Violin Forum/Message Board

grace · Member Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 36

Wow! Thanks Becky! I haven't been online for this but I've been practicing.. These past days I practiced up to 3 hours a day and the swishing sound just disappeared! Maybe I did what you said rather unwittingly..

Regarding the bow, I cut the hair (with my teeth Embarassed

).

And I don't know where to have them rehaired..

Becky · Senior Member Joined: 09 Apr 2007 Posts: 83

wow, that's great you've been practicing so much. I'm glad the swoosh vanished. Sounds like things are going good. Are there any music shops in your area? Even if they're not stringed instrument shops, they may know of someone in your area who rehairs bows.

Shirley · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 2:59 pm Post subject:

Grace - Good to hear! I wanted to mention to you that this past weekend I saw Nadja Selerno-Sonnenberg snip some bow hairs with her teeth (during a rendition of Shotokovic's Violin Concerto #1) - and I thought of you! Keep at it, girl! - Shirley

Becky · Senior Member Joined: 09 Apr 2007 Posts: 83

good point, Shirley...if you're performing and a hair breaks, go ahead and tug/bite it out. If you're able to though, use scissors to cut it.
I've seen many pro's break and pull hairs out during performances. It happens to everyone

grace · Member Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 36

Wow! Shirley! You have no idea how un-silly you made me feel!

I hate to sound like a whiner but I have another problem (AGAIN!): My hands (and feet) are sweating like mad and I can't play properly with everything slipping. To make things worse, my hands are so bad that they are right now feeling numb. It's starting to scare me!

jethro · Member Joined: 07 Apr 2007 Posts: 178

Are you building up stress in your whole body and having it come out as
gradualy getting a death grip on the neck while fingering ? I still on occasion catch myself doing that ..... finaly I have to stop and let my
neck hand un-cramp ! I think my hand muscles are conforming to the
awkward gymnastics better now so gripping/ fingering is getting easier
after a year. Try some Yoga techniques to help the stress not build
up. If you want to see a shining example of a model of relaxed playing,
go to Youtube and search "lori watson". Not to mention she plays one
of the most beautifull fiddle pieces I have ever heard ! As you watch her
play notice how SMOOTH her bowing is ! And she does it so relaxed-
like she is about to fall asleep ! I can't find any evidence she has done
any fiddle-only albums like Lucia has.

T