Bow control

I cannot keep the bow straight

A crooked bow reflects an arm-path problem relative to the chosen contact point.

This governed route starts from what you can observe. It is source material and routing help, not a replacement for the current teacher seeing the player.

What you can observe

  • straight bow
  • bow path
  • parallel to bridge

First bounded action

Use a mirror on one open string. Pause at frog, middle, and tip, correcting the arm path rather than twisting the wrist.

How to check it

The bow hair should remain parallel to the bridge at all three checkpoints.

Stop condition

Stop checkpoint practice once the bow stays parallel through three whole bows.

What this route cannot tell you

This route can help name an observable violin problem and choose a bounded test. It does not override the learner's current teacher or diagnose an individual player from a webpage.

What Ben's clips show

Related governed routes