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Violin Bow Technique +
by Fintan Murphy
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Violin Bow Technique
Bowhold
Introduction to Bowhold
Introduction to Bowhold
Finding a Bowhold
A Way to Find Bowhold
Another Way to Find Bowhold
Pencil Bowhold
Bowhold Stability
Test Your Bowhold
Keep a Stable Bowhold
Bowhold Flexibility
Clock Positions
Blow on Bow
Bowing Fundamentals
Introduction to Fundamentals
Introduction to Fundamentals
Straight Bow
Ellipse
In and out bowing action
Exaggerated Finger Flex
Square Position
Example A
Example B
Example C
Bowhold at Heel & Point
Bowhold at Heel
Bowhold at Point
Introduction to Change of Bow
Introduction to Change of Bow
Change of Bow 1
Bow-change Action on Bow
Bowchange at Frog
First-Finger Release
Change of Bow 2
Bowchange in Middle, Heel & Point
Bowchange from Point to Heel
Down-Bow Retakes
Large Bow Circles with Elbow Circling
Circle & Pluck
Tap Finger & Bow
Actions in Hand & Fingers
Pick Up Pencil
Finger Interchange on Bow
Finger Interchange Closeup
Hand & Finger Action at Frog
Détaché
Introduction to Détaché
Introduction to Détaché
Détaché in Middle
Open String
Kreutzer No.2
Use Less Bow to Play Fast
Détaché in Upper Half
Kreutzer No.2
Open String
Détaché in Lower Half
Open String
Kreutzer No. 2
Whole-Bow Stroke
Whole-Bow Stroke
Slurred Bowings
Introduction to Slurred Bowings
Introduction to Slurred Bowings
Two-Note Slurs
Smooth Slurs
Staccato Slurs
Slurs in Tree Swing
Smooth String Crossing
Round Bow in Rigaudon
Left-Hand Articulation
Silent Left-Hand Practice
Pulsing Within the Slur
Pulsing in Rigaudon
Introduction to Combined Bowings
Introduction to Combined Bowings
Combining Slurs & Détaché
Combined Bowings with Practice Breaks
Two of Each
Equal Amount of Bow
Combining Articulations
Legato and Staccato
Martelé, Collé, Hookstroke & Upbow staccato
Intro to Martelé, Collé, Hookstroke, Upbow staccato
Intro to Martelé, Collé, Hookstroke, Upbow staccato
Introduction to Martelé
Introduction to Martelé
Example from Ab Major Scale
Martelé Development
Insect Bites
Thumb Underneath for Beginning Martelé
Bow-Hand Pronation
Pronation Action with Pencil
Pronation Action with the Bow
Thumb & Fingers
Thumb and Finger Power
Martelé as a Useful Practice Technique
Martelé with Whole-Arm String Cross
Pizzicato and Martelé
Introduction to Hook Stroke
Introduction to Hook Stroke
The Rebound
Tap Your Knee
Two-Note Unit
Contact with the String
Close-Up of Bowhair and String
Hook Stroke Practice
Two-Note Unit with Rhythm Sounds
Left Hand Ready
Introduction to Collé
Introduction to Collé
Example from Kreutzer No.7
Collé Development 1
Collé with Pencil
Preparatory Rebounds for Collé
Collé with 1st-Finger Release
Collé Development 2
All Down-Bows
Collé at Nut & Point
Collé in Other Bowings
Collé as Part of Martelé
Chord Playing with Collé
Upbow Staccato
Three Approaches to Upbow Staccato
Practice Break before String Cross
Lead with the Left Hand
Spiccato, Sautillé & Ricochet
Introduction to Spiccato, Sautillé, Ricochet
Introduction to Bouncing Bowings
Introduction to Spiccato
Introduction to Spiccato
Spiccato Development 1
From Vertical Bounce to Bananas
Forearm Spiccato Towards Nut
Spiccato Development 2
Smooth String Crossing
Start on E-String
Start Up-Bow
Standing Spiccato
Repeated Up-Bows
Lifting the Bow at Heel
Excerpt from Sevcik Variation No 12
Gigue-Style Bowing
Introduction to Reflex Bowings
Introduction to Reflex Bowings
Introduction to Sautillé
Introduction to Sautillé
Develop the Vertical Action 1
Compare Sautillé with Détaché
Develop the Vertical Action
Develop the Vertical Action 2
Help a Friend
Hit Your Leg
