I am an adult that has been playing music for many years and have recently decided to take up the violin. I have been playing the violin for approximatey three months and yet I still have not been able to develop a consistantly smooth bowing technique. My teacher is convinced that I am pinching the bow with my thumb, but I feel as if I am not applying any pressure at all. Also, the bow seems to wobble back and forth in my hand. When I bow on the E string, the bowing is practically vertical, so it is difficult for me to maintain the proper bow hold. Gravity helps on the other strings, but not when bowing on the E string. I practice 2.5 to 3 hours a day and I concentrate on what I am doing. Shouldn`t these bumpy bowing and poor bow hold problems be nonexistant now? I send occasional emails to my teacher asking for advice or comment, but she rarely answers them for whatever reason. I don`t know any other adult teachers or students of classical violin, so it is difficult for me to get an idea of what normal progress is.
Comments or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jack