

can practice bowing your strings one

string at a time we're going to do a

nice long down bow

a nice long up bow

and then finally we can practice putting

those two together with a nice down then

up bow

once you've got the hang of it on one

string you can move down to the other

strings and if you're getting really

good you can practice changing strings

[Music]

remember to watch yourself in the mirror

so you can see that your bow is nice and

straight remember that we want to be

bowing between the fingerboard and the

bridge we don't want to Bow any lower or

any higher than that

and remember that we need to put a nice

consistent amount of pressure on the bow

not too heavy and not too light now

that's it for today remember to practice

five to ten minutes every day and don't

be tempted to rush ahead it's very

important that we get our bow right

before we can move on have fun everybody

and I'll see you back here for lesson

three bye before you go please consider

making a contribution to music with Meg

you can join me on patreon or via PayPal

thank you so much everybody and I'll see

you next time bye