How It All Began: Inventing a bow accessory to speed learning

Violin teacher Ruth Brons had often made “pinky houses” for weak or wandering pinky fingers. But in 2008 she happened to have a big roll of duct tape --- and she went on a bow hold rampage, improvising supports for thumb, pinky and index fingers. Students loved their “guaranteed perfect bow holds”, and Ruth was astonished at their relaxed hands. But within just a few weeks these duct tape fixes started peeling off, and students complained the supports were stiff and ugly. Although many bow holds had already improved, Ruth promised to look for a better solution.

Relaxed hands hold Violin, Viola and Cello bows better

Working with modeling compounds, Ruth came up with a two-part, universal-fit bow accessory. The first part positions and shapes the thumb, and separates the index and middle fingers. The second part shapes and supports the pinky and ring fingers. She researched patents and found that for over 125 years violin teachers have been trying to make holding the bow easier for students!

Ruth visited a rubber manufacturer, learned her devices could indeed be made, and got to work refining her idea and adding the finishing touch of the frog and fish designs!

The following month, Ruth joined her mother, Martha Brons, master cello teacher, at a teachers’ conference. The two worked together and came up with the elephant idea, which underwent further refining back in Martha’s cello studio. Both devices are now Patent Pending worldwide and are being manufactured in silicone rubber in a fun variety of colors!