Page turning

[Big_Fat_Dynamo]

are there any tricks to turning pages with a bow in your hand? Whenever there's a page turn i always seem to be behind becuase i end up fumbleing around with the bow.

[Jeff Moote]

Originally Posted by Big_Fat_Dynamo

are there any tricks to turning pages with a bow in your hand? Whenever there's a page turn i always seem to be behind becuase i end up fumbleing around with the bow.

The two most common approaches I've seen with pros and have used myself are:
- quickly passing the bow to your left hand, turning with the right and returning the bow
- turning the page with the bow tip, if the page corner is turned up enough to do so

[Marcus Johnson]

Originally Posted by Jeff Moote

T
- turning the page with the bow tip, if the page corner is turned up enough to do so

Hah! I thought I was so clever, doing it that way all these years...

[jallenbass]

Use your left hand.

[Jeff Moote]

Originally Posted by jallenbass

Use your left hand.

How close is your stand, and how do you generally support the bass. For me the left hand is usually not an option.

[jallenbass]

Originally Posted by Jeff Moote

How close is your stand, and how do you generally support the bass. For me the left hand is usually not an option.

You have to work out the distance so that it's possible to use your left hand. I'm not entirely sure how I do this since it's become second nature. When I get a chance I'll try it in the practice room. I sometimes grab the fingerboard with my right hand thumb and middle finger while still holding a french bow to steady the bass.

[jdapodaca]

Left hand.

I sit when I play, and I stand to turn the page. When I stand, the bass just comes up with me and comes back down as I sit, I don't really have to grab it with my right hand or anything.

Now that I think about it, I don't think its even a full-fledged stand to turn the page, just kinda move my body towards the stand while sort of staying in sitting position. Make sense?

[Stan Haskins]

I use my left hand, too. The bass should be balanced well enough so you don't have to clutch it with your hand.

I have sort of a nervous little routine that I do every time I set up in an orchestral situation, before warming up: rosin bow, check endpin height, check page turn distance, check adequate stand distance for pizz/arco switches (it's easy to crack the stand playing German if you aren't careful), check clearance for string changes at tip and frog, make sure I can see the music and conductor. Turning pages in some pieces requires practice. I usually mark the spot where I want to turn the page, and practice it at home.

[Jeff Moote]

Originally Posted by Stan Haskins

I use my left hand, too. The bass should be balanced well enough so you don't have to clutch it with your hand.

For me it's not at all an issue of balance, but the fact that you have to come around the bass with the left hand. The right side of your body is more free to reach over the bass, so that's what I've always done.

Moving the stand closer for page turns may not be an option for section players sharing stands.

[jfv]

Originally Posted by Jeff Moote

The two most common approaches I've seen with pros and have used myself are:
- quickly passing the bow to your left hand, turning with the right and returning the bow
- turning the page with the bow tip, if the page corner is turned up enough to do so

I believe I use the first, the last time I tried to be clever
and do the second I believe the whole music folder fell
off the stand and scattered everywhere, I felt rather
foolish and have avoided such gymnastics since

[Big_Fat_Dynamo]

Reaching around to turn the page with my left hand is not an option, i am going to try flipping it with the bow, but it might be difficult with music that has more then two pages? I might accedently flip more then one but i will see how it goes, now maybe the claranets in front of me can stop getting whacked in the back of the head with my bow.

[ClassicalBass]

I transfer the bow to my left hand before making the change with my now open right hand. However, if all else fails, go out and buy a quiver for your bow, then just drop it in there when you need to turn the page, and pull it back out when you're done. They're great, as they keep the bow just within reach of your left hand, without being a nuisance to either pizzicato or arco playing. You can find them on lemurmusic.com for around $40.

[BASSnSAX]

Aren't quivers more or less frowned upon in the classical realm of DB?

[Nick man]

How about working with tablet PC's and e-book software to come up with a program specifically for sheet music, and connecting a foot switch designed for certain functions such as turning pages?

Somebody should jump on this.

[ClassicalBass]

Originally Posted by Nick man

How about working with tablet PC's and e-book software to come up with a program specifically for sheet music, and connecting a foot switch designed for certain functions such as turning pages?

Somebody should jump on this.

I've seen an ad for an electric music stand such as you've suggested. But I remember the price being ridiculously high. Like $1,000 high. So, someone should jump on it, but cheaper.

And I don't know really if quivers are frowned upon. I don' see why....we need to utilize every tool at our disposal. I intend to get one anyway.

[Big_Fat_Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Nick man

How about working with tablet PC's and e-book software to come up with a program specifically for sheet music, and connecting a foot switch designed for certain functions such as turning pages?

Somebody should jump on this.

Jordan Ruddess, the keyboard player from dream theater has exactly that, he can either touch the screen or push a foot pedel

And i'm not going to buy something like that untill i'm making tonns of money. :P

[jfv]

Originally Posted by BASSnSAX

Aren't quivers more or less frowned upon in the classical realm of DB?

I play in two different community symphonies, most the
players in both have quivers, but dont know about the
pro's. I wouldnt be without one, just safer than having
the bow lay on a stand, gets bumped by someone and
falls off

[jfv]

Originally Posted by ClassicalBass

I've seen an ad for an electric music stand such as you've suggested. But I remember the price being ridiculously high. Like $1,000 high. So, someone should jump on it, but cheaper.

And I don't know really if quivers are frowned upon. I don' see why....we need to utilize every tool at our disposal. I intend to get one anyway.

Yes, I've seen this also. But you aren't gonna see these
in the present economic climate, most symphonies are struggling
without worrying about 50K for hi-tech music displays

Its the future though, I can see all symphonic music in digital
form available for download as needed, hey, maybe we
can get Apple onto that

[Eli_Upright12]

I dont know if its just some that I do, but does any one else do the quick wrist flick to turn the bow around leaving the pointer finger and thumb free to turn? It works for me, the only danger is not having enough space to do it and hitting something with the bow.