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Comment |
raymcc85
Registered
User
Posts: 30
(5/30/01 10:17:04
am)
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|
All
thumbs
I need a few tips.
I can't seem to keep the thumb flexible
on my bow hand. It tends to tighten up and I notice it's straight
and rigid. When I relax it though the bow feels loose in my hand and
unweildy. I haven't really had this problem before, but I've also
not practiced this much before. Any suggestions for this newbie?
Thanks.
-r
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Bobbie
Registered
User
Posts: 430
(5/30/01 10:35:07
am)
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Re: All
thumbs
I can't help with the flexible thumb as mine isn't. I think it is
attached wrong. But as far as feeling too loose when you relax the
thumb, I think you probably just need to get used to the feeling of
controlling the bow with a looser grip. You don't need much. Gravity
keeps the bow on the string. You just need to guide it. Remember,
everytime you change some aspect of your playing, it takes time to
get used to the change and for awhile it may seem worse, not better.
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MaryK
Registered User
Posts: 612
(5/30/01 1:14:08 pm)
Reply
|
Re: All
thumbs
A teacher I once had recommended using a pencil, of all things,
away from the cello and bow for this.
Grab the pencil as if
you were holding the bow. Pull it back w/index finger, then push it
forward w/pinkie finger, as if you were doing down- and up-bows. Try
to stay relaxed (ha!), keeping your thumb bent. Also, using your
thumb as a fulcrum, use your index and pinkie to push the pencil
down and up, and use those same fingers just to roll the pencil
forward and backward on your thumb, as if the pencil were
"swimming."
These're easier to demonstrate than write
directions to, but the general idea is to get your fingers doing the
work while the thumb, in a bent position, is just along for the
ride.
Good luck!
MaryK
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Dick500
Registered
User
Posts: 92
(5/31/01 8:53:11
am)
Reply
|
Re: Stiff
thumb
Without seeing your hand, let me take an educated guess as to what
may be happening.
I often notice my adult students (when I
first get them) tending toward tight thumbs and, as a result, tight
bow grips. Much of the time, the tightness is caused by where they
place the bend in their fingers. If the bow is held with all of the
bend in the base knuckles (the big ones) and none in the other two
knuckles of each finger, the fingers and thumb will all end up being
very straight. Straight fingers and thumb will have to work very
hard to hang onto the bow. Straight anything will have to work very
hard to do anything. As an experiment to prove this, hold your arms
out absolutely straight in front of you, put your palms together
flat, and try to press your hands together with what you calculate
to be about 5 pounds of pressure (not much, really) against each
other. If your arms work anything like mine, in about 10 seconds or
less, you will start to feel the tightness and pain in your upper
arms. Now, with your hands still clasped together, bend your arms so
you can bring your hands to within about 6 inches of your chest at
elbow height and, letting your fingers curl around your palms, again
press together with about 5 pounds of force. Voila! You can do this
until the cows come home! So, if you are holding your bow with
straight fingers, you thumb will also be straight and it will tense
up and maybe even start to hurt, especially in the big muscle at the
base. The fix is easy. Hold the bow so that the curvature of the
fingers is not primarily in the base knuckles but rather in the
other knuckles of each finger. The thumb will have to bend also so
that it can fit on its spot on the bow. Notice that your palm will
be closer to the bow. Hold the bow as loosely as possible without
letting your fingers drift around and having the bow fall out. Don't
lift any fingers up off the stick. If you do, then the others have
to work harder and may get tight all over again. When you are at the
frog, let the weight of your arm hang on the bow. As you move down
bow toward the tip, gradually lean into your index finger so that
the weight of your arm travels up toward the tip at the same speed
that the contact point of the hair and string travels up toward the
tip. Undo it as you play up bow, gradually undo the leaning process.
Don't press the bow down from above. Just let the weight of your arm
provide the down force. Remember--curved fingers and low
palm.
Hope this helps. It sure works for me and my
CBN's.
Dick
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