What this exercise teaches is the most basic movements required to move our bows in a straight direction. The movement at first is forcing a position not used yet results in the student's body feeling the movements separately. Everyone I have taught this technique to, in person or via Skype, has successfully learned how to bow straight. One adult novice, who was struggling for over 1 year with a straight bow, learned with me and this exact technique in less than 45 minutes. After our work, he was bowing straight on his cello, just on an open G string. Then he looked up at me with tears in his eyes, telling me how happy it was to finally understand the movement and not hit the other strings. It was that day and every day after I have been looking on ways to perfect this exercise.
I just bought my first cello, and found your CZcams channel 1st. Thank you for the informative videos! I look forward to learning with you virtually via CZcams until I find an instructor. (May be difficult during Covid right now though, which is why I really appreciate your CZcams channel!)
Jonathan, I appreciate your excellent suggestion on getting the bow straight. It is a common problem, and now, thanks to you, I can use your exercise to help them. I knew when I saw the title to your video that it would be worth watching.
Thank you so much! Your teachings have been very helpful. I'm a beginner and with only one week of practice I'm in love with this instrument. Thank you!
Wow! My cello arrived on Saint Ceceilia's Day and watching/doing this exercise I have found new pains in my bicep, forearm and wrist! Amazing. Next lesson will be invisible bow.
"Follow everything I tell you exactly! Break your wrist." Somehow I could not go any further than that. I hope it heals within a few weeks so I can proceed with "Break your elbow.", looking forward.
I'd like to see a comment on String angle, it's lovely having it straight out in front of you but when you have to tilt your arm to play at a different angle it becomes a lot harder to see.
Maybe these will help - czcams.com/video/GECMOAtOUfQ/video.html - czcams.com/video/rjRVR7Q_phY/video.html - czcams.com/video/ev9U1gKXgds/video.html - czcams.com/video/IRSC_VLylqk/video.html - czcams.com/video/AlhujQqXcPA/video.html
Hi Jonathan, thank you for doing this. You are outstanding! I agree with you about how your anatomy determines the way you approach an instrument. There are things that work for everybody and others that don't. I play piano I need to see it very high compared to others. Sometimes I even have to add a little cushion to those adjustable concert benches😝. This is just to say that I'm learning to play cello because I love it. I am having trouble trying to find how to place the cello on my body. I have long arms and a short torso. I've been playing around with different lenghts of the inpin and the anchor. But when my arms feel comfortable the cello seems to be a bit low, and I keep hitting my left knee with the bow ( I am using a shorter bow because it's easier for me to control it and be relaxed.) What pointers can you offer to find out what might work best! ( I checked the fist and left ear ones! Perhaps chair height, where to "hug" the cello with our thighs?, etc. ) It could be that this cello is a little big for me but it's the one I have. I don't want to wait until I can get another one to enjoy learning 😀! Lol. I'm really glad that I found your videos here. They are excellent and I enjoy them very much. You are so easy to understand and so inspiring. Keep the awesome work!
Thanks Mercedes! Without seeing your posture and cello, the best advice is to find a seating arrangement that allows for unimpeded movement of the bow across all 4 strings, and for your left side, can your see all the way down the A string to the bridge?
What an amazing Practice /Technique !!! Like it So MUCH! 🤓Can't wait to try! Thank you Jonathan! I wish I would have seen your video four months ago when I just got my cello ~~~ haha haha hahaha 😁but Jetzt is still not too late👻! Thanks again for all your inspirational videos!!! 🖖🖖🖖
Allo Jonathan! Loving all your videos!! Have been playing cell for a month now, but my bow hand keeps getting tingly, almost falling asleep, after I play a few songs. Do you have aNy clue what I'm doing that's causing circulation issues? I wanna get the hand right before I start forming bad habits!! Thanks so much🙏
There is an Air Guitar championship, so maybe Air Cello? Seriously, this exercise has been doing wonders for novice cellists for over a decade. Just as a write this, a lady in Australia who learns via Skype with me, has already learned how to bow straight, within one week and only using this video. She has no prior string instrument experience!
FYI - saying "frog" is offensive. The proper terminology is "la hausse". Look at the origins of the term and why French bow makers find it offensive. I live here, in France, and saying this part of the bow is "la grenouille" screams of cultural insensitivity, and more so from any string player.
