• Home
  • About Vi
    • Bio
      • Short Bio
      • Full Bio
    • Resume
    • Testimonials
    • Fiddle Lessons
    • Workshops
  • Projects
    • Fritto Misto
    • The Band
    • Fiddle Whamdiddle
    • String Theory Project
    • New Tune Challenge
  • Blog
    • Fiddle Tune a Day
    • Quick Tip of The Week
    • Videos
    • Workshops
  • Shop
    • Albums
    • Singles
    • Digital Downloads
      • Armadillo On a Hot Tin Roof
      • Fiddle Tune a Day
      • I’d Love to Live in Loveland – Digital Download
      • Long Time Comin’
      • Old School Old Time
      • Someone Like You
      • ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
    • Books
    • Sheet Music
    • Tickets
    • Violins
  • Calendar
  • Contact
    • YouTube
    • Facebook
    • Linkedin
    • Twitter

Vi Wickam

Champion Fiddler, Inspired Performer

You are here: Home / Videos / Quick Tips / Immobilize Your Shoulder – Quick Practice Tip

June 15, 2018

Immobilize Your Shoulder – Quick Practice Tip

YouTube video

[The song played at the beginning of this Quick Tip is called “Smith’s Reel“.]

Hi there, Vi Wickam here with your (myTalentForge.com) Quick Tip of the Week!

This tip is specifically a fiddle bowing technique tip. And it relates to one of the most common problems that beginning violinists and fiddlers have- which is initiating short bow strokes from their shoulders.

So you hear […], instead of […].

The trick is- find a corner, or a barrier, or a post of some sort, and hold your bow arm against it, such that your shoulder can’t move.

So you’re going to immobilize your shoulder by placing your elbow or the back of your arm against this in a space where you can move the rest of your arm.

[…]

So that’s the key here- all of the motion is going to come from your forearm and your wrist, rather than here.

I’m not suggesting that this is how you should bow every single thing you should do. This is an exercise to free you up and be able to identify where in your arm that motion is coming from.

So if you block your arm against the wall, or against a door jam, or whatever works where you can be in this position and you can still move your arm… […]. You can practice like that.

You can practice a song. Start out with slow notes on open strings.

Focus on keeping your bow straight with the string while your shoulder is not moving.

That’s your tip for this week- immobilize your shoulder. If you find that you look at yourself in the mirror and you see a lot of your bow strokes coming from your shoulder- this will really help you a lot.

Your Quick Tip of the Week- try immobilizing your shoulder! I’ll see you next time. Have a great week!

For more bowing lessons, check out:

  • Comfort With Your Bow
  • Zen Bowing Exercises

Article by Vi Wickam / Quick Tips / bowing, bowing techniques, fiddle exercises, immobilize your shoulder, quick practice tip, quick tip, shoulder exercises, vi wickam Leave a Comment

online fiddle lessons

Featured Products

  • Fast Fiddle Fitness Violin eBook Fast Fiddle Fitness - Violin Book/eBook COMBO $29.90 $24.95
  • Fast Fiddle Fitness Violin eBook Fast Fiddle Fitness - Violin Book $19.95
  • Master Scale System - Violin Book/eBook COMBO $35.90 $29.95
  • Vi "The Fiddler" Wickam CD - Long Time Comin' Long Time Comin' - Digital Download $12.00
  • Old School Old Time Book - Fiddle Whamdiddle Old School Old Time - Bonus Combo $86.90 $54.95

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Swinging at the Savoy

Get Swinging at the Savoy NOW.

Cart

Keep Up with Vi

    (Fiddle Tune a Day and Quick Tip Subscribers will also get periodic blog updates)
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Categories

  • Colorado Music (28)
  • Fiddling (677)
    • Contests (13)
    • Fiddle Tune a Day (367)
    • Free Fiddle Lessons (15)
    • Musician's Round Table (8)
    • New Tune Challenge (21)
    • Workshops (52)
  • Music (144)
  • Musings (13)
  • Videos (609)
    • eGreetings (4)
    • Quick Tips (124)

Popular Posts

  • Fiddle Tune a Day
  • The Difference between a Violin and a Fiddle
  • How to Put on a Fiddle Contest Successfully
  • Play any Song You’ve Ever Heard
  • Binaural Beats Music Technology of the Future
  • Home
  • About Vi
  • Projects
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Calendar
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 Vi "The Fiddler" Wickam | Genesis Website by Wickam Group, LLC