So I don’t remember where I saw this, but I started playing with a French bow with my thumb under the ferrule and all the other fingers where they’re supposed to be. I never could really see where the thumb went on most pictures. Recently watching a few videos and reading a recent post, the blue/green dot post of where to put the thumb, I started trying this to maximize form. So with a good deal of arthritis and nerve pain in the thumb base, I can’t get my thumb to relax in that little area under the stick without sending it into seizure - literally. I have looked at this every way I can, but still can’t get the stick to draw properly in this position.
So fast forward, I’m looking online for “alternate ways to use the French bow hold and I ran across a really detailed clear explanation of French bow holds by Jason Heath. It says that the way I was holding the bow with my thumb under the ferrule is a great way for beginner bow students to start, but later I should be working up to the correct hand position. So:
1. Why shouldn’t I continue this way as I have learned to play very decently like this? Yes without a teacher. Different discussion.
2. The correct bow hold is really quite painful to do. Like nerve screaming painful. I am not looking to up my game to audition for an orchestra. Just use the bow to draw simple lines behind folk/original compositions and keep focused on my intonation. And that’s working well with no pain.
3. The physics of having the thumb so close to the other fingers under the stick, doesn’t leverage the thumb tendons as efficiently as having the thumb farther away, as under the ferrule does.
4. No matter how I get the correct position with the bow off the bass, I can’t get my hands and fingers to draw on the bass without the weight of the bow pulling down my thumb and fingers out of position. Or pain… Think like the doctor who keeps asking you to hold your mouth open and sticks a tongue depressor down you throat and each time your mouth gags and closes before they just give up. For me anyway. I know, another different discussion….
5. I know a German bow might be the answer, but I already own this nice French bow and spending more money on a different bow is my last option. I want this to work.
If there is an obvious reason not to continue my current method, PLEASE, PLEASE tell me; like being crippled. If it’s for more nuanced, technical passages, maybe someone can explain to me the physics behind that too. Thank you for reading all this.
So fast forward, I’m looking online for “alternate ways to use the French bow hold and I ran across a really detailed clear explanation of French bow holds by Jason Heath. It says that the way I was holding the bow with my thumb under the ferrule is a great way for beginner bow students to start, but later I should be working up to the correct hand position. So:
1. Why shouldn’t I continue this way as I have learned to play very decently like this? Yes without a teacher. Different discussion.
2. The correct bow hold is really quite painful to do. Like nerve screaming painful. I am not looking to up my game to audition for an orchestra. Just use the bow to draw simple lines behind folk/original compositions and keep focused on my intonation. And that’s working well with no pain.
3. The physics of having the thumb so close to the other fingers under the stick, doesn’t leverage the thumb tendons as efficiently as having the thumb farther away, as under the ferrule does.
4. No matter how I get the correct position with the bow off the bass, I can’t get my hands and fingers to draw on the bass without the weight of the bow pulling down my thumb and fingers out of position. Or pain… Think like the doctor who keeps asking you to hold your mouth open and sticks a tongue depressor down you throat and each time your mouth gags and closes before they just give up. For me anyway. I know, another different discussion….
5. I know a German bow might be the answer, but I already own this nice French bow and spending more money on a different bow is my last option. I want this to work.
If there is an obvious reason not to continue my current method, PLEASE, PLEASE tell me; like being crippled. If it’s for more nuanced, technical passages, maybe someone can explain to me the physics behind that too. Thank you for reading all this.
. I will start listening to the bow. Life is getting shorter, why not?
)