@Jonathan Humphries I’m sorry that you consider this offensive, I understand why but I always call it the frog because it simple to remember, but yes we do as violinist put our hand on the same spot as a cello just different way to hold
It's ok, AduptUniform26, not gonna SJW here. I just cannot use that term in good faith while living here in France. My wife and friends and musicians and luthiers all have a little chuckle at the ignorance english speakers show towards French influence into our world, so to be a better ambassador of American politeness, I personally refrain from calling it a frog. Both Italian, French and Spanish speakers say "talon", which means heel, so maybe try that one instead? For what it's worth, thanks for your sincere commentary ;-)
Hi! I'm one day into learning the cello. Your videos are VERY helpful. Thank you. However, I'm so confused! In the first few seconds of this video, your pinky is not located on the tip. However, in your tutorial on how to hold the bow, you follow the rule of leather, metal, circle and tip. Can you please clarify? My hands are small and I can't seem to hold this pose without severely cramping my hand. I also watched your video on how to hold a cello easy and pain free but I can't seem to have my fingers where they belong without pain. Help! Also, is your thumb supposed to be bent into the nook? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Follow this video for the bow hold czcams.com/video/QGvO45fgYvo/video.html and I will revise this video with the better technique from the aforementioned
Jonathan, it looks like you are using the flat of the bow hairs (or almost flat) against the string on a down bow, and the edge on an up bow. Is this correct? I have asked my violinist friend and a cellist friend whether they use the flat or the edge and all they answer is "yes". Help, I am a bozo-beginner.
Hello, L Jumpsky, you are not a bozo, just a debutant ;-) The fact is the bow hair can rotate as we play, but for the purpose of learning this technique on your own. master the "flat" hair from end to end. Then, when you have recorded yourself and verified your progress, try playing at a slight downward angle. Record you effort to verify results. This is just a good question I will have to answer it more with a video in this month's Q&A! Thanks!
What this exercise teaches is the most basic movements required to move our bows in a straight direction. The movement at first is forcing a position not used yet results in the student's body feeling the movements separately.
Everyone I have taught this technique to, in person or via Skype, has successfully learned how to bow straight. One adult novice, who was struggling for over 1 year with a straight bow, learned with me and this exact technique in less than 45 minutes. After our work, he was bowing straight on his cello, just on an open G string. Then he looked up at me with tears in his eyes, telling me how happy it was to finally understand the movement and not hit the other strings. It was that day and every day after I have been looking on ways to perfect this exercise.
I just bought my first cello, and found your CZcams channel 1st. Thank you for the informative videos! I look forward to learning with you virtually via CZcams until I find an instructor. (May be difficult during Covid right now though, which is why I really appreciate your CZcams channel!)
This is exactly what I needed. God bless you. Am trying this in class tomorrow
Glad to help you, ekow
Jonathan, I appreciate your excellent suggestion on getting the bow straight. It is a common problem, and now, thanks to you, I can use your exercise to help them.
I knew when I saw the title to your video that it would be worth watching.
thanks for watching
You're a wonderful teacher! Thanks for making learning this instrument such a joy :)
Thank you, Ryan!
Thank you so much! Your teachings have been very helpful. I'm a beginner and with only one week of practice I'm in love with this instrument.
Thank you!
Wow! My cello arrived on Saint Ceceilia's Day and watching/doing this exercise I have found new pains in my bicep, forearm and wrist! Amazing. Next lesson will be invisible bow.
Not how I was told to hold the bow
"Follow everything I tell you exactly! Break your wrist." Somehow I could not go any further than that. I hope it heals within a few weeks so I can proceed with "Break your elbow.", looking forward.
Dear Jonathan, these great tips do only apply to the G and D strings, right?
that's just so helpful :o thank you very much! :)
Excellent video
Boeing straight is one of my biggest issues! Thanks!
Good muscle exercises thanks!
I'd like to see a comment on String angle, it's lovely having it straight out in front of you but when you have to tilt your arm to play at a different angle it becomes a lot harder to see.
Maybe these will help - czcams.com/video/GECMOAtOUfQ/video.html - czcams.com/video/rjRVR7Q_phY/video.html - czcams.com/video/ev9U1gKXgds/video.html - czcams.com/video/IRSC_VLylqk/video.html - czcams.com/video/AlhujQqXcPA/video.html
Hi Jonathan, thank you for doing this. You are outstanding! I agree with you about how your anatomy determines the way you approach an instrument. There are things that work for everybody and others that don't. I play piano I need to see it very high compared to others. Sometimes I even have to add a little cushion to those adjustable concert benches😝. This is just to say that I'm learning to play cello because I love it. I am having trouble trying to find how to place the cello on my body. I have long arms and a short torso. I've been playing around with different lenghts of the inpin and the anchor. But when my arms feel comfortable the cello seems to be a bit low, and I keep hitting my left knee with the bow ( I am using a shorter bow because it's easier for me to control it and be relaxed.) What pointers can you offer to find out what might work best! ( I checked the fist and left ear ones! Perhaps chair height, where to "hug" the cello with our thighs?, etc. ) It could be that this cello is a little big for me but it's the one I have. I don't want to wait until I can get another one to enjoy learning 😀! Lol.
