How to Improve Bowing Consistency on the Fiddle

Overview

In this lesson, we’ll address common challenges fiddlers face in maintaining consistent bowing, especially when learning new tunes or dealing with anxiety. Using practical strategies and focused exercises, you’ll learn to simplify complex tasks, manage attention effectively, and build confidence in your bowing skills.

Student Questions

Nancy: When learning a new tune, while looking at tabs or sheet music, my bowing falls apart! So does pitch but that’s another topic

Julie: My biggest bowing challenge at the moment is being consistent at whatever I try; it all tends to end up in a bit of a mash-up of all the stuff I’m trying to learn!

Cheryl: When I keep my bowing hand soft and rounded I get a nice tone. I notice as I get anxious about reading notes, timing or anything in general I get tense and start squeezing my hand into a duck’s bill form and then I sound scratchy and squeaky. How can I keep my hand rounded and soft?”

Fiddlosophy

Put your attention on a specific bowing issue for 5 minutes a day. Don’t try to solve a lot of problems at once. Pick one specific thing to improve. Then focus on that for a week.

Practice Steps

Begin by achieving a good sound on open strings.

Progress to scales.

Then tune chunks.

Use less bow!

Consistent Bowing Through Challenges

How to keep bowing consistent when facing challenging tasks (reading, timing, tuning):

Simplify the task.

Memorize a small chunk first.

Slow down considerably.

This will help you to keep the bowing consistent as you navigate more complex tunes and skills.

Attention Management

Learning an instrument is about managing your attention.

Focus 80-90% on bowing, then alternate attention to memorizing or another skill.

Practical Example:

Memorize the first few notes, perhaps by plucking.

Then slowly attempt bowing, placing full attention on bow technique.

Cycle attention between bowing and other challenges throughout practice.

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