| Author |
Comment |
marzWeezer
Registered
User
Posts: 2
(5/27/01 11:12:43
am)
Reply
|
ow bow
hold
hello, im a young cellist from the northwest. ive been playing for
a short time, but i began on violin 7 years ago so ive had a nice
boost into the string family. im doing alright with my techique, i
still have much to learn of course, but one of the major troubles im
having is with my bow hold. it hurts my wrist and i cant get a good
grip on the bow without the pain. help! my "pointer finger" has to
stretch majorly to get a good grip, and my thumb isnt bent, and the
list goes on! if anyone has a few pointers, please reply.
thanks!
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zambocello
Registered
User
Posts: 605
(5/28/01 1:22:40
am)
Reply
|
Re: ow bow
hold
It's hard give advice on bow grips even when one can see it and
hear it in action. Much harder to give virtual advice.
Many
cellists play with a straight thumb, but I don't know how! The
disadvantages seem obvious. It just goes to show that how we sound
is a reflection of how we hear, not how we hold.
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drcello
Registered
User
Posts: 404
(5/28/01 4:18:34
am)
Reply
| Edit
|
How to hold your
bow...
Here's a great web page with some interesting approaches to holding
the bow correctly:
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~leonid/cello_bowhold.htm
Marshall C. St. John
drcello@vei.net
Wayside Presbyterian Church
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sarah
schenkman
Registered User
Posts:
380
(5/28/01 7:25:47 am)
Reply
|
You need a
teacher.
You need someone to look at what you're doing, see what you're
doing wrong and show you how to hold the bow correctly.
|
Andrew
Victor
Registered User
Posts: 323
(5/28/01 9:32:29 am)
Reply
|
Re: cello bow
hold
I think drcello has pointed out a site without excess verbiage or
pointers that must be changed for variations in physique. Of course,
sarah shenkman is correct that a teacher (or other cellist) can
observe you and see what you are doing wrong - and give you
pointers.
I also started on violin - and several others I've
known who did so - continued their violin-bow hold on to the cello
bow. This is not the way to go. In his book "A Cellist's Life,"
Colin Hampton points out that Casals played with a straight thumb -
and a straight thumb will position itself as in drcello's cited
website. I was fortunate to start cello with a teacher -
unfortunately, what I learned wrecked my violin-bow hold (for many
years).
Unlike the violin bow hold, the cellist's has the bow
(pretty much) "straight" across the fingers rather than at an angle,
as for violin/viola.
The bow arm is already above the bow for
cello, so you don't have to arrange the hold to get more hand and
wrist above the bow for better control. The bow is not held tightly,
any more than it should be on violin. Some people say that the
cello-bow stick should touch the fingers at about the first joint,
but this will be an individual matter determined by the lengths of
thumb and other fingers.
There is more of a tendency to have
trouble with rosin on cello than on violin, and this can lead to
pressing too hard into the string and other attempts to correct
sound, that lead to a bad bow hold.
The natural bow hold on
cello will apply a little more weight to the string than a natural
bow hold on a violin. The weight and the balance of the cello bow
will also affect how much force you attempt to apply from your right
hand and arm - but do so carefully, because, the right cello-bow
combination (which I find rather critical on cellos) will play quite
easily.
As an example, in the Prelude to the first Bach solo
Suite, you should be able to play smoothly with a fluid motion that
may not be possible if you are pressing too hard - or if the bow and
cello on not well mateched.
Good luck!
Andy
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