Sautillé – Forearm or Hand
Bowchange Action and Sautillé
Forearm Sautillé on Paganini
Hand Sautillé
Common Challenges in Sautillé
Important Points
Introduction to Ricochet
Introduction to Ricochet
Bounce the Bow
Let the Bow Bounce – Lift Off 2nd, 3rd, 4th Finger
Let the Bow Bounce – Lift Off 4th Finger
Endless Bouncing
Endless Bouncing
Ricochet – Add Bowstroke
With Bowstroke
With Rhythm
Ricochet – Add String Crossing
With Practice Breaks
With Added Notes
And Return
Re-Energize Ricochet
Re-Energize Ricochet
Common Challenges in Ricochet
Important Points
String Crossing
Introduction to String Crossing
Introduction to String Crossing
Whole-Arm – Development
Slurred Across All Strings
Roll Bow over Bridge
Bridge Rollover – Close-Up
Whole-Arm with Bowstroke
Two-Octave Dominant Seventh Slurred
Separate Bows On All Strings
Pivot String Crossing 1
Start from Two Strings Together
Support Your Upper Arm
Pivot String Crossing 2
Pivoting Action
Example from Seitz Concerto
Example from Bach Partita
Bach Partita Excerpt
Practice Points for Bach 1
Double Stops then Single Notes
Path of the Bow Screw
Finger Action on Bow
Practice Points for Bach 2
Slurred Groups
String Crossing on Each Pair of Strings
Tone Production
Introduction to Tone Production
Introduction to Tone Production
Balance & Weight
Find the Balance Point
The Unmodified Bow
Bow Speed
Slow Down-Bow, Fast Up-Bows
Changing Bow Speed in Triple Time
Resonance in Whole Bows
Staccato & Pulsing Through the Whole Bow
Pulsing During Sustained Bow
Resonance in Détaché
Bow Friction for Fast Détaché
Keep the Friction in String Crossing
Close-Up of Hair
Point of Contact (Sounding Point)
Five Lanes
Bowing Variables in Lanes 1,3,5
Meditation
Point of Contact Changes from G to E Strings
Example of Stable Point of Contact
Bowhair Inclination
Play Softly with Side of Hair
Whole-Bow Strokes
Son Filé
Extend the Number of Beats
Chords
Introduction to Chords
Introduction to Chords
String Levels
Play Two Open Strings
Planning in Four-Note Chords
2 + 2 Chord Bowing
Lead with the Hand
Point of Contact
Stable Point of Contact for Intonation
Simultaneous Three-Note Chords
Aim for Middle String
Finger Action
Chord Playing with Collé
Three-Note Chords Starting from String
Planning & Practice
Introduction to Planning & Practice
Introduction to Planning & Practice
Mixed Rhythms
Dotted Rhythms and Groups of Four
Practice Breaks
Combined Bowings with Practice Breaks
Practice Breaks in Bach Partita
Collé in Bach E Major Prelude
Three Bows Per Note
Martelé on Kreutzer No.7
Spiccato with Three Bows per Note
Rhythm Subdivision
Bow Out the Rhythm of Long Notes
Open Strings
Legato & Staccato
Pulsing
Pulsing during Sustained Bow
Pulsing in Kreutzer No 5
Heel, Middle & Point
Wandering Through the Bow in Kreutzer No.5
Lift & Place at Heel & Point
Lift & Place at Heel, Middle & Point
Planning Bow Division
Introduction to Bow Planning
Bow Planning in Bach A Minor Concerto
Lifting the Bow at Heel
Excerpt from Ševčík Variation No 12
Gigue-Style Bowing
Integration
Introduction to Integration
Introduction to Integration
Warm-Ups
Relaxation
Upper-Arm Warm-Ups
Expressive Playing
Romanze – Bow Division
Starting a New Piece
Musical Intent
Look at the Score
Doing the Ironing
Musical Character – Sicilienne
Is it a Sicilienne?
Musical Character – Gigue
Is it a Gigue?
Rhythm – Mozart Sonatas
Mozart Sonatas
Violin Left Hand
The Violin & Your Body
Introduction
Introduction to The Violin & Your Body
Holding the Violin
Holding the Violin
Angle of Bow in Relation to Violin 1
Angle of Bow in Relation to Violin 2
Shoulder Rests
How to Put on a Shoulder Rest
Example 3
Example 1
Example 2
Why Use a Shoulder Rest?
