We would love to hear from you!

Kee:
Hi Ruth

For your information on our Summer courses:
We will use the violin bow buddies for all of our introductory violin and viola classes.
bit.ly/1bRUMcF

Laura Geissler, Teacher:
I used Bow Buddies with two of my violin students this past year. Both students had a lot of difficulty with position issues. Both right and left hand. Both also struggle with learning difficulties. I was needing to find the balance between helping them find enjoyment in their music, but also continuing to make progress with their technique. I found that the Bow Buddies very successfully stabilized their right hand, allowing me to focus on violin hold and making beautiful music.

With one student, the mother bubbled over with relief that she didn’t have to keep correcting the bow hand. It removed much conflict during practice at home. This student has a beautiful violin hold with the left hand that solidified this winter. I transitioned her off of the Bow Buddy for my spring recital. The transition was very easy and her bow hold is very nice. I am contemplating adding a corn pad just to give her a small reminder.

The other student is still on the bow buddy. He is enjoying his violin these days, which is great as I thought I might lose him as the violin was so difficult for him. There is still a lot of work to be done on the violin hold before I remove the Bow Buddy. I have never seen a child with such tense/frozen muscles. He used to shudder whenever he placed his violin and bow in position. One of his accomplishments this year is that the shudder rarely appears. As he relaxes, he is enjoying playing music more. He has a good ear for critiquing his own sound. This is becoming a motivating factor to correct posture. I don’t see moving away from a bow aid in the near future. On this child, it has helped to stabilize the bow hold well enough to focus on other important issues that we still need to finish.

I like to teach a proper bow hold w/o an aid to my students. However, I am firmly a supporter of this product for students who have those extra needs. It allows the bow hand to stabilize while other aspects of technique are taught.

Jacoline Schott, Teacher, Geneve, Switzerland:
I started using the bow hold buddies a few weeks ago, and I am soo relieved,
I don’t have to nag anymore any of my students to keep a right bow hold.
Now we can concentrate on other things,
and progress faster.
I highly recommend it,
especially for beginners,
or as remedial work for poor bow holds.
I will use it with all new student also.
It saves months of work on bow hold.
And kids just love it.

D. Bolt, Teacher:
Thank you. I have already found the Bow Hold Buddies very helpful with the 4 yr. old who just started with me.

Also with a talented young man of 14 but who has a lot of trouble attending to a consistently proper bow hold and wrist movement.

I have had many violin/fiddle students in the past 14 yrs. and I know I will have more who can benefit from your good products.

Again, my sincere thank you.

Margretta Williams, Prince George's County Public Schools:
Thank you so much for [the newsletter].
I teach 4-8th grade strings in a MD public school system.
Your ideas, insights and suggestions are a source of inspiration for me!

Jen Hickle, School Director, Signature School of Music:
I always send my new string students to you!
Your links are on my website. :-)

Laura Mozena, Teacher, Florida:
When I use bow hold helpers I make sure to follow through with the end result which is being able to hold the bow without assistance.
I love Ruth Bron’s BowHold Buddies because all the fingers are only touching the bow not the accessory so when it is removed the hand placement is the same.

Dario, Teacher:
My adult student in the UK used one of your magic bow hold buddies!
Greetings now from Philadelphia,

Helen Sergeant, Cellist, United Kingdom:
I have a seven year old student who has played cello for a little over a year.
He is very talented but always struggled with the bow.
His hold was so awkward that his hand would cramp.
Needless to say the bow hold was starting to take precedence and captain thumb and his ship mates had a life of their own.
I turned to the cellophant bow accessory three months ago and it transformed his comfort levels.
Thanks again Ruth.
I think it's a great invention.

David Hinds, AC Suzuki Orchestra Director at Amarillo College:
Thanks for your work in string teaching,
but in particular your bow hold invention.
What a creative way to develop muscle memory for the bow hold!