Flexible Fingers on the Bow - 1

[@DravenKSW]

That dulcimer looks exactly like the one my dad had when I was growing up!

[@CelloRefinery]

I think my dad's cousin gave that to me a million years ago!

[@DravenKSW]

All the other teachers I've seen pair the thumb with the middle finger, not the first. Why do you do these exercises with the thumb and the first finger? Does it help get the thumb into the correct position?

[@CelloRefinery]

I use the index finger because it's the thing that actually has to pivot on the bow. You put weight on it all the time, whatever the shape of the hand. Whereas the 2nd finger (for my playing at least) is largely just loose and not "driving" the bow. You can try these things using middle finger instead of first, but when I do I have zero control of the bow. But of course when you are holding the bow, your thumb isn't lined up with your 1st finger, it's lined up with 2nd - maybe that's why some teachers focus it that way?