Hi,
I was just wondering if it really does help your bowing if you stick a pencil infront of the finger board while you practicing because sometimes I catch my bow sliding up the fingerboard and I want that to stop.

thanks,
sweet

I don really know if that helps........But everyone knows the bowing hand controls ALL of the bow movements. So maybe you can try practice controlling your hand,or maybe you are not holding the bow correctly. About practicing,you can try playing one or two bars,stop,and check if your bow is still in a correct position or your bow grip is still correct and not held tightly. Hope it helps!

What my teacher told me to do was pracice some scales in front of a mirror. Watch your bow and make sure it doesn't slide up the finger board. I remember I had such a problem with the bow sliding up, now it stays in the right place. The mirror really did help though, I do recommend trying it.

thanks for the help!

you have finally encounter one of the hardest parts of playing the violin! this is hard to gove advice for as its really something your teacher should be showing you and not us telling you! (im not angry at you for not having a teacher if you don't have one. find another violinist to shw you if you can.) its all got to do with your bow hand as Muzik said and the way you move your arm. look right through all of the bowing threads if you can, its been explained well many times in the past (might take a bit of trudging to find them. Muzik also gave good advice about the mirror. some people can't play infront of the mirror while watching themselves. i can't its a mess! so if you can't either just play a little bit and then check, a little then check. and it you straighted yourself out when you do this you might figure it out.

also you might not be holding your violin right. the scroll should be level with your nose, check this in the mirror, when it starts going down so does your bow!