Heart of the Home Dining

The main job of the arm is to ensure that the bow remains as upright as possible, without any lateral deviation, so as to form and maintain a right angle with respect to the vibrating string. In order to achieve this, the hand holds the bow near the frog, and the index and second and third fingers rest on the stick while the thumb presses on the underside of the frog. The little finger is slightly spaced from the ring finger, which is slightly curved. In this position all the finger joints are ready to balance and compensate the larger arm movements; the palm of the hand is almost parallel to the stick. The speed of the bow is essential for the dynamics of the sound. The faster the bow, the louder the sound. Thus subdividing the bow plays a major role in violin technique, and in the manner of striking the string with the bow lies every violinist’s capital means of expression. The passages between two neighouring strings are carried out by raising or lowering the wrist. The movement of the hand in rubbing the bow on the string, does not follow a straight line, but rather a horizontal figure eight; thus there is more pressure on the bow at the head than at the frog. The movement that leads from the frog to the head is designated by the term “pull” and the contrary movement, from the head to the frog, by the term “push”.