Variation 5

#wholebow #bowlift

Variation 5 is the first one to utilize the whole bow. There is an important point to be made here for the usage of the bow. In order to gain the most benefit from these variations it is best to make the most use of the bow. A common oversight is to not use every inch of the bow. When Ševčík marks G. in the score, start and end as close as possible to where the hair ends at the frog and tip. Not an inch away, but millimeters away from the end. This will train the bow arm in a way that enables the full breadth of the bow to be available.

Start slowly with this variation, starting at the extreme tip and making sure that at the end of the measure the bow is back at the extreme tip.

The remaining goals of the variation are to put into practice a sort of moving collé stroke where you are using your wrist and fingers to lift the bow after the first and third note in each measure. Be sure to have a clear articulation on the third note of the measure, from the string.

Alternatively, you can also practice with the third note arriving from the air rather than articulated from the string. Both are valid ways of increasing your bow control.