The Bow Arm Shoulder Action Practice Session

Bow Shoulder Action Practice Session

  • Short description and purpose of activity: • Learn the most efficient actions to move the bow between strings, while protecting the health of the shoulder.• Rehabilitate bow arm with shoulder injuriesTime required: 10 MinutesFrequency of Practice: Use as a daily warm-up or as needed to establish healthy shoulder action.Category: Warm-ups and Routines

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Follow along practice video:

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Play along starts at 11:35 in the video

Pinky Hook Bow Hold

Shake Out

E-A-D-G

Caboose

GD-DA-AE Dbl Stop

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SEQUENCE OF STEPS:

  1. Set the bow hold using the Pinky Hook and Shake Out the bow hand
  2. Maintain the pinky hook, or place the bow on the strings at the tip and use the Rock and Roll Motion (3 sets of 10 repetitions)
  3. Place tip of bow on E string and play the EADG slowly (3 sets of 10 repetitions)
  4. Find the MVG level ( minimum viable G string bow level then perform the Caboose Motion (3 repetitions)
  5. Perform Step 4 for the D, A and E strings
  6. Reinforce the above motions and shoulder levels the GD-DA-AE Double Stop Routine
  7. Optional: Continue your warm-up with a scale that uses all 4 strings. Reinforce all the above actions/motions.

Explanation:

1. During the Shake Out motion the hand drops and rises from the wrist, and your loosely held elbow rises and falls a bit in the opposition direction. Your arm works as a teeter-totter.

2. During the Rock and Roll your arm and bow move as a unified unit, as your release the weight of your arm into the bow, hair and string. Let gravity do its work.

3.  In the EADG motion the bow arm is alongside your chest at the E level and the bow is parallel to the floor at the G string level. Softly stroke each string in turn, make a minimum amount of sound, as you cross the strings smoothly and evenly.

4.  Using the G string minimum level established in step 3 and produce a steady up bow tone on the G string and stop the bow when you run out of elbow.  Complete the up bow stroke to the frog  by using the caboose motion which involves the elbow and upper arm. Reverse this motion with a down bow taking your back to the bow tip to begin your next repetition.

5.  Repeat step 4 on the remaining strings, 3 repetitions per string.

6.  The double stop routine moves you quickly and smoothly between string levels, and develops a rich tonal quality for your bow. Use it at any time to establish quality tone production in your bow arm.

Practice Tips for Excellence:

  • checkBow is always at 90 degree angle to string. You can check this in a mirror and/or noticing that a crooked bow produces an unclear tone
  • checkUse the minimum arm lift needed to reach the G string; lifting further is counterproductive
  • checkYour G string shoulder should feel like a gentle stretch, but not painful. Avoid hunching, or lifting the shoulder to reach the string. 

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