Eliminate Bow Grip Tension in 5 Minutes

Over-squeezing the cello bow is incredibly common amongst beginner and intermediate level players. It's a hard area to address because even if your bow grip looks picture perfect, you could still be over-squeezing with the thumb or the fingers. Here is a 5-minute demo of the exercise I developed for my students to learn how to feel what a relaxed bow grip feels like.
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Billy Tobenkin is a Los Angeles-based cellist who specializes in teaching adult learners. As a professional cellist who started playing the cello from scratch at 25, he is in a unique position to help others, like him, who found the cello later in life. He has developed strategies from his own musical journey to accelerate the learning process, and he is here to share them with you.
Please contact him at [e-mail] with any questions or comments! Or visit adultcello.com

[@stevenmcg1986]

I am 2 years last month into self taught cello learning and I still so many issues to iron out and you just helped me significantly with only one sentence you said in this video: 'Really allowing the weight of my arm to fully sink into that first finger.' I had never considered this. Immediately the tension in my thumb reduced and I swear my tone sounds better now also. I might finally be making some progress on my terrible bow hold! Thanks!

[@mallinmall1327]

Just what I needed thank you. I always have tension in my bow hand esp thumb as im missing the middle finger due to accident which means bow hold is very difficult for me to feel natural and comfortable. This video is very helpful.

[@adultcello]

I'm so happy to hear that this video is helping you! Thanks so much for your comment!

[@kimchallis1728]

Thank you so much for this detailed explanation and solution to my biggest problem. Your lessons are remarkable for this 58 year old adult beginner!

[@adultcello]

I'm so glad you found it helpful, thanks so much for your message!

[@dr.g6105]

SO HELPFUL. Thank you so much. You’re an extraordinary teacher.

[@tonyhahn1955]

thank you so much for this video, I find it extremely helpful. I hope you will make a similar video on how to reduce shoulder tension as well.

[@adultcello]

That's a great idea! Thanks so much for your comment, I'm glad you find it helpful!

[@monica4200]

Very helpful - thank you

[@adultcello]

My pleasure!

[@aspenx1304]

Thank you so so much 💗

[@adultcello]

My pleasure!

[@ninaw3688]

Very helpful, thank you. I'm an adult beginner and I am having so much trouble with my bow hold.

[@adultcello]

I'm so glad to hear you find it helpful! The bow hold usually takes a while so don't worry!

[@opusrosae8560]

Great method !

[@adultcello]

Thanks so much!

[@sarabarbeau3241]

That’s a key! It just opened a cello door. Thank you

[@adultcello]

Wonderful! I'm so glad to hear it!

[@belle9l]

Brilliant! Please tell me you have a video for releasing neck and shoulder tension! 🤕

[@adultcello]

Thanks so much! And yes... :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKiyn5l-Z9Z7d6c

[@akaymac1]

I'm definitely going to try this for sure. I have a related question. I'm a very small adult player and my hands are so small it's almost impossible for me to get my pinky finger to sit over the bow with the other fingers. (For reference, my pinky is just about two inches long.) Therefore, it is usually riding on the top like a violinists would and I think that's causing additional tension on top of the thumb tension I have. My former teacher was somewhat stumped as well. Do you have any ideas for how to train that part of my hand to sit in the right area? I'm not sure if I maybe need to sit farther into the bow perhaps.

[@adultcello]

Thanks so much for your comment! If I had to guess without seeing your current bow hold, my best recommendation would be to allow the other fingers to bend and to bring the 1st row of knuckles closer to the bow stick. This should allow your pinky to get more comfortable on the stick and not feel as if it's straining to stay put. Hope that helps!

[@akaymac1]

@@adultcello Thanks so much for replying! I'll definitely give that a try!

[@kmiller1136]

Will this exercise help with violin bowing as well?

[@adultcello]

Hi! You know, I'm not sure that this exact exercise would help as much with violin only because violin requires way less arm weight to pull a rich sound, but I do think that with both violin and cello, the more supple and flexible the fingers of the bow hand, the better!

[@zuzana676]

after six months of learning I still have problems with the right holding of my bow :( That first position would be a perfect hold for me :DDD

[@adultcello]

Haha I know what you mean! Hope my exercise helps :)

[@ninaw3688]

Zuzana, I agree with you! So much power and control with that "barbaric" hold 😁

[@zuzana676]

@@ninaw3688 haha yes! Nina, I see you understand :P

[@zuzana676]

@@adultcello I start trying it today...let´s hope it will help :D