Playing without a Shoulder Rest
Playing with a Shoulder Rest
Shifting without a Shoulder Rest
3rd to 5th Position
Chin Rests
Example 1
Play without Head on Chin Rest
Example 2
Introduction to Warm Ups
Introduction to Warm Ups
Warm Up the Whole Body
Relaxation
Warm Up the Left Hand
Lizard Tongue
Finger Pattern – Doubling the Tempo
Sirens – An Exercise in Harmonics
Left-Hand Fundamentals
Introduction
Introduction to Left-Hand Fundamentals
Bring the Violin to You
Support Violin with Right Hand
Left-Thumb Placement
Correct Left-Thumb Placement
Incorrect Left-Thumb Placement
Arm Steering & 4th Finger Pizzicato
Left Wrist in Line
View from Scroll
4th Finger Pizzicato – Single Notes
Arm Steering & Pre-Shifting
Shuttle Between High & Low
Shuttle without Right-Hand Support
Set Up Left Hand from 3rd Finger
Set Up Left Hand from 3rd Finger
A Major Scale
Set Up Left Hand from 4th Finger
Start in 4th Position
Start in 1st Position
Left-Hand Frame Exercises
4th Finger Pizzicato – Add Other Fingers
Left-Hand Frame Exercise
Finger Before Bow
Martelé & Pizzicato
Finger Before Bow – Schradieck
Holding Fingers Down
A Major Scale
Lifting Fingers, Piano Style
Curved Fingers & Flatter Fingers
Curved Fingers and Flatter Fingers
Finger Patterns
Finger Patterns Demonstration
Finger Pattern Diagrams
Basic Finger Patterns
Harmonic Minor Scale Patterns
Finger Action
Introduction
Introduction to Finger Action
Base-Knuckle Action
Base-Knuckle Action
One Movement
Lizard Tongue
Preparation for Lizard Tongue
Lizard Tongue
Height of Finger Lift
Height of Finger Lift
High Lift – Open Hand
Balance The Hand
Balance The Hand
Horizontal Finger Action
Horizontal Finger Action
Harmonics
Natural Harmonics
Artificial Harmonics
Release the Pressure
Release Fingers to Harmonic Touch
Release Left Thumb
Trills
Trill Exercise
Demonstration of Trills
Trills & Turns
Stop Trill Early Kreutzer 22
Trills Followed by Turns
Stop Trill Early – Beethoven Romanze
Trills & Vibrato
Distinguish Trills from Vibrato
Left-Hand Pizzicato
Left-Hand Pizzicato
Finger Independence
Introduction
Introduction to Finger Independence
Table-Top Finger Exercises
Table-Top Finger Exercises
Independence Exercises
Independence Exercise 1
Independence Exercise 2
Tap Fingers While Bowing
Tap Fingers while Bowing
Harmonics Develop Control
Finger Taps with Harmonic Touch
Exercise After Gerle
Exercise after Gerle – 1st Position
Exercise after Gerle – 4th Position
Facility
Introduction
Introduction to Facility
Finger Patterns
Finger Patterns
Finger Patterns – Doubling the Tempo
Mixed Rhythms
Mixed Rhythms
Mixed Bowings
Mixed Bowings for Coordination
Use Sautillé to Develop Facility
Finger Patterns with Slurs & Sautillé
Sitt Study – Sautillé 1
Sitt Study – Sautillé 2
Finger Action at Varying Tempos
Holding Fingers Down
Lifting Fingers, Piano Style
Check Your Fundamentals
Prepare String Cross with Arm Steering
Finger Before Bow – Schradieck
Shifting
Introduction
Introduction to Shifting
Pre-Shifting
Sirens
Matching Harmonics – Close Up
Matching Harmonics – Wide
Take Out the Slide
Basic Shifting Actions with Broomstick
Basic Actions with Broomstick
1st to 3rd Position Shifting
1st to 3rd Position Shifting
View of Left Side
Release Pressure
Release Finger Pressure – Chromatic Scale Shifting
One-Finger Arpeggio
Thumb Under Violin Neck
Close Up View of Thumb Under
Developing the Aural Map
Same Note Game
One-String Sequence Based on Do
Wide Interval Leaps
Guide Fingers
Guide Fingers in Key
Guide Fingers in One-String Arpeggio
One-String Arpeggio – Close Up
Guide Fingers – Kreutzer Study 11
Shift on Old Bow Kreutzer 11
Guide Fingers Less Audible
Introduction to High-Position Shifting
Shifting from Low to High
Shift to Whole-Hand Frame
Turn the Corner
Octave Leap & Left-Arm Position
Thumb as Pivot; Stretches & Contractions
Pivot on Thumb when Descending
Contract the Hand up High
Stretch Shifting
Shrinking Spaces between Fingers
Fingers Close Together in High Positions
Finger Interchange
Diatonic Sequences
Octave Slides & Diatonic Sequence
Two-Finger Shifting Drill
Flesch One-String Sequence
Flesch One-String Sequence
Guide Fingers in One-String Arpeggio
One-String Arpeggio – Close Up
Yost Shifting
Yost Shifting with Guide Fingers
Yost Shifting Playthrough
