Violin Lesson #40; Legato Bowing - smooth bow changes

[LawrencetheMinstrel]

A heartfelt thank you, ProfessorV, for your videos. Your lessons have dramatically improved my pizzicato, vibrato, and bow changes. Now that I know the techinicalities of playing the violin, I can put more feeling and beauty into the music when I play for my family.

Once again, thank you!

[Aailyahcloud18]

Hey ProfessorV, so i tried with the a string and it works ! But what about the other strings C,G,D ( viola) ? is there any way i can do the same thing on the other strings

[ejpseudo]

@professorV

Btw, I'm also a bit confused about something else. I know you said to extend your thumb straight going down bow when doing Colle, but what about when just trying to accomplish smooth bow changes...? My teacher suggests my thumb always be curved. The reason I ask is because I was maintaining a curved thumb going down and up bow (for bow changes).

[ejpseudo]

@professorV

Hi Mr. Ehle, the last time I tried to flex my fingers like that, my pinky kept slipping off of the bow...

I retain very little tension in my bow hand, but since I'm not dropping the bow I don't think firmness of grip is a problem, I have a feeling it has to do with the way I'm flexing my fingers, especially the thumb. How should the thumb flex/curl...?

Also, I've heard smooth bow changes can also be accomplished from the wrist, is that true and if it is, how...? Best Regards!

[shikharsrivastava7]

hey professor V. I have been following your videos since about 2 weeks and they have helped me a LOT!. Thank you very much. I have now started to play my violin infront of the mirror to view my posture and playing style and i realised that my bow runs side ways quite a lot even though there dosent seem to be much effect on the sound as yet , should i try and fix it up or is it no major worry?

[professorV]

Hi shikharsrivastava7, I would definitely concentrate on the bow action. Even if you can't hear a difference now, you will in the future. As you start to use more bow, and use a heavier bow, the little noises created by a "slipping" bow will become more obvious to you. Good luck!

[acolytes777]

ugh violin demands more technique than guitar u.u

but definitely worth it.

[ScalzaAmericana]

love the towel analogyr lol

[Jeeyo12345]

i've been thinking for hours what's wrong with my bowing then i thought of visiting your channel. thanks a lot professor, this video helped me a lot :D

[Yakujian]

Off topic: Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, 3rd movement in the background. (?)

[critica2000]

good lessons your the best!!!

[Igneous01]

great video thank you for sharing this knowledge

i also noticed that when you do the smooth bowing at the tip your shoulder (or upper arm) does a circular motion (clockwise to my view)

i think that should be an important aspect to incorporate into this lesson.

[professorV]

Igneous01 - Hi and thank you. That elbow motion you mention can be part of a bow change with a very slow, broad bow stroke (watch Perlman to see this). If you reduce the bow stroke in length, you can still incorporate a very small amount of finger flexibility during the bow change, but there would be much less motion in the upper arm. So with short legato bows, it becomes an almost invisible finger motion (the fingers are not locked or rigid). Hope that makes sense.

[deathviolin247]

great lesson thks!

[krnwiseman]

I tend to put the bow against the part of the index finger thats between the knuckle and the joint. Now, I'm aware you hold your bow before your joint (nowhere near the knuckle.) I tried doing what you and most ppl do (bow before the joint of index finger) but the bow keeps sliding towards the knuckle. This is a huge problem, because it actually changes my entire form, and makes it much more difficult to do everything and be more flexible.

Please help!!

[instanoodles3956]

THANK YOU SO MUCH :)

[keshmiri1]

Hi Professor, I have been playing the violin for a long time but I still have mos much problem about bowing and my bow shakes while I am playing. I was wondering if you could make more videos about contorling the bow?Thanks

[ruegal999]

Thank you very much for your fantastic and so high detailed explanations

[MrJambone1]

Hi... do you have any videos on slurring or slurred legato?

[rainbowpm777]

My son is 8, he is having hard time to get this right on his own. Thanks for sharing, hope he will get it after he watches your video...

[philcom3]

HIY PROFESOR, CAN I ASK WHAT THAT PIECE IS AT THE END ? it sounded so sweet and id like to try it myself, and it rings a bell, and everyone knows what ringing bells are like if not answerd..... anoooinggggggg lol

[professorV]

Hi philcom3 , it's Chorus from Judas Maccabaeus.

[Fariwesen]

Hi Professor V

I am a bit confused, you use this finger flexibilty for sautille, wich is a bow stroke which emphasizes every note sharply. Why do you also use it for smooth bow changes? at the later part of the video you only use very little finger motion. Is it the antidromic movement of arm and fingers/wrist that makes the bow change smooth? And wouldn't it be consequently to just don't move the hand at all, just change the bow direction without changing speed or pressure to change bows?

