What this exercise teaches is the most basic movements required to move our bows in a straight direction. The movement at first is forcing a position not used yet results in the student's body feeling the movements separately. Everyone I have taught this technique to, in person or via Skype, has successfully learned how to bow straight. One adult novice, who was struggling for over 1 year with a straight bow, learned with me and this exact technique in less than 45 minutes. After our work, he was bowing straight on his cello, just on an open G string. Then he looked up at me with tears in his eyes, telling me how happy it was to finally understand the movement and not hit the other strings. It was that day and every day after I have been looking on ways to perfect this exercise.

Wow! My cello arrived on Saint Ceceilia's Day and watching/doing this exercise I have found new pains in my bicep, forearm and wrist! Amazing. Next lesson will be invisible bow.

I just bought my first cello, and found your KZfaq channel 1st. Thank you for the informative videos! I look forward to learning with you virtually via KZfaq until I find an instructor. (May be difficult during Covid right now though, which is why I really appreciate your KZfaq channel!)

Thank you so much! Your teachings have been very helpful. I'm a beginner and with only one week of practice I'm in love with this instrument. Thank you!

This is exactly what I needed. God bless you. Am trying this in class tomorrow

You're a wonderful teacher! Thanks for making learning this instrument such a joy :)

"Follow everything I tell you exactly! Break your wrist." Somehow I could not go any further than that. I hope it heals within a few weeks so I can proceed with "Break your elbow.", looking forward.

that's just so helpful :o thank you very much! :)

Jonathan, I appreciate your excellent suggestion on getting the bow straight. It is a common problem, and now, thanks to you, I can use your exercise to help them. I knew when I saw the title to your video that it would be worth watching.

Excellent video

Thank you so much for your lessons, it's really awesome :)

Good muscle exercises thanks!

Not how I was told to hold the bow

genius...!!! thank you !!!😀

This helped so much. Thank you

Boeing straight is one of my biggest issues! Thanks!

Dear Jonathan, these great tips do only apply to the G and D strings, right?

What an amazing Practice /Technique !!! Like it So MUCH! 🤓Can't wait to try! Thank you Jonathan! I wish I would have seen your video four months ago when I just got my cello ~~~ haha haha hahaha 😁but Jetzt is still not too late👻! Thanks again for all your inspirational videos!!! 🖖🖖🖖

I'd like to see a comment on String angle, it's lovely having it straight out in front of you but when you have to tilt your arm to play at a different angle it becomes a lot harder to see.

Hi Jonathan, thank you for doing this. You are outstanding! I agree with you about how your anatomy determines the way you approach an instrument. There are things that work for everybody and others that don't. I play piano I need to see it very high compared to others. Sometimes I even have to add a little cushion to those adjustable concert benches😝. This is just to say that I'm learning to play cello because I love it. I am having trouble trying to find how to place the cello on my body. I have long arms and a short torso. I've been playing around with different lenghts of the inpin and the anchor. But when my arms feel comfortable the cello seems to be a bit low, and I keep hitting my left knee with the bow ( I am using a shorter bow because it's easier for me to control it and be relaxed.) What pointers can you offer to find out what might work best! ( I checked the fist and left ear ones! Perhaps chair height, where to "hug" the cello with our thighs?, etc. ) It could be that this cello is a little big for me but it's the one I have. I don't want to wait until I can get another one to enjoy learning 😀! Lol. I'm really glad that I found your videos here. They are excellent and I enjoy them very much. You are so easy to understand and so inspiring. Keep the awesome work!

Jonathan what is the box you put your cello in that's cool

👍

I am going to purchase my first cello soon. Is there a certain amount of pressure you need to make sound on the cello/ not break anything?

Thank You Jonathan :-)

Allo Jonathan! Loving all your videos!! Have been playing cell for a month now, but my bow hand keeps getting tingly, almost falling asleep, after I play a few songs. Do you have aNy clue what I'm doing that's causing circulation issues? I wanna get the hand right before I start forming bad habits!! Thanks so much🙏

Yay! I could play Bach's air suites now

Hi! I'm one day into learning the cello. Your videos are VERY helpful. Thank you. However, I'm so confused! In the first few seconds of this video, your pinky is not located on the tip. However, in your tutorial on how to hold the bow, you follow the rule of leather, metal, circle and tip. Can you please clarify? My hands are small and I can't seem to hold this pose without severely cramping my hand. I also watched your video on how to hold a cello easy and pain free but I can't seem to have my fingers where they belong without pain. Help! Also, is your thumb supposed to be bent into the nook? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

does the bow always need to be flat on the string or curved?

Operation is from the 60’s. I was there.

Jonathan, it looks like you are using the flat of the bow hairs (or almost flat) against the string on a down bow, and the edge on an up bow. Is this correct? I have asked my violinist friend and a cellist friend whether they use the flat or the edge and all they answer is "yes". Help, I am a bozo-beginner.

Help I’m trying to do every basic correct but theres no loud sound from my cello is it a toning issue ?

Just an fyi violinist use the frog of the bow too, only time u dont is when your a beginner