Looking for a tip that will noticeably improve your phrasing? Read below to learn how to step up your playing through use of what I call the “zig-zag” bow.
Static Phrasing
The reason you have static sounding phrasing may be that you are using the same length of bow again and again and in the same part of the bow. Take a look below at the example from Edward Elgar’s Salut d’ Amour for violin.
Note that the figures marked with the red lines would all be played with the same bow stroke/technique. However, they are by no means the same figure. They begin pianissimo and then move through a poco cresc. and a ten. They should also create a general shape of falling and rising. However, the player can suffer from using the same amount of bow in the middle of the bow for each figure. This results in a static phrasing which lacks shape and expression.
How the “zig-zag” bow can help
Static phrasing occurs when the player gets stuck playing in one spot on the bow. In order to escape this situation and free yourself to use differing amounts of bow in different parts of the bow, you can zig-zag the bow. Note the figure below.
- RED line = first figure marked with the red line in the musical example above
- PURPLE line = second figure
- BLUE line = third figure
The concept of zig-zagging the bow can be applied in any number of ways.
- The zig-zag can happen in only the upper part, only the lower, only in the middle, across the whole bow (as shown above), etc.
- Each part of the zig-zag can get different amounts of bow. For instance, the RED line can be very short, the PURPLE line very long, and thje BLUE line medium length.
- Different sounding points and different bow pressures can also be used for each part of the zig-zag to further increase the variety in sound and therefore expression.
This is where practicing ceases to become simply playing notes and becomes a place where you can create your own personal choreography for each song you are playing. Decide exactly what you want to do with your bow for each phrase to achieve the expression you want. Once you apply the principle of the zig-zag bow, the possibilities for phrasing are endless!