Clay, I purchased the Stringvision insert off of Amazon and used it for my Simply Strings 2 hour rehearsal last night and my bow hold felt good for the first time in my early cello journey. I played with a bent thumb and slightly pronated bow hand. Big guy
This is a super-helpful, succinct video about a thumb placement on the bow - How-To, How-Not-To do it, and most importantly, the history and performance impact reasons for each. Thank you Clay!
I’ve been a conservatory student for years but have never felt super comfortable with the bow. This actually really helped me rethink how I place my thumb and I’m excited to start practicing it
If my thumb does not naturally fall between the middle fingers, that's usually from bad habits. If this is not the natural position, then it's not due to bad habits.. It's natural.
Playing with "weight of the arm" is widespread nonsense passed down between generations. You either press the bow by pronating the arm or by creating a lever (or torque) between thumb and 1st finger, or both. A much better idea is to think about is to drive the weight of the bow, which is enough to produce a good amount of sound. Then you add the presure needed to compensate when more sound is required. "Weight of the arm" is an idea that only helps you keep upper arm low, or just high enough so the hand and bow reach the plane of the string. But in no way you can apply "weight of the arm" onto the string. It is just impossible and will just confuse a rationally minded student.
The best explanatory video about Cello right thumb position on RUclips. Bravo.
Clay, I purchased the Stringvision insert off of Amazon and used it for my Simply Strings 2 hour rehearsal last night and my bow hold felt good for the first time in my early cello journey. I played with a bent thumb and slightly pronated bow hand. Big guy
This is a super-helpful, succinct video about a thumb placement on the bow - How-To, How-Not-To do it, and most importantly, the history and performance impact reasons for each. Thank you Clay!
I’ve been a conservatory student for years but have never felt super comfortable with the bow. This actually really helped me rethink how I place my thumb and I’m excited to start practicing it
Awesome! Glad it helped. Which conservatory?
@@thecelloonline berklee/boston conservatory!
If my thumb does not naturally fall between the middle fingers, that's usually from bad habits. If this is not the natural position, then it's not due to bad habits..
It's natural.
Playing with "weight of the arm" is widespread nonsense passed down between generations. You either press the bow by pronating the arm or by creating a lever (or torque) between thumb and 1st finger, or both. A much better idea is to think about is to drive the weight of the bow, which is enough to produce a good amount of sound. Then you add the presure needed to compensate when more sound is required. "Weight of the arm" is an idea that only helps you keep upper arm low, or just high enough so the hand and bow reach the plane of the string. But in no way you can apply "weight of the arm" onto the string. It is just impossible and will just confuse a rationally minded student.