I just started learning violin and am using a 4/4 sutdent violin. However I find my bow too long for my size. Am 5 ft tall. Couldn`t bow to the tip. My teacher thinks the size is ok for me. However, trying to bow to the tip will lift my pinky off the frog and pulls my left shoulder. It`s too uncomfortable and frustrating. Should I get a shorter bow?

Why do you need to bow to the tip?

I wouldn`t recommend a change, the whole balance would change and would take some getting used to - and shorter bows would generally be intended for children, and I suspect not of the same quality.

I have a cheapie bow, that is only about 1cm shorter than my better ones. What is your current bow length, and what sort of length do you think would suit?

If the bow is that much of a stretch I would have thought the violin would be too.

Liz

*agrees with liz*

5 ft...hmmm...I think when I was 5 ft, I played a 3/4...not sure though.

My violin teacher had me started on practising on these 2 bowing exercises:
1) bowing the middle part of the bow to the tip on all strings
2) bowing from the frog to the middle part of the bow.

I can`t do the first exercise without pulling my right shoulder and lifting my pinky, and my bow changes angle on the strings, ie, no longer straight, or forming a plus sign with the strings. When I expressed that I can`t do it comfortably like the way she does, she says it`s all psychological. So I thought I should get a bow that fits me. Or should I really be fitting the bow? Would practice correct it? The 4/4 violin is the right side for me. I can envelope the scroll in my left hand. Should I get a 3/4 bow?

*perplexed*

Because of the physics of the violin, on an down bow, when your near the tip, you have top "pull away" more to keep a straight bow. At the very frog a tip, most people (actually, very few people) keep their bow PERFICLY PERPENDICULAR to the strings. Generally, it does tend to curve, just a slight bit, no too much.

Every day, for your warm up, play some long bows on the A string until you achieve the sound you want. Then, go to the E string, and work your way down (E - A - D- G - D - A - E), working on the crossings and making sure their clean and percise. This will A) Help you get used to your bow arm and B) Help you pull out a better sound.

Thanks Andrew for your tip.

Mine does tend to move away from the down bow forming perhaps a 45 degrees instead of being perpendicular to the strings. Does this mean the bow`s too long for me?