[professorV]

Hi Fariwesen, I view the very small finger motions as springs or shocks, like you have on the wheels of the car. Without a tiny amount you tend to get a more abrubt bow change. Itzhak Perlman is a master at this so spend some time watching his bow hand as it might help. Good luck!

[samsokhua]

professorV

i have confused between legato and detache .

what different are between there ?

[professorV]

samsokhua, Legato is a musical term meaning very smooth and connected. Detache is a term used by string players. It refers to a specific type of bow stroke. See my video on Detache for more info.

[scooter500scooter500]

Thank you for the generous video lessons. Christmas I bombed my part. Because I never want to let my friends down again so badly, should they ever play with me again, I am now reviewing the basicsof the violin and appreciate all the insightful information.

[sori1004jyIsupportU]

excuse me prof.V, what do you call the technique of playing the tune and changing the bow directions without breaking the tune .......... the technique to sustain the tune without breaking it.

do you have this in your tutorial?

[issjaklasse]

@sori1004jyIsupportU well, this is the same, i am looking a long time for it. Please, if you find something, let it know me!

Thank`s a lot!

[Fleidermaus88]

Well, I have noticed that if I play faster music other then slower, it is a lot easier on me. And it's not that I twitch when I'm playing. It's just that it happens before that, and it makes it hard for me to play later. (Sorry if I sound confusing!) But thank you! I'll try those excersises you told me!

[rishimedicine]

Hi Fleidermaus 88,

I admire your resolve and also thank Prof V for giving you useful tip.

[Fleidermaus88]

Hello. I really enjoy your videos. They're very informative.

But, there's a condition I have called Tourrette's Syndrom. As you may know, it causes me to twitch or jump uncontrollably. It's a lot better when I play my violin, but the twitching makes me sore to a point to where I can't play for too long. And this, I think, gets in the way of my practices. Do you have any suggestions? I would love to hear any and all comments!

[professorV]

Hi Fleidermaus88,

Does the Tourette's make you sore in any activity other than violin? If not, perhaps you are trying to keep the twitching from transferring through your bow (to the violin) by holding the bow (and violin) more firmly (?). This could cause pain. I'm curious, if you play with very short bows (two inches or so, down-up-down-up, etc.) is it easier on you? Try it for several minutes. If so, perhaps playing some fiddle music would be enjoyable and a break from the pain.

[rishimedicine]

Being a movement disorder neurologist, I can understand your problem. You are well aware that Tourette syndrome has constellation of various tics that can be controlled for a while and then there is uncontrollable urge to let them go. I would advise to ptactise in multiple tiny segments. Between each segment, give the fiddle a small pause, let the tics happen and then go for the next tiny segment. With time you "will" be able to extend those tiny segments into longer pieces.

Best wishes

[metalheadlass]

thanx professorV

[Utein32]

Thank you very much!!!

My violin playing is a lot better thanks to this great lesson, it's a litle thing that's very important!

Greetings from Bernd Poppema from the Netherlands

[notherpoet]

Thank you so much, again. Whenever I'm having difficulty I immediately find help via your videos.

So the arm, then, is like a shock absorber, in way, eh?

By the way, you play beautifully. I wonder if I'll ever sound as good. Well, I love to play, anyway. Maybe one day...

[draco003]

Nice video!! I have problem with down bow. I tend to bonce as I down bow on the A string after a up bow on E string.

Any suggestion to correct this? Thanks!

[yxinyi]

Thanks for such a nice video! I was wondering what kind of exercise will you suggest to improve my fingers' flexibility? May I have the link please? Thanks :)

[Aleeyawanis]

Thanks a lot.

I'm trying it now.

I hope I could do it right.

[OriginalMoonbeam]

Oh thank you! I have had the smallest tremor right at the frog that no one could figure out saying I was doing nothing wrong (it only happens on very slow passages) I would try and avoid the frog whenever possible! NOW I know what to work on!!!! I am so glad I watched this!

[goodcommentguy]

I get trouble on the rests, in which if I keep my bow on the string, it bumps when I start

[tuftybenn]

Just had a thought.....I am left handed and so have plenty of control of left hand but my bowing control lets me down. I can get smoothish bow changes when I concentrate just on them, but as soon as I think about playing a tune my mind goes onto left hand...and bowing goes to pieces. Do you know of any exercises which combine the bow changes with left hand activity please? Fantastic lessons by the way!

[tuftybenn]

Really helpful, thank you very much - Jon

[PandabeerMEISTER]

Thanx, your clear demonstration produced clear results.

[zizoou10]

very very nice music in the end of the video =).

i have a question, do you know Bijan mortazavi ?

he is also very good to play violin

[rp2178]

Professor, I am a violin beginner. When I play, I notice my bowl rocks from left to right, also some times the bowl slides a little bit. Is that mean I didn't hold my bowl right? I always feel this bowl is to heavy for me (my thumb is kinda sore). I would like to hear your advice. Thank you so much!

