Violin Bow Hold - Curved Thumb Trick

[@rachelong290]

OMYGOD when he said "A lot of students come to me with their thumb locked (upward or downward)" I WAS SO HAPPYYY. I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE

[@seraphstray1552]

New to violin (just purchased mine last saturday) and the bow hold (specifically the thumb) is the hardest part. Thank you so much for this

[@mckmurkles]

Being fairly new to teaching, I've really been struggling to teach something I do without thinking. This is a really good exercise. Thank you.

[@professorV]

Thank you, and best of luck with your students!

[@DieterLo1]

Great video! Thanks! It is really difficult for a beginner like me to handle the bow best way. It needs lot of patience and practice to handle the bow well and feeling satisfaction. Easily things come out of control during practicing violin. But good to learn from experienced violinists like you! Greetings from Germany!

[@cowpathmusic]

Your manner is a little bit reminiscent of the late Fred Rogers, one of the all-time great teachers. Terrific video lesson. Thank you.

[@JYC512]

Oh my gooooodness for my entire violin/viola life I’ve played with a straight thumb and pinky because the bow was too heavy for me to hold the right way. I also have essential hand tremors and I just assumed that’s why I had to hold it that way. I don’t know how it happened, but after watching this, I can hold my bow correctly AND my control of the bow is extremely easier!!! Far less bouncing and smooth transitions between strings. Thank you so so so so much! I’m almost in tears!!

[@professorV]

Hi Jesse, I’m so pleased to hear this helped. Thanks for letting me know and best wishes with your violin!

[@JYC512]

@@professorV I played my viola for 6 hours today as lately it’s been my focus. 6 hours! That’s how amazed I’ve been

[@MusicforYoungViolinists]

One of the best videos!!!! THIS IS SO HELPFUL. Thanks for making this. I have been in violin for a lifetime and learned some new tricks from you. Best wishes, Heather

[@mozartsrosin8577]

Oh my gosh, thank you! I knew that it was because of the way I had my thumb curled why my thumb and palm are sore. You just saved a struggling beginner, thank you again.

[@laurakeenan7977]

MY TEACHER MADE ME WATCH THIS BECAUSE I WAS TOO TENSE

[@DanaNourie]

Thank you for these wonderful videos!

[@sasssssa6565]

You become the master of the thumb😂

[@stefanstojadinovic2486]

"Shake it if you have confidence" I had it, but i dropped the bow

[@anndroid5147]

thank you!! My instructor just told me to work on my bow hold today so this was a big help. :)

[@karenphillips6155]

Thank you so much! Another very helpful post!

[@professorV]

Thanks so much, Karen. I appreciate your response.

[@TheLibrarianUU]

Ook! [I just started violin a month ago and already have problems with the bow hold. Thanks for the tips!]

[@Veritylebrun]

Thanks Proff. I will be sharing this one lavishly!

[@artemi-music]

great tips thanks!

[@professorV]

Thank you, Artemi-music!

[@cynthiaharriman5716]

I know this is an old video so maybe you won't see this -- but I had to try! I love the way your hands look so springy at about 0:50 or so in the video. I wanted to learn how to make my fingers springy like that. But then you said, "But that's not the exercise!" Do you have advice (or another video) that suggests how to exercise your fingers so that they can spring that way? Mine are like cement when I try to mimic what you're doing. It looks so cool and fluid and USEFUL.

[@professorV]

Cynthia Harriman-Try this video. Hope it helps! kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHTaioeAg6h9r6M

[@Linuxica]

It's great to see you again on KZbin! Thanks for this useful video.

[@professorV]

Great to hear from you, Linuxica. Hope your violin playing is going well, and that you've been great. Thanks for the comment!

[@thebrowniesaur22]

Will pass this useful info on!

[@professorV]

Thank you for that! Best wishes.

[@AprendizAdulto]

Yay! Your back!

[@pedrammahdavi5863]

I think there is kind of plastic in the part of bow where you put your thump , not all the bows have that , right ? I think it makes the grip easier

[@erixoliver]

I started playing recently so I'm not sure if I'm doing it wrong, but my thumb is hitting the hair of the bow... It even leave a mark were it usually press. Is that normal? (I don't have straight pink or thumb, I'm just not sure if I'm supposed to be touching the hair like that...)

[@Borka642]

Hi! My pinky is so short that it loses contact with the bow the second I start to straighten my other fingers. Do you have a suggestion for that? (Btw I just started your exercise for double jointed pinkies, thanks for great tips!👍🏻🙏🏻)

[@rockywood5718]

im starting to get sad... I've been playing the violin for a long time now while holding the bow wrong and I can't seem to keep the bow from dropping when I'm doing this exercise. Is there a way to balance the bow?

[@professorV]

Hi Rocky Wood, I’ve seen many unusual bow holds, sometimes with fine results, so don’t despair! If you are able to make music with your current hold you are on the right path. In the meantime, try to let the violin support the weight of the bow so your right hand can relax. Best Wishes!

[@silksong7277]

If your thumb can’t bend at the joint just the base can you still play the violin well?

[@professorV]

Kristina Williams, sure, there’s more than one approach to all of this. Don’t let that hold you back.

[@silksong7277]

Sorry my replay button was acting crazy and it posted my reply multiple times instead of once. I went back and deleted them though.

[@wolfie8748]

Hey sir, do you teach music in a campuss or like school ? If you don't you should and if you are which school?

[@newstyle81]

i have problem with holding the bow , i play violin since 2 years, but every time i change the way of holding the bow , when i play slowly i hold it in different way when i play fast or strong ;(

[@bonenfant96]

Hi I don't understand this. I've been playing with the correct thumb position for over a month, and my sound gets worst. Doesn't matter how hard I try. My question is: is this position absolutely necessary when you play jigs and reels ?

[@professorV]

Hi Robert, I've seen all sorts of different bow holds, and heard great playing from many of them. Just take what works for you. Best wishes.

[@bonenfant96]

Thanks for answering.

[@The66Sprle]

Hello sir, I have a question. When I was six years old I started playing the violin, but stopped after three years(I'm too ashamed to say why). But now, after eight years I crave to play again. My question is: Do you think I could get back to the violin after all these years, considering that I still remember the finger placements and how to hold the instrument? (I was pretty good at playing it, when I was a kid, not gonna lie. ;D) Ema

[@professorV]

Hi Ema, I definitely think you could! I'll bet a lot of your skills would come back quickly, and your current passion to learn would take you to the next level. I always recommend that you find a teacher to help you, just so you don't practice mistakes. Anyway, best of luck to you and keep us posted!

[@The66Sprle]

***** thank you so much for answering!! Now I'm definitely gonna get back to it. So happy right now. Seriously, you have no idea. So frickin' happy.

[@ThirdLawPair]

When I try this exercise, my thumb does pop through as you mentioned. How do I fix that?

[@professorV]

Scott Allen - try to make the thumb contact the stick on the very tip of your thumb. I like it to be the corner closest to your index finger. The steeper the curvature of thumb, the better, at least at first. Also, don’t squeeze the bow, just let the violin support it. Good luck.

[@newstyle81]

the "pinky" trick help me mo tooooooo much !!!! its change every things !! thanksss

[@professorV]

Great! Thanks for letting me know.

[@bjemdwbesq3]

Why?