newbie with thumb problems...

[babybird]

Hello,

I will get round to a proper intro in the right place later but urgent things first!

I am 46, have been playing for just over 2 weeks and am a woman obsessed! I think I have finally found 'my instrument'...

There are a couple of things I would appreciate advice on

a) Bow hold: I have tried all sorts of suggestions from online sources as well as my teacher but I cannot get my thumb to stay rounded. The joint constantly falls in . I can make a lovely bow hold grip as long as I am not holding a bow! And I guess because my grip is not right the bow tends to roll away from my fingers after a while....It all feels unsafe and I am wondering if its just one of those time and practise things...

b) Thumb and first finger positioning on the left hand...I tend to drift down the fingerboard - I am 5'2" and have small hands. I am playing a 3/4 size and am struggling with the stretch on this. I am trying not to squeeze the neck but I dont want to spend my time looking sideways to see where my fingers are. Equally i dont want to be hearing nasty sharps where there shouldnt be any.

Any tips to try out would be very much appreciated! This is one instrument i refuse to give up on when the going gets tough!

BB

[classitar]

Welcome BB!
You have certainly come to the right place.
No doubt you'll get lots of good advise from some very experienced teachers and performers!

[babybird]

Hello!

I have no doubt at all! I have been reading the posts since I got my cello a couple of weeks ago and its been invaluable so far...

Nice to be part of the community!

BB

[cellotech]

Things will get better. You've only been playing for two weeks, its important that you are patient with yourself. It takes a long time to get solid technique.

[babybird]

Thank you,

Its the curse of the mature learner - we tend to be harsh on ourselves and overly driven! It just frustrates me that I can achieve a lovely comfortable bow hold grip on a pencil at my desk but not on the bow at my cello.... although the fact that I can should reassure me I dont have a major thumb defect...

I will persevere!

[gpjt]

Welcome to the board! Let me second cellotech here and say that practice will sort this out. I had the same problem for the first few months, but it's pretty much fixed now (two somewhat erratic years on).

[nonsense]

I'll definitely agree with cellotech and gpjt. If you have a goodish ear, sort it out with (in 1 and thumb) the octave of the previous string or harmonic. I was recently given a mini lesson that explained that most cellists shift subconsciously when doing string crossings to compensate for the natural curve of out wrists, so people who don't compensate like that will come up flat almost all the time when playing string to string. I really see it in young/beginning students, if you have tapes get it, unless you think its demeaning, WHICH IT IS NOT. No one will judge you! I still mark up my instrument from time to time...

[KissingJudas]

I use a StringVision Bow Grip...my teacher gave it to me...it helped me out A LOT with the thumb issue. Mine stays bent now! Also, I find it to be more comfortable in general. I don't know how people feel about them, generally, but I have had no issues playing with it. You can look them up online, they're pretty cheap!

[mftuchman]

There are exercises you can do to improve your coordination with your fingers. I am still working on mine a lot. It is taking time. My teacher tells me the more effectively your right hand works as a team, the less you will need to rely on your thumb for structure. He advises me even when I'm not playing to hold the bow vertically and practice moving it about.

Finally, scales are a good time to work a lot of these issues through. Notice where and when your thumb locks in, and report this to your teacher.

[babybird]

thank you all - I think its getting slightly better, or at least I am becoming more aware of when I stray to a nasty backward bending thumb...

re the Stringvision Bowgrip - I have not found this on a uk site...do you know if it would have a different name over here?

[jgnew]

I find that the thumb on my bow hands bends inward as I exert more pressure on it. This may be why you can keep a good hand position with a pencil but lose it when playing. Try to concentrate on relaxing your hand (I know, easier said than done). Be sure you keep breathing, as well.