Sharon

[WilliamBonneau]

You may gain muscles in your hand, but perhaps you should message him with your questions?

[munfei86]

hello professor, i got another question. i had do some reseach about a bow, just wan to ask yr opinion, brazilianwood, carbon fiber, pernambuco and rosewood. which is a better bow? anyway , thanks

[professorV]

Hello munfei86, I have two carbon fiber bows that I prefer to a Victor Fetique (antique French bow). Both of the cf bows were under $350 US! Pernambuco is the highest quality wood, brazilwood is lower-end. More...

[professorV]

Make sure the bow is straight. If it has a LITTLE curve to the right (looking down the shaft from the frog), it's okay. The bow should be strong but flexible and stable (not want to roll over). Balance is important. If should not feel tip-light or tip-heavy when you hold it - unless YOU like that feel. It should also make your instrument sound better! If you have spiccato and sautille, see if they are easier than with the old bow. More..

[professorV]

If I only had $200 - $350 US I would only look at carbon fiber bows, but they are NOT all the same, even when they are the same brand. Every bow is different. If money is not an issue, look at modern bow makers and compare them to older bows. French are the most expensive. The more you try the more you will learn. Do not be in a hurry!

Good luck with this.

[munfei86]

professor, i going to get a new good bow. my budget is around $200 - $350. ya, what do u mean "I would only look at carbon fiber bows, but THEY ARE NOT ALL THE SAME, EVEN WHEN THEY ARE THE SAME BRAND"? thanks...

[professorV]

Several years ago I ordered 7 carbon fiber bows for my school, all of the same make.  One of them is outstanding, the rest are pretty good. Understand? Try as many bows as possible.

[munfei86]

professor, i m going to get a new bow around $300. i went to a violin to look for it already. need yr help to give some opinion. what do u think G.WERNER bow quality? the price is $300. another question is what is the different between octaganol and round? why is the price for octagonal is more expensive then round? thanks...

[professorV]

I suppose octagonal bows take more time to make. I've heard that some people think octagonal sticks are firmer, but I mentioned that to a famous violin dealer and he just laughed. I don't think it makes a big difference. Pick the bow for how it feels, responds and makes your instrument sound.

[munfei86]

thanks a lot for yr advise and sharing yr knowledge to us. u r a great professor i ever seen. take care....

[munfei86]

Hello Professor Todd, 1st at all thanks for sharing yr knowledge to us. we appreciate a lot. i have some question regarding to violin bow. what we consider when we choose a bow? what type of bow consider a good bow. thanks...

[torgrock]

Hi Todd,

Thank you very very much for this serie. It's of great help in my day to day practice. I have a question. I have played for many years but realise that when i play downstrokes my bow tend to jump during most of the stroke. This is very annoying and i don't understand why it happens. Maybe my bow hand isnt relaxed enough?

Any suggetion or advice on this is greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much and Happy New Year.

Ola Nilsson

[professorV]

Hello Ola,

I have seen this problem occur when a student's right wrist/elbow drop suddenly in the down bow. When you are at the frog, does your wrist come up pretty high? If so, watch it as you go down bow. Is it a smooth motion? Any sudden change in the arm will cause the bow to bounce. Watch the bow to see where it starts bouncing, then figure out what the wrist/elbow are doing at that point. Try to let the stick just fall towards the floor, instead of directing it with the hand.

[torgrock]

Hi Todd,

Thanks for your answer. It seems my wrist is coming up pretty high but i still have a smooth motion when i do my down bow. After looking at your bow hold video i realize that i hold the bow wrong. Normally my pinky is not really part of the bow hold and my thumb seems to be a bit to straight. I will change the way i hold the bow and will practice slow bowing and keep an eye on my wrist/elbow + let the bow fall towards the floor and see if that helps.

Best Regards

Ola

[torgrock]

Hi Todd,

Thank's for your answer. It seems my wrist is coming up fairly high but i still have a smooth motion. After studying your video on bowhold i realise i don't use pinky and thumb as you suggest. I will change this and also try to bow as you suggest and keep an eye on elbow/wrist.

Thank you once again

Best Regards

Ola

[violaplayer1995]

lol judas maccabeus =]

[joosangbai]

Number one teacher

thanks

[gbtayc]

Thank you for this video

This is the exact thing my son's grandfather has been trying to teach him

Having it on this very well done video to play over and over again should be of great benefit.

Thank you so much again!

[palominoquai]

muchas gracias!!!! soy de españa y estoy aprendiendo mucho !!!

Great videos THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!

[oilerholic19]

Great tips! Will try those out for sure.  Thanks for posting this!