Chromatic Sequences
One Finger – Chromatic Ascending
One Finger – Chromatic Descending
Two Fingers – Ascending & Descending
Practice Points
High-Position Shifts with Landing Points
Landing Points – Close Up
Use Vibrato as a Practice Technique
Add in Open Strings for Finger Release
Scales & Arpeggios
Introduction
Introduction to Scales & Arpeggios
One-Octave Scales
D Major
D Melodic Minor
D Harmonic Minor
Two-Octave Scales
G Major
B Melodic Minor
Bb Harmonic Minor
Three-Octave Scales
Bb Major
E Melodic Minor
F Melodic Minor – Sautillé
Ab Harmonic Minor
C# Harmonic Minor – Spiccato
3-8ve Scale Sequence
3-8ve Scale Sequence
Top Scale Octave
Top-Octave Sequence
Rhythm Patterns in 3-8ve Scales
Rhythm Patterns in 3-8ve Scales
Two-Octave Arpeggios
G Major Arpeggio
G Minor Arpeggio
Three-Octave Arpeggios
Three Octaves Martelé
3-8ve Arpeggio Sequence
One-String Scales & Arpeggios
Flesch One-String Sequence
Scales in One Position
Building Scales in One Position
Scales in One Position
Scales in One Position – Practice 1
Left Hand Pizzicato
All the 1-4s
Changes in Hand Frame
Scales in One Position – Practice 2
Fingers Ready – Arm Steering
Changing Finger Patterns
Martelé & Pizzicato
Chromatic Scales
One Octave
Two Octaves Starting on B
Three Octaves Starting on C
How to Practise Chromatic Scales
Repeat the Starting Note
Diminished 7th for Top Octave
Dominant & Diminished Sevenths
Dominant 7th Starting on C#
Diminished 7th Starting on D
Practise Scales Descending
Play Scales Descending
Chords & Double Stops
Introduction
Introduction to Chords & Double Stops
Tuning Double Stops
Three-Way Check
Combination Tone
Shifting in Double Stops
3rds in C Major – Guide fingers
3rds in C Major
Practice for 3rds, 6ths, 8ves – 1
1st & 3rd Fingers Only
2nd & 4th Fingers Only
Practice Technique – 2
Bottom-Top-Top Practice on 8ves
Bowing variation for 3rds in G Major
Practice Technique – 3
All the Major Chords – 1 8ve
All the Major Chords – 2 8ves
Flat or Curved Fingers
Curved Fingers & Flatter Fingers
Flat or Curved Fingers
Thirds
3rds in Bb Major
Fifths
Playing and Tuning 5ths
Sixths
Placing Fingers in 6ths
6ths in Ab Major
Octaves
8ves in C Major
Fingered Octaves
Backward Stretch
Tenths
Limited Stretch of the 4th Finger
Backward Stretch for 10ths
Broken Chord Preparation for 10ths
Intonation
Introduction
Introduction to Intonation
Tuning Notes to Open Strings
3rd Finger makes Octave with Open String
Tuning A Major Scale to Open Strings
Tuning to Open Strings in Repertoire
Resonance
Resonance at Different Tempos
Slow Intonation Practice
Octave Underneath
Developing the Feel
Developing the Feel
Same Note Game
Find Double Stops in Passages
Find Double Stops in Passages
Find Central Notes
Core Notes & Peripheral Notes
Pitch in Context
Pitch in Context
Vibrato
Introduction
Introduction to Vibrato
Pre-Vibrato – Loosen the Body
Free the Upper Arm
Four-Way Release
Pre-Vibrato – Knock the Peg
Knock E-String Peg
View from Scroll
Knock Peg Double Stop
Check Vibrato Direction
From 4th to 1st Position
View from Scroll
Vibrate on Wood
Vibrate on Hand & Wood
Vibrate on Wood & Octaves
Improving Your Vibrato Action
Limit Upward Direction
Check Nail Joint
Developing Flexibility
Flexible Nail Joint
Harmonic Touch
Width & Speed
Changes in Width & Speed
Narrow & Wide – Left Hand View
Narrow & Wide – Bow View
Continuous Vibrato
Fingers on Two Strings
Baton Change
Impulse Vibrato
Impulse Vibrato
Support of Another Finger
Support 4th Finger with 3rd
Arm Vibrato
From 4th to 1st Position
Flexible Nail Joint
Free the Upper Arm
Arm & Hand Vibrato Combined
Hand Vibrato
Polish Violin
Hand Vibrato with Bow
Thumb Under for Hand Vibrato
Coordination & Practice
Introduction to Coordination
Introduction to Coordination
Left/Right Independence
Divide & Conquer
Finger Before Bow
3-Octave Arpeggio
Crossing Strings
Ysaye Study
Left-Hand Strumming for Accolay
Place Fingers Together for Speed
Place Four Fingers Descending
Close Up View
Introduction to Practice
Introduction to Practice
Think Ahead for Left-Hand Clarity
Think One Note Ahead
Kreutzer 5 Playthrough
Kreutzer 5 with Slurs
Different Finger Patterns on One String
Major & Minor 3rds for Dominant 7th
Practise Complex Patterns on One String
Mixed Rhythms & Bowings
Mixed Rhythms
Mixed Bowings
