I have this problem of keeping my bow straight when I'm playing the violin. My teacher told me 'cos I kept moving my arm & hence it affected the bowing. What should I do to keep my bow straight?

Think about making the bowing action primarily that of the elbow joint opening and closing, keep your upper arm still.

Lots of slow slow bowing while watching the contact point of the bow of the string will reinforce the correct feeling for your arm. The contact point should be the same distance from the bridge all through each bow stroke, about 1cm from the bridge is good and gives great tone!

i so have the xact same prob. try to move the bow away frm ur body while playing, no matter what. coz no matter what, the bow will naturally come in toward u so try to play safe throughout and move it away. tt way, it will be just perfect. noe wad i mean? yeah. its tough. but i stl keep tryin. tt piece of advice was frm my tcher. im stl facing the same problem haha! )

i also encounter this same problem.but nothing can be done.just practise. til now i haven't be able to keep it straight for all the time.but i realize i improved a lot.when i first play, not even a ''perfect'' phrase!!!

My bow wanders up over the fingerboard as I play! I think this means I'm trying too hard! I have been prescribed lots of slow open string practice. It is getting better, but I still regress when I start fingering notes.

QUOTE (violincjj @ Dec 13 2004, 07:27 AM)

Think about making the bowing action primarily that of the elbow joint opening and closing, keep your upper arm still.

The primary bowing action in the upper half of the bow (from point to middle) is, as violincjj says, that of the elbow joint opening and closing.
It is comparitively easy to practise bowing up and down in that half of the bow, keeping the bow straight.

However the primary bowing action in the lower half of the bow (from middle to heel) comes from the shoulder joint, with just enough use of the elbow joint to help keep the bow straight. You should also practise bowing up and down in that half of the bow, and then combine both halves in single whole bows.

By far the best way to learn this is from a properly qualified teacher, who can show you what to do correctly, and then advise you as to whether you are doing it right, and correct any mistakes.

QUOTE (czaire @ Dec 13 2004, 05:23 AM)

I have this problem of keeping my bow straight when I'm playing the violin. My teacher told me 'cos I kept moving my arm & hence it affected the bowing. What should I do to keep my bow straight?

Think of it as at right angle to the string. I tried the estimating but it didn't work. Instead picture how you want it to be, and play that way

[QUOTE]My bow wanders up over the fingerboard as I play! I think this means I'm trying too hard! I have been prescribed lots of slow open string practice. It is getting better, but I still regress when I start fingering notes.


same as u. my bow also goes to the finger board as u do.and the sound will become weird enough.hahahhahah

QUOTE (i like piano @ Dec 18 2004, 09:12 AM)

[QUOTE]My bow wanders up over the fingerboard as I play! I think this means I'm trying too hard! I have been prescribed lots of slow open string practice. It is getting better, but I still regress when I start fingering notes. same as u. my bow also goes to the finger board as u do.and the sound will become weird enough.hahahhahah

Me too.

nother thing which might help is to stand in front of a full-length mirror and play long, slow bows while watching ur reflection. this way u have a full view of just how ur bow movement is bending & correct it

I agree also with him^

Practicing in front of some sort of mirror (preferably a big one) is good for you