Andy Pollow

I know the violin neck is bare wood and dosent have varnish on it - is the cello neck bare too? I like to take the finish off of my guitar necks - guitar necks come with finish and my thumb sticks to it alot. Ive always wondered why guitars come with finish on the neck if violins are alright without it.

It seems like it might also be harder to make a straight bow stroke playing fast that way - it moves real smooth at slower speeds. Im trying to think of ways to make bowing technique look cool for heavy metal music - have you ever thought of holding the bow stick in your teeth for right hand pizzacato?! I was thinking if you put a handle on the end of the bow it might look like a sword - bowing already looks cool as it is though. Its important to look good too.

Hey - Im trying different things with the bow hold. This question is seriouse - Im not kidding around! I tried grabbing the bow in a "fist" hold - I was really only joking around with it but it feels like a neat way to use a bow. It seems easier to hold it, it dosent wear my hand out to hold it that way, and all of the movement feels really smooth like that. Is there a reason you guys dont hold your bow with a fist? You know those rubber grips that you put on bicycle handle bars? Maybe it would be nice to put one of those on the end of the bow somehow and grab that with your hand for a bow hold. Im sure you must have some reason for not holding it that way. I dont know much about the bow.

I dont have much of an answer - just a question and a suggestion. Ive heard several times now that alot of violin teachers dont like to teach adult students - why? Think about the playing techniques and tone of every instrument for a little while first - think about what it would be like to make music with the way each instrument is played. Example - Id never enjoy using my breath to make music on a wind instrument even though I like to hear musicians play the saxaphone, trumpet, flute, etc... - it seems like a good idea to consider those things carefully for a while and stick with whatever you chose. : I'm 17 with no musical background. I would like to learn the cello but My mum doesn't approve of it because it's a big instrument and she doesn't like the posture either. I've tried piano twice and guitar which I gave up after 2 months so I thought I might be one who couldn't do things right to the end. Another problem is that not many teachers would want older students. It is wise then for me to pick up cello?

: I am interested in seeing a photo or acquiring more info on the Mark Woods instrument that you describe. : Are there web sites you know of or an address I could : write...phone? Thanks!

First - I meant "NEAR the bridge" down there and not "BEAR the bridge"! Second - Mark Wood has an interesting thing that he calls a "chest support" that holds the violin up without a chin rest or a shoulder rest. What do you people think of that? Any opinions on that? It looks really great to me but I havent tried it. : I dont like picking. The short version of the reason for that - anchoring the right hand fingers on the body of the guitar or the right palm on the strings bear the bridge for stability with a pick makes wrist or elbow picking motions very uncomfortable to me and I dont like to move the pick with my thumb joint. The pick is very difficult to play fast single notes with if you play with your palm and fingers off of the guitar. 95% of fast pickers anchor the palm or fingers on the guitar. Ive used the bow and the pick and I prefer the bow so Im going to buy one of Mark Wood's electric 6 string violins with frets. I seem to bow fast and slow on each string naturally with my elbow and I change strings naturally with my shoulder. Of course I understand the importance of strict alternate strokes and I know slurring with the bow pretty well. And I know to avoid the shrugging motion with the shoulder. I know that bowing can get complicated but am I missing anything thats basic and REAL important for bowing technique in that? The style that I like the most is a type of heavy metal music called neo-classical or bach rock. So its pretty seriouse music but not as seriouse as Beethoven or Mozart symphonies. I only want the basic techniques - I dont want to get REAL technical about it unless I have to.

I dont like picking. The short version of the reason for that - anchoring the right hand fingers on the body of the guitar or the right palm on the strings bear the bridge for stability with a pick makes wrist or elbow picking motions very uncomfortable to me and I dont like to move the pick with my thumb joint. The pick is very difficult to play fast single notes with if you play with your palm and fingers off of the guitar. 95% of fast pickers anchor the palm or fingers on the guitar. Ive used the bow and the pick and I prefer the bow so Im going to buy one of Mark Wood's electric 6 string violins with frets. I seem to bow fast and slow on each string naturally with my elbow and I change strings naturally with my shoulder. