10 Tips for Smooth Bow Changes | Violin/Viola Bow Technique

[@lindachene5006]

Breath! Yes it is important. Thank you.

[@violynnkuo]

Hi Linda! Yes, it seems many students forget to breathe and I end up addressing this in my classes with them!

[@GarrettFischbachViolin]

Thanks for this excellent and comprehensive tutorial! I will recommend this video to my students. All the tips clearly presented both in spoken description and visual demonstration. And fun to watch! Really one of the best bowing tutorials I've seen.

[@violynnkuo]

Aww, you’re the best, Garrett! You’re always so supportive! 💕 (Did you like the kitten 🐱?) 😂

[@GarrettFischbachViolin]

@@violynnkuo I did like the kitten! Brilliant analogy of passive movement. Reminds me of an analogy George Neikrug used when talking about the arms supporting the hands, and the hands being like little tiny dogs on leashes running around the fiddle. Not exactly the same, but the idea involved features of what you described, including using larger muscle groups.

[@violynnkuo]

@@GarrettFischbachViolin I was definitely inspired by what you shared with me in masterclass about the arm being supported! And I often use the analogy of the dog wags the tail; the tail doesn’t wag the dog. 👌 🐶 Very similar!

[@ConW-j2f]

Feeling the movement starting from the back muscles or shoulder blade is very helpful

[@violynnkuo]

Hi Constance, yes, I use this tip all the time! Glad it helped!

[@alexsaldarriaga8318]

Excellent tutorial!! Arguably the best I’ve ever seen on KZbin or anywhere else on this particular topic. Thank you for sharing your insights with us. 🙏🏻🎻

[@violynnkuo]

Thank you so very much, Alex! I appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment! Feel free to share the video to your students! How are things in Florida?

[@alexsaldarriaga8318]

@@violynnkuo I will require my students to watch this and your other tutorials also!! Weather is cooling down in Florida. It’s a lovely time of the year here! 🌞🌴

[@violynnkuo]

@@alexsaldarriaga8318 Ooh! Cooler Florida weather sounds lovely! I remember joining the Toronto Symphony twice on their Florida tours (in January). It was dreamy. 😎🌴👌

[@Cherfield-D-Blessedman]

Thanks for sharing your expertise.

[@violynnkuo]

You’re most welcome!

[@ViolinHojitas]

Great video

[@violynnkuo]

Thanks so much for watching, Eduardo!

[@sergeyprokofiev7186]

Superb Teacher and a brilliant experience.

[@violynnkuo]

Aww, thanks so much!! I appreciate that! 🙏

[@armoredWOG]

You're so detailed! you're now my violin teacher! 🥰💕

[@violynnkuo]

Aww, so glad you got something out of the tutorial, Lindsay! Feel free to check out my other tutorials and by free content on my website: Www.lynnkuo.com

[@Wade-h5m]

Glad I found this.❤

[@violynnkuo]

Hi Wade, I’m happy you found it helpful!

[@violynnkuo]

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[@sergeyprokofiev7186]

The RembrandtvanRijn of the Violin !!

[@violynnkuo]

🎨 the brush is like the 🎻 bow! 👌😀

[@shazviolin3199]

So helpful thank you!

[@violynnkuo]

You’re very welcome, Shaz!

[@jlinwinter]

beautiful is that newfoundland?

[@violynnkuo]

It is indeed, Jonathan! You’ve been there? 😃 🎻

[@n8alex298]

Thank you so much for the 11 tips. I like the pendulum analogy the best. how about bow changes at the tip?

[@violynnkuo]

I'm so glad the tips helped you, Alex! Interesting how you found the pendulum analogy the best one. This is why I include multiple solutions and images because different images work for different people. As for your questions about bow changes at the tip, usually people don't have such difficulty changing the bow at the tip? What exactly is the issue? The bow is difficult to maintain straight? Is the sound suffering in the upper half? Are you losing contact with the strings in the upper half and at the tip?

