Cello Bow Crash Course - 3. Tricks for a Straight Bow
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- Опубліковано 21 лип 2024
- Practice with Houston Symphony cellist Maki!
The CELLO BOW CRASH COURSE is a multi-video series where I break down and explain everything from basic to complex bow techniques so that you can produce the best possible sound with a relaxed body.
When someone asked Janos Starker what he will miss least about teaching, he responded, "telling students to play with a straight bow". In this video I'll show you a few tips and exercises that will help you achieve that ever elusive straight bow. But I have to warn you - the most useful piece of advice I could give is just to USE A MIRROR at all times!
The bow is a very complex topic, so I want to open the comment section up for discussion to cover any gaps in information. If you'd like to ask me anything, have feedback or criticism, or would like to share your own experiences with other cellists, please leave a comment! This series will be an ongoing process, so feel free to leave me requests for topics to cover.
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Your video is very helpful and I improved my bow strikes nearly immediately. It is so great that you explained the reason why certain movements improve the sound quality. I'd really like to see the "next" video on string crossing. Do you consider uploading new videos to continue the Bow Crash Corse?
Hi Maky, I have just found your videos and they have helped me so much! Are you still making new ones about cello tips and tricks? Would be amazing 🙏🏽🔥✨
Thank you so much, Maki! Your videos have been the most helpful I've found online! I love that your activities are often based on the shape of the cello and the human body. :) I feel like I am learning to play the cello like a dancer! No gimmicks! The modifications you offer for smaller bodies and hands have been really helpful for me, too! (I'm 5'3''.) Starting online lessons during the pandemic, it's been hard to address some of the postural aspects of cello playing. My teacher is great, but obviously can't see everything that's going on through the zoom window! The techniques you have showed us in these videos have really impacted my playing, and your clear explanations have provided me with language that I can use to communicate my questions to my teacher when I need more help on a specific issue. I'm SO grateful for the time you have spent on these videos and will be passing your videos on to any other beginning cellists I meet! Let us know how we can support you!
Thank you Ell! That's really sweet of you to write all of that. I'm super happy if the videos help even one person stuck with virtual learning, so I appreciate the comment.
This was extremely helpful! Thank you 🙏🏻
This is great!
Hey Maki! I love this video! I’m gonna share it with my students haha! Hope all is well with you!
omg Gen! How embarrassing! Hope you're doing well, let's catch up sometime!!
The way my teacher taught me to play straight was to hold the stick 1/4 up from the frog or even 1/2 way up and as you get comfortable with the strokes inch your way back to the proper hold
Thanks
Do you take recommendations?? If so I would love to see you do a video on popper 22, tmea is pretty rough this year and your video on no. 7 really helped me last year. Thanks!
Yes! I'll do the TMEA etudes again when I get a chance. Thanks for asking!
so even with the mirror my tip points down on the A string. I don't know if it is an illusion from the tilt of the cello or the rounding of the strings across the bridge
Hi Laura, it could be an illusion, but the curve of the bridge usually isn't so big that it significantly messes with the perception of angle in a mirror. Will you try checking if the bow is parallel to the bridge throughout the stroke (only the half inch segment of the bridge that intersects the A string), and have someone stand in front of you to help guide your bow straight? Once you get used to what a straight bow looks like in the mirror it'll be a lot easier to reproduce. It's a pretty common issue for the tip to point down when you're all the way out at the tip. If the cause is arm length not being long enough, it's not a big deal if it's a small angle, doesn't mess with the sound, and straightens as soon as you start moving back to the frog.
@@DoublestopMusic thanks so much! I will try it. Thanks for your videos!
The bow is a straight line so it is straight . The problem I have have is straight in reference to what
This is a good question, a little tricky to explain in text, I will try my best. The D and G strings are pretty easy to see in the mirror. The A and C are a little trickier. For them, 1) the bow should be parallel to the very small area of the bridge that the string meets. Because the bridge is curved, each string sits on a different "2-dimensional plane". Think of placing an imaginary plate of glass on top of the bridge and the string you are playing... this is the "plane" that your bow should move in, parallel to the bridge and 90 degrees to the string. If this confuses you, you can ignore it. 2) The best viewing angle is from another cellist standing a few feet away from you, looking straight at the cello. When in doubt, a straight bow "looks the most correct". 3) Look in the mirror for yourself while your friend corrects your bow, and remember the angle in the mirror. This way you can reproduce it yourself. Hope this helps somewhat!