Stuck in a scale rut? Join me for a whole month’s worth of 31 different ways to approach scales. New posts go up every day in January 2023. Start from Day 1 here.
For today, I focused on very familiar territory of the bow: the middle. It’s such familiar territory for violinists that it’s easy to stop thinking about it and what technique is involved. So today was a chance to examine what’s going on in detail – and hopefully make this well-worn territory of the bow work even more smoothly.
I chose an indirect way of sticking to the middle of the bow: I focused on using only my forearm to move the bow. That turned out to be a very fortunate choice. Not only did it automatically keep me within the middle half of the bow, but at the same time it put my focus on the mechanics of my bow arm.
Why do this one?
This is a very simple and helpful way to examine your bow arm – and with a little concentration and effort, make some worthwhile improvement.
The Details
Play your scales, arpeggios, and/or double stops in different tempos with separate bows. This is a chance to focus on the motion of your forearm. I recommend going through each of these following points in sequence, since there is a progression to them. But it’s your scale time, so do what you think will be most helpful for you.
Forearm: Use only your forearm to move the bow (roughly the middle half of the bow). Look in a mirror to double check.
Elbow: Feel for a loose, relaxed elbow.
Upper Arm: Since the muscles that move your elbow are in your upper arm, allow those muscles to be calm and free.
Upper Arm: Feel how the biceps side lengthens on down-bows, and the triceps side lengthens on the up-bows.
If you’ve tried today’s scales, I’d love to know what your experience was like! Just post a comment below.
Do this in any key, with your usual fingerings.
tomorrow:
I’m a violinist and private teacher in the Chicago area, and in a previous musical life I was in a professional string quartet. Teaching violin and chamber music are dear to my heart. Send me a note or leave a comment on a post — I’d love to hear from you.
If you’ve tried today’s scales, I’d love to know what your experience was like! Just post a comment below.