[@n8alex298]

@@violynnkuo thank you for replying to me . I'm an adult beginner with 2 years of experience. I actually find bow changes at the frog easier because I almost lift up the tilted bow so there's not much pressure on the string . Bow changes at the tip however I find it difficult because my index finger and elbow both put pressure on the bow to maintain contact, but when the direction of the bow changes I get confused whether to keep the pressure of not . If I do there's an accident ,if I don't the bow sort of flies away towards the finger board . Hahaha sorry !

[@n8alex298]

@@violynnkuo *accent not accident

[@violynnkuo]

@@n8alex298 Without seeing what's going on, it sounds like a general bow arm issue that can be helped by understanding the hierarchy of the muscles (and bones) involved in good bow technique. In general, I return to larger muscles and bone structures first. I describe more about bow arm technique in my String Crossings tutorial: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oojRoIaIrrt9nKM I also work with my students doing a progressive exploration up/down the fingers, wrist, arm, shoulder, back, etc. to experientially feel what is involved, needed, or NOT needed in different bow techniques. You could do the same. Observe the body first: what is going on in the moment, with no judgment, and proceed from there. Hope the string crossings tutorial yields some insight. Good luck!

[@n8alex298]

@@violynnkuo thank you I really appreciate you taking the time replying to me . Checking the video now .

[@violynnkuo]

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[@violynnkuo]

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[@mofarag2529]

Thanks Dr. what about the forward inclination of the right hand at the frog vs.flat hair at the tip? When do we want different degrees of inclination for certain dynamics and articulations?

[@violynnkuo]

Hi Mo, complicated question to answer. I simply listen and adjust the bow hand according to what dynamics and articulations I desire: tilted hair for quieter dynamics, for example, flatter hair for forte dynamics. There are too many examples of different bow articulations to list here. It’s probably easiest to say to use your ear and tweak your right hand position until you get your desired effect.

[@DunravenWest1]

Immediately after the change to down-bow at the frog, my bow shudders and goes jerky - any tips? Many thanks 🙂

[@violynnkuo]

You might need to “quiet” your arm/back/neck/fingers until you can make the down-bow equal to the up bow in velocity, angle, contact point and “stillness”. Sometimes it helps to observe how this is achieved naturally on the up-bow and try to replicate what happens there in the down -bow.

[@khai.0509]

can you recommend any practice pieces to exercise this technique? some etudes like kayser or kreutzer? thankyou!

[@violynnkuo]

Thanks for watching! Some good Kreutzer Etudes for string crossings: #13, 14, 29 Good luck!

[@khai.0509]

@@violynnkuo ohmygod!! thankyou so much !!! you're my youtube violin teacher !!!

[@violynnkuo]

@@khai.0509 Aww, that’s sweet of you. Lots of free stuff on my websites as well: www.lynnkuo.com/link-in-bio And I have free previews of some lessons inside my Violin Ninja Course Bundle: Https://violinwithdrlynn.com/courses/complete-violin-ninja-course-bundle

[@sergeyprokofiev7186]

In Denmark too !!

[@violynnkuo]

Hi to you in Denmark 🇩🇰! 👋

[@WorldRenownedPsychicBearMedium]

Iv been bowing wrong even with teacher. Thanks

[@violynnkuo]

You’re welcome!

[@stephenselby4252]

Really good. Why do my teachers expend so much effort teaching me to do the opposite of everything you say?

[@violynnkuo]

I’m glad you liked the tutorial, Stephen! I’m not surprised that different teachers say different things. 😅

[@WorldRenownedPsychicBearMedium]

Why my string squeak

[@Enzoayache]

Rosin

[@Enzoayache]

Or your bow technique

[@violynnkuo]

Have you watched my tutorials on “Bad Sound” and How To Improve Your Sound Quality? That might give you some clues: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYaTZIh4iN-qgMU kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZKpkpeaZ698brs

[@zulqarnainabdullah5891]

"Smoth bow motion does not depend on wrist control." So my 10 years of practice have been a lie? There are so many secrets in violin that I keep discovering

[@violynnkuo]

It’s taken me way more than 10 years to figure that out as well! 😅

[@zulqarnainabdullah5891]

@@violynnkuo who knows how many more mistakes that I am still doing now?

[@aksuli1]

Started to annoy that A-string.

[@violynnkuo]

Did you mean the A string was getting annoying to hear repetitively? 🤔