I'm really glad that I found your videos here. They are excellent and I enjoy them very much. You are so easy to understand and so inspiring. Keep the awesome work!
Thanks Mercedes! Without seeing your posture and cello, the best advice is to find a seating arrangement that allows for unimpeded movement of the bow across all 4 strings, and for your left side, can your see all the way down the A string to the bridge?
Thank you so much for your lessons, it's really awesome :)
What an amazing Practice /Technique !!! Like it So MUCH! 🤓Can't wait to try! Thank you Jonathan! I wish I would have seen your video four months ago when I just got my cello ~~~ haha haha hahaha 😁but Jetzt is still not too late👻! Thanks again for all your inspirational videos!!! 🖖🖖🖖
Allo Jonathan! Loving all your videos!! Have been playing cell for a month now, but my bow hand keeps getting tingly, almost falling asleep, after I play a few songs. Do you have aNy clue what I'm doing that's causing circulation issues? I wanna get the hand right before I start forming bad habits!! Thanks so much🙏
Wonderful!
This helped so much. Thank you
You're welcome!
genius...!!! thank you !!!😀
does the bow always need to be flat on the string or curved?
Jonathan what is the box you put your cello in that's cool
I am going to purchase my first cello soon. Is there a certain amount of pressure you need to make sound on the cello/ not break anything?
Yes, just avoid too much "crunching"
Yay! I could play Bach's air suites now
There is an Air Guitar championship, so maybe Air Cello? Seriously, this exercise has been doing wonders for novice cellists for over a decade. Just as a write this, a lady in Australia who learns via Skype with me, has already learned how to bow straight, within one week and only using this video. She has no prior string instrument experience!
@@CelloCoach any "air" exercises on how to strengthen left hand's 3rd and 4th fingers? Thanks!
@@CelloCoach It's actual bow-string friction/downforce pressure that makes it complicated, but hey whatever helps is great!
Operation is from the 60’s. I was there.
Just an fyi violinist use the frog of the bow too, only time u dont is when your a beginner
FYI - saying "frog" is offensive. The proper terminology is "la hausse". Look at the origins of the term and why French bow makers find it offensive. I live here, in France, and saying this part of the bow is "la grenouille" screams of cultural insensitivity, and more so from any string player.
@Jonathan Humphries I’m sorry that you consider this offensive, I understand why but I always call it the frog because it simple to remember, but yes we do as violinist put our hand on the same spot as a cello just different way to hold
It's ok, AduptUniform26, not gonna SJW here. I just cannot use that term in good faith while living here in France. My wife and friends and musicians and luthiers all have a little chuckle at the ignorance english speakers show towards French influence into our world, so to be a better ambassador of American politeness, I personally refrain from calling it a frog. Both Italian, French and Spanish speakers say "talon", which means heel, so maybe try that one instead? For what it's worth, thanks for your sincere commentary ;-)
@@CelloCoach But you call it frog yourself in many of your videos lol
Hi! I'm one day into learning the cello. Your videos are VERY helpful. Thank you. However, I'm so confused! In the first few seconds of this video, your pinky is not located on the tip. However, in your tutorial on how to hold the bow, you follow the rule of leather, metal, circle and tip. Can you please clarify? My hands are small and I can't seem to hold this pose without severely cramping my hand. I also watched your video on how to hold a cello easy and pain free but I can't seem to have my fingers where they belong without pain. Help! Also, is your thumb supposed to be bent into the nook? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Follow this video for the bow hold czcams.com/video/QGvO45fgYvo/video.html and I will revise this video with the better technique from the aforementioned
👍
Thank You Jonathan :-)
You're welcome. Please share if this method helps you or if there is some way I can improve the explanation.
JesusFreakJen excellent way of describing how to hold the bow
Jonathan, it looks like you are using the flat of the bow hairs (or almost flat) against the string on a down bow, and the edge on an up bow. Is this correct? I have asked my violinist friend and a cellist friend whether they use the flat or the edge and all they answer is "yes". Help, I am a bozo-beginner.
Hello, L Jumpsky, you are not a bozo, just a debutant ;-) The fact is the bow hair can rotate as we play, but for the purpose of learning this technique on your own. master the "flat" hair from end to end. Then, when you have recorded yourself and verified your progress, try playing at a slight downward angle. Record you effort to verify results. This is just a good question I will have to answer it more with a video in this month's Q&A! Thanks!
Help I’m trying to do every basic correct but theres no loud sound from my cello is it a toning issue ?
Maybe not enough mass? Use gravity