Maxim Vengerov: The bow as an extension of the right hand

*Read the accompanying written article here:* In this new educational series “Vengerov’s Views“, I cover key topics which come up frequently in my masterclasses, chosen to mirror the journey of learning. It all starts and ends with the source, the music, and understanding and telling the story behind it. And then along the way, as performers we must overcome some technical challenges to be able to bring our musical ideas to life. The examples in these videos are chosen to complement written articles, where I explain the concepts in greater depth. It has been an interesting challenge to write for the first time some thoughts about my approach to music and playing the violin - let me know in the comments what you think! *Part 6: The bow as an extension of the right hand* The bow should feel like a part of your body, not like a separate object. To achieve this feeling, we must master two seemingly opposing goals: remaining as relaxed and flexible as possible, whilst simultaneously maintaining very precise control. The key to this balancing act is in how you use your hand and fingers, with support from the joints and muscles in the right arm. In Part 6 of this series I share some recommendations for how to achieve flexibility and natural movement in your bow arm. *Chapters:* 00:00 - Flexibility in the right hand 01:45 - Exercise to help develop the pinky finger 02:34 - Avoiding tension in the bow-hold 04:35 - Concerto No. 1 in A minor (Shostakovich) 06:50 - Using the smaller muscles efficiently in the right hand 09:34 - Concerto in D major, 3rd mvt (Tchaikovsky) 11:38 - Flexibility in the bow arm 15:40 - Sonata for Piano & Violin No. 9 in A major ’Kreutzer’ (Beethoven) 16:41 - Credits *Credits* This series was curated and co-written by Anna Gould , and released in partnership with The Violin Channel Cover photo: Christian Schneider ___________________ 🔔 Subscribe to my YouTube channel: Visit my official social media sites: Website: Instagram: @ Facebook: @MaximVengerovOfficial #vengerov #violin #bowhold #shostakovich #tchaikovsky #beethoven #csardas