It’s All About the Bow! KMEA Conference–Louisville

February 8th, 2014

Ching-Yi Lin Western Kentucky University

WKU Pre-College Strings Program The bow is the voice of the instrument. In order to have a beautiful, expressive, and clear tone, students must have a balanced bow hold, understand principles of bow division, and move with freedom and ease. Preliminary Bow Exercises

• Using a pencil • Suzuki beginner bow hold

Silence Bow Exercises (in order of difficulty):

• Pinocchio • Unicorn • Stirring Soup • Windshield Wipers • Elevator • Space Shuttle • Crawling Spider • The Rocket Poem

Bow Set-Up

• Mark the middle of the bow • Pinky House • A “new tip”

• Additional material: Circle block/toilet paper roll

Different Bow Stokes:

• Martelé • Détaché • Legato

_______________________________________________________________________ Suzuki Book One pieces

• Upper half (use of forearm) • Bow speed and bow division

“Lightly Row,” from Group Lessons for Suzuki Violin and Viola, 36, mm. 1–2

Whole Bow Exercises: • Silent Bow Placement • Bow wanderings • Begin lower half (use of upper arm) with “O, Come Little Children”

“May Song,” from Suzuki Violin School, Volume One, 31, mm. 1–3

“Allegretto,” from Suzuki Violin School, Volume One, 32, m. 1

• G Major Scale with stopped and slurred bows

“The Happy Farmer,” from Suzuki Violin School, Volume One, 42, mm. 1–4

Wohlfahrt, Sixty Etudes for Violin Op. 45, Book I:

Different bowings for this etude:

Schradieck, The School of Violin Techniques Book I:

Other Factors of Bow Division:

• Dynamics • Musical expression