Bow Warm-Ups 2.0

New! Bow Warm-Ups 2.0 for beginners, updated for 2020!

This video goes through a variety of fun exercises and warm-ups for beginning string players to use to strengthen fingers and shape the hand in preparation for bowing on their instrument.

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▬ Contents of this video ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
0:00 - Introduction

0:10 - Bow Hold Check points
Checkpoints:
All fingers are curved and naturally spaced.
Fingers are relaxed and around the stick. Ring finger covers frog’s eye.
Thumb has a “bump.” (It is okay if it touches the bow hair)
Violin/Viola - pinky is on top; Cello/Bass- pinky lays over stick
Hand has a slight tilt toward the tip of the bow

1:21 - 1. Pinky Push-ups
Lift high, but keep curved
Bumpy thumb check - flip bow hold over and double check that you have a thumb bump

2:02 - 2. Waves
Finger wave - lift each finger sequentially, one at at time, back & forth
Wrist Waves - using only the wrist wave “goodbye,” keep flexible
Paint Brushes - move wrists in a side to side motion

3:09 - 3. Stir the Caldron
hold bow vertically with a good bow hold, and stir the cauldron

3:43 - 4. Windshield Wipers
With your bow pointing up, gently twist forearm back and forth, keeping bow hold shape!

4:51 - 5. Write Your Name
Use bow like a pencil to write your name, or something else in the air

5:19 - 6.Train Tracks
Move the bow parallel to the floor in a straight line across the body

5:53 - 7. Rocket Ships
Move the bow centered and parallel to the body in a straight line toward the ceiling. Be sure to let wrist be flexible!

6:36 - 8. Spider Crawl
Keeping a good bow hold, “crawl” to the top of the bow, then back to the bottom. This will really strengthen your fingers. No cheating!

7:25 - 9.Circle bows
Make a large circle in the air and return the bow to the frog
Shoulder Bowing - similar, but pretend you are holding a violin of viola

8:12 - 10. Open and Close
Holding the bow and isolating the movement of the elbow, open and close the elbow joint

9:01 - 11. Short Fingers/Tall Fingers
Holding the bow, let all fingers “fall” down and hang straight off of the hand, then lift fingers up, almost in a crane-like motion. This is the foundation of the colle' stroke.

HAVE FUN!

All music used in this vide is copyright free and royalty free.