Holding the bow is difficult. You have to get it just right. Right?

Wrong. Holding the bow is easy. Just ask any gypsy violinist. 

       So what is it about the bow? We can make this very very simple. The bow goes straight up and down, (parallel to the bridge)and the change of bow is smooth. That's it. That is all you need to know. To start with.The rest of the "knowledge" will come with practice. You will know by doing. You can only learn by doing. Not with words and books that tell you do this and do that.

The principle is simple. They bow goes up and down, parallel to the bridge. It the arm high? Or low? Ask Heitetz(high) or Szigetti?(low)

But see? The bow? Makes the sound. So? Does it sound right? Then? It is ok.

       So, it goes straight up and down. Right. But how does one make it do that? (You DID watch the last lecture, no!?)

   You pull the bow across the strings. Up and down. Feel the friction on the strings. For this we use the long slow bow, more later, and we, again, need to watch a video. 

     In the video we are going to see one of the most fundamental things about bowing. Forget all you have read or heard about lower half, upper half etc...EVERYTHING in bowing comes from the upper arm, or shoulder. Yes, even the fastest strokes. It is all exactly the same. Nothing changes. Just watch some videos of the best violinists in the world on Youtube if you don't believe me.

It really is that simple. Straight up and down from the shoulder, keeping the bow straight.  (so, you pull it and push it from the shoulder, but, you watch, and keep it straight, parallel, is all. And, slow, slow, slow. Listen?

   You will learn why this works later on. For now, slow everything down, and watch your bow. is it parallel to the bridge? Does it stay in it's “lane?” If you want it to? Ever seen an airplane landing? This is how the bow feels... Elbow in the middle... wrist between.. so, when you do an up-bow... the wrist comes from underneath and ends on top? This is stuff you learn in the academy.. that cannot be taught.. you just have to feel it.. do it, then know it. 

   Now, go and have a look at these videos on YouTube. Can you see that? See, that is what you will be taught in there, how to watch, how to feel.

So: Basically it is this:

In the middle of the bow the elbow and wrist are on the same plane. More or less. In some players the elbow can be slightly higher, or slightly lower than the wrist. (How does that feel? Cos, if it feels wrong? It is, for you)

At the frog: The elbow is lower than the wrist.

At the tip: The elbow is higher than the wrist.

These things just “happen” if you are feeling the sound. It you try to “do” this? Your bow will shake etc, because you are not listening to your sound. Then? You will begin to hear a shaky bow, and guess what? THAT is how you will play. Because that is what you have begun to hear.

Changes to look out for:

Watch how turning the wrist towards your face changes levels in the elbow, watch how turning the wrist away from the face changes levels in the elbow. Which feels good to you? Where does it feel good? How about trying a long slow bow with the wrist facing your face from tip to frog. Same with the wrist facing the opposite direction as far as possible? Notice how the whole functioning of the arm changes? How it feels different? How then, with so many different arms out there all playing violin can there be one "right" way to do this? Can you hear this same sound in the dark? Play it? If not, why not? Can your ears “see?”

No, you must find this out for yourself. There is no fast pill to take. Just the usual long slow bow and listening to your sound. Eventually you will find out what works best for YOU.

Remember, straight up and down. On everything, slowly, especially your scales. You DO practice scales? No? Slowly? :-)

As for this Sevcik? Lol!!! By the time you get through this book you will wish there were not three more to go! Lol!!! You will wish there were MORE!!!