So What’s in a Bow Hold

Pretty funny scene here. I’m seated in the library of a high school writing, and in walks my daughter, along with 20 or so compatriots, to rehearse their role in a Missoula Childrens Theatre production of ‘Princess and the Pea.’

They are ‘dust bunnies.’ Decibel level just went up about 12 fold. Ok, concentrate.

Now, a good bow hold can be rather elusive, in spite of all the schools of thought that have developed over the years. In fact, what makes it elusive for many players has little to do with the shape or form of it.

Understanding how to use balance, friction, and tactility to control the bow is the real secret of the bow.

It’s a continual game – how to do more with less.

You see, challenging movements of the bow, if met with a clench, will spread tension right up the arm, into the shoulder, across the upper body, and even down the opposite side into the fingers of the left hand.

And the tone that comes out won’t be too good either.

Thus grasping the bow as if in a caress, with all the sensitivity this implies, is exceedingly important. And to do so one must never lose the ability to relax; I ‘breathe’ my bow hold in the same way I ‘breathe’ music.

There is no separation.

So when you find your right hand in a clench set the fiddle aside for a bit and get in touch with how you’re breathing – some very valuable help with this, and the specifics of a good bow hold position, may be found here. http://www.violinmastery.com/order_breathcontrol.htm

Once you get yourself breathing from your diaphragm allow the relaxation to flow up your torso and down your arms, right to the tips of your fingers.

When you pick up the bow again I think you’ll find things have changed for the better.

Just keep breathing as you set bow to string.

Now, you may be surprised to learn that, though my hand is as soft as fleece on the bow, my fingers are quite still; you will rarely even see my fingers flexing at bow changes. What you WILL see is a flexible wrist, elbow and shoulder joint.

These are the real heroes of a fluid bow arm.

Now, before I leave you I want to remind you to keep an eye on your inbox. Summer’s about to arrive in a big way.

All the best, Clayton Haslop

P.S. Wow, I never knew that ‘dust-bunnies,’ those little balls of fluff you find under beds, could sing and dance. Pretty cool.