Violin Bow Technique
“In this efficiently-packaged DVDROM, Murphy, Head of Strings at Monash University School of Music, Australia, presents a vast amount of information about violin bow technique. The DVDROM contains 130 video clips with CD-quality audio of bowing techniques from the basic holding posture to advanced off the string strokes. A brief glance at the table of contents reveals twelve major sections, each with many sub-sections. The sections are Bowhold, Bowing Fundamentals, Detache, Slurred Bowings, Beginning Clicks, Bouncing Bowings, String Crossing, Chords, Tone Production, Planning and Practice, Integration, and Resources. The DVDROM ends with printable texts and scores. Many of the subsections feature standard etude and repertoire excerpts as material for the bow technique under discussion. The individual video clips are quick and to the point, each lasting usually under a minute. Murphy has isolated the details of each pedagogical segment and seems to have worked closely with the production of the video to ensure that the picture of the technique actually demonstrates the subject under consideration. The later video clips dissect famous moments in the repertoire of bowing. The clips of Murphy reducing the Prelude of Bach’s E Major Partita or the cadenza of Kreisler’s Praeludium and Allegro to basic open string crossings are interesting and useful to any teacher or performer. In addition to being a highly useful tool for a student or teacher, this collection gives a rare and brilliant glimpse into the sequential thought process of a very good teacher. A student of pedagogy will have a field day here tracing the careful development of bowing technique from an obvious master teacher.”
– Laurie Scott, University of Texas. the Journal of the American String Teacher Association (ASTA), vol 61 no 1, February 2011