RUSSIAN VS FRANCO-BELGIAN BOW HOLD | How to find your natural bow hold | Violin & Viola

If you are having trouble finding your "natural" bow hold then please watch the video as I talk about the difference between two styles of bow holds as well as how to find the bow hold that works for you!
♫ SOCIAL MEDIA
Instagram | bit.ly/30WTlNz
Facebook | bit.ly/31pYLAP
♫ FREE TRIAL MUSIC LESSON (ONLINE & IN-PERSON)
San Diego Music Academy | bit.ly/3lCdm3Q
♫ PARTNER KZbin CHANNEL
Channel | bit.ly/33PIKFM
♫ BUSINESS INQUIRIES
Email | [e-mail]

[@tonidenunzio1390]

Thank you! As a brand new violin student (at 56 yrs old) I'm taking lessons but also like scanning KZbin for tips. You have a very clear way of explaining the information and a calm presence about you. I will follow your videos, thank you again.

[@eugeneysaye2685]

Hi， I started at 47, been ten years. Best thing in my life. Good luck

[@ViniciusAraujo-jb1tb]

mann, I am brazilian and my English level is not even hight, but I undestood all of the points. you're so good at that thing of, Idk, teaching, congrats!

[@weiry_]

This really helped me understand bow grip. thank you!

[@williamdaniels1798]

So helpful! Thank you so much. I am still struggling a bit but this really took off an enormous amount of pressure from feeling like i needed to do "this" or "that".

[@desrieeandreone585]

Thank you! I have been struggling with my Bohol for a year and a half! I can now see perfectly where I have been going wrong!

[@MichaelDurig1]

Cool! Thanks. Been playing viola for 24 years now. This is helpful.

[@prashantinerellapalli]

Super helpful! Thank you!

[@carolseefeldt2818]

So well made!!

[@jasonpie5048]

oh this is so helpful i already feel like its made playing easier

[@AnnieSimsie]

This is very helpful!! I've been struggling to practice spiccato and found that I'm better doing it with franco belgian bow hold

[@soumen793]

Just awesome....❤️❤️❤️

[@anielafilipek9747]

So helpful! Thanks!

[@user-no1mc5yp5o]

love it!!

[@goethefashu-kanu9277]

I dont even have a violin yet and I learned alot. Well made

[@alannahlaine4603]

wow

[@blkdahlia22]

awesome, Paul! :

[@Naomi1]

Thanks a lot

[@itzikovadia851]

Thank u at last I understand what is the difference between the two

[@rebeckylee157]

THANK YOU! That helps so, so much! I’m killing my aged fingers just trying to perform the Belgium-Franco Bow Hold. Keeping my fingers from locking up is stressful, and yet its a catch-22 situation, because in order to play the violin I must remain relaxed. I’m going to attempt the Russian Bow Hold instead since my pinky doesn’t default to the bend perch above the frog. In the meantime, I’ll work on getting that thumb into that incredibly awkward position and building motor skills and strength in order to pivot the bow weight on the pinky.

[@inner_darya]

wow, that is really new to me! I'm Russian, I've been taught in a Russian music school but I guess all the teachers used only the franco-Belgian!

[@sunilkumark3776]

Good

[@cucudas]

👏👏

[@carolineleiden]

Whichever fits your anatomy. Every hand is different. Hold the bow in the least painful way.

[@amirmajidi2855]

Love u paul _from iran

[@user-pv8op9vm6f]

The first component of Russian bow hold is not about whole Russian school. Heifetz had such a right hand and his way of bow hold didn't catch on among most musicians. As I know, this method is handy for people who have big hands with long fingers but not for everyone. Even in Russia😁

[@2vn4Br]

Could you try your own left hand, so that you feel for the starters in real?

[@parism555]

#TeamRUSSIANbowhold since 1991. (Don’t judge)

[@tullochgorum6323]

I would seriously question your statement that the Russian hold requires a high wrist. It's certainly not the way I play it, and I would argue that it's the cause of the rigidity you experienced. I've tried to model my style on Milstein, who uses a notably flat wrist. This allows the fingers to remain springy and responsive, but is still simpler with fewer moving parts than the FB: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4GXkH2KZ6h6Zrc Elman with a flat wrist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWLYe4dofrCmiJI Haendel with a flat wrist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIW5ZGqNetOWjLc Rosand with a flat wrist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZ-VlJmlf6yFiLM Even Heifetz, with his extreme hold, mainly used a flat wrist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJmykoaVeN5rlZo

[@undergroundvirtuosos1873]

Required a high wrist for me, which didn't work as well as the other bow hold. Thanks for a thorough response.

[@rosaliewerback6360]

Structurally, I “naturally” (thanks for the demonstration) lean toward Russian- I must say I am much shorter w/shorter arms, smaller hands, etc., and my pinky most of the time drifts off the bow; however, it has worked through experience and understanding my own anatomy and of course watching other’s perform. I do like your presentation by the way we continue watching you.

[@seanleechild]

Instead of the two extremes Russian or Franco Belgian, what if I take a happy medium and contact the bow with my index finger at exactly the middle joint (between the tip joint and the knuckle?)

[@undergroundvirtuosos1873]

I have seen bow holds like that and it works for some people. It all depends on the shape of your hand in the end. If you can perform various bow strokes without tension then it is okay!

[@seanleechild]

@@undergroundvirtuosos1873 thanks for your comment Paul. may I book an online lesson trial with you? Any critique on my playing please? what can you help me with? kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmTEkIpuZcmDfJI

[@undergroundvirtuosos1873]

@@seanleechild No problem. Please refer to the link in the bio which will direct you to San Diego Music Academy's website. From there you can book a online trial lesson for free! I've just listened to your video. You have a very nice sound. Overall I think I could help with improving the phrases to be longer through different color of sound and variety of vibrato to take the music to a higher level.

[@seanleechild]

@@undergroundvirtuosos1873 thanks Paul what is your website please

[@undergroundvirtuosos1873]

@@seanleechild You can find me here: www.sdmusicacademy.com/

[@amandas.6500]

What about the quality of the instrument? If I decided to buy a cheap instrument just to get started, is it going to handicap learning because it's low quality? Should I spend a lot more money, to make a better sound as a beginner ?

[@undergroundvirtuosos1873]

In my opinion, quality of instrument depends on budget and level of the player. I would definitely stay away from very cheap ones off Amazon. You don't need to spend more than couple hundred for beginner but it is important to upgrade when physically out growing it or level of playing improves enough that a new instrument would allow better technical practice.

[@amandas.6500]

@@undergroundvirtuosos1873 Ok, thank you!

[@apostasiaelegcho5612]

Everyone of these videos neglect the thumb, which is the most important aspect of any style of bow bold.

[@thomassicard3733]

My last name is Sicard. Should I use the Franco-Belgian bow hold because of this???? LOL!!! I'll find the natural and effective hold, based on my physiognomy, as one should do. Yeah. Much closer to the Franco-Begian.

[@user-ii3rn1mw8u]

Мизинец круглый в русской Советской школе. Локоть высокий, а не такой прижатый. Речь идёт о старой Русской школе что-ли? Так в России сейчас не играют практически, у всех советская школа

[@johnsoloninka322]

Nope! You are strawmannirg this...exaggerating to extreme. You "Russian" style is like the extreme Tossy Spivakovsky's style. Event Heifetz was not that severe. Milstein was even more relaxed. Kavakos uses a Heifetzian-style hold and it is not that severe. Your examples are misleading. Most use something in-between. I studied with a student of Ysaye, and my style is very relaxed, but looks mostly like Milstein's hold. Look at this video to clarify that what you are showing is an "old russian" bow hold from Leopold Auer's era. Not Leonid Kogan, or David Oistrakh etc.

[@eugeneysaye2685]

I am here. LOL!