Immobilize Your Shoulder – Quick Practice Tip

About Immobilize Your Shoulder – Quick Practice Tip:

[The song played at the beginning of this Quick Tip is called "Smith's Reel".] Hi there, Vi Wickam here with your Quick Tip of the Week! This tip is specifically a fiddle bowing technique tip. And it relates to one of the most common problems that beginning violinists and fiddlers have- which is initiating short bow strokes from their shoulders. So you hear [...], instead of [...]. The trick is- find a corner, or a barrier, or a post of some sort, and hold your bow arm against it, such that your shoulder can't move. So you're going to immobilize your shoulder by placing your elbow or the back of your arm against this in a space where you can move the rest of your arm. [...] So that's the key here- all of the motion is going to come from your forearm and your wrist, rather than here. I'm not suggesting that this is how you should bow every single thing you should do. This is an exercise to free you up and be able to identify where in your arm that motion is coming from. So if you block your arm against the wall, or against a door jam, or whatever works where you can be in this position and you can still move your arm... [...]. You can practice like that. You can practice a song. Start out with slow notes on open strings. Focus on keeping your bow straight with the string while your shoulder is not moving. That's your tip for this week- immobilize your shoulder. If you find that you look at yourself in the mirror and you see a lot of your bow strokes coming from your shoulder- this will really help you a lot. Your Quick Tip of the Week- try immobilizing your shoulder! I'll see you next time. Have a great week! For more bowing lessons, check out:

• Comfort With Your Bow
• Zen Bowing Exercises