Master Bow Articulation: Two Essential exercises 🎻

In this video, I’ll be showing you two of the most important articulation exercises that are fundamental to bow control and precision. These techniques form the foundation for strokes like détaché, collé, staccato, legato, martelé, and more, making them essential to master before focusing on individual strokes.

We’ll dive into two key exercises: Catching the string and the articulation, specifically focusing on collé and staccato. For collé, you'll start from the string, moving the bow up and down, focusing on wrist movement both with and without the bow. You’ll start with small, controlled movements and practice with Sevcik op3 variation 1 and 2, where pinching the string is key. For staccato, we’ll focus on wrist control at the tip of the bow, practicing in front of a mirror with small bow movements and slow string crossings.

Remember, relaxation between strokes and wrist control are crucial. You can’t articulate with your arm – it’s too big and slow. Use your index finger and thumb for precision. Practice these exercises on open strings and scales for best results.

Thank you for watching, and happy practicing!