Well, let's see now...
We can simplify your right arm to have about 17 joints, all of which can be in certain states (flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, pronation, supination, internal or external rotation), depending on the joint, of course. Very simplified, I can identify about 42 'joint states'. An example of a single joint state, would be: about 30 degree Flexion of all your Distal and Proximal Interphalangeal joints, as well as you Metacarpal-phalangeal joints, 20 degree flexion of the wrist, 15 degree pronation of the forearm, elbow flexed at 100 degrees, shoulder adducted, and internally rotated... you get the idea . I am unable to calculate the total number of combinations for you, but I can tell you that it will be a very high number indeed, getting only more complex once you add the precise degrees for every joint.
Thankfully we have an amazing capability to simplify this whole process, and let our cerebellum execute a lot of these movements 'automatic', so that we can think of the music, or the coming break, while we do these complex movements. Not only that, all the time, we sense the position that our body is. A lot of happens kind of unconscious, although we have the amazing gift to explore these sensations, and bring them (to some degree) to the conscious level. When we do this, we can only sort of focus on one thing at at time, and temporarily exclude the the other 16 joints. Remember I am limiting this discussion to the bow arm only. Have you thought what keeps you from falling over, or letting go of the bass leaning against you, while you are thinking about your right index finger resting on the bow?
What is even more amazing, is that we can consciously pay attention to various individual movements, and can save new instruction sets into the cerebellum. Generally speaking, this storing happens easier when you are younger... but learning can occur even in later life.
The only problem is: from all the possible combinations: which one shall we chose? Easy. Any one that gives the right tone, (and allows you to play extended periods without pain.)
How do you get the right tone? Well, that can also be simplified: Think of the bow meeting the string at 90 degrees: Three things determine the sound. 1. Speed,(that the bow moves across the string) 2. Position,(how far from the bridge) 3. Weight (pressure on the string, but don't think of it as pressure).
Now it is up to you to find these right combinations by yourself. Given enough time, it can be done.
Or you could 'cheat' and short-cut through all this stuff. Standing on the shoulders of giants, we can reach higher. Find a teacher that you trust.
LOL. Thanks for simplifying things so well...
