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Bows!

Published on Dec 07, 2015

Introductory lesson for teaching students how their bows work for string instruments . . . tightening/loosening and how to use rosin.

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PRESENTATION OUTLINE

1.

BOWS & RoSIN!

How to rosin, tighten and care for your bow.
Photo by jeansman
2.

First . . .
The parts.

3.

Tightening bow

  • Tighten your bow . . . not not too much!
  • Should still "smile"!
  • Use the tension screw.
  • Check at up-bow tape.
Photo by puck90
4.

Tighten & loosen carefully!

  • Over-tightening can crack the tip.
  • Under-tightened bow won't work properly.
  • Always loosen last.
  • Latch safely in your case after loosening.
Photo by djwtwo
5.

A Properly Tightened Bow Looks Like This . . .

Notice the curve of the stick near the tip.
6.

An Over-Tightened Bow looks like this . . .

Notice how the stick bows upward. It isn't smiling!
7.

LOOSEN YOUR BOW BEFORE PUTTING AWAY!

Or . . . Your bow hair will stretch out.
8.

Rosin. What is it?

It Comes from Pine tree rosin, also called sap.
Photo by AntoineJamin
9.

Rosin Trivia

  • The sap is tapped from pine trees, just like maple syrup. Not food!
  • Boiled to remove impurities and poured into molds.
  • Sometimes other things are added.
  • The color depends upon the age of the sap.
  • Bass rosin is a soft and slow moving liquid. Don't share bass rosin! It will ruin other bows.
  • Hypoallergenic rosin is available for people who are allergic to rosin or pine trees. This allergy is rare.
Photo by bogdog Dan
10.

WHY DO WE USE ROSIN?

ROSIN ALLOWS THE BOWHAIRS TO "GRIP" THE STRINGS AND MAKE SOUNDS.
Photo by esbie
11.

Rosin Before Practicing

How-to Link: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=75d9XzzPHoI
Photo by Steve Snodgrass
12.

How To use your Rosin

  • Do this by rubbing the bow hair against the rosin in short up and down strokes.
  • Keep your thumb over the ferrule to avoid chipping up the edges.
  • Make about three passes over the bow hair.
  • Put a bit more at the frog and tip.
  • Rosin must be broken in. Shiny new rosin doesn't work very well.
Talk about the direction for breaking in the rising.
Show them how to check for proper amount of rosin.
Photo by Roberta Taylor
13.

BE CAREFUL.

Rosin will break if you drop it. It is fragile, like glass.
Photo by Steve Snodgrass
14.

Clean After Practicing

  • Use a clean soft cloth, no water or polish.
  • Your instrument will become dusty and sticky when bowing.
  • Wipe off your instrument and the bow stick and frog. Don't wipe the bow hair.
  • Rosin will build up if not cleaned.
  • Once or more each week, please!
Photo by Adarsh_BlueSpace
15.

So . . . Keep a clean dry cloth in your case!

Rosin can damage the finish on your instrument if not cleaned off.
Photo by josémaría
16.

Take care of your instrument! As you can see . . .

String instruments need lots of TLC!
Photo by Sensual Shadows Photography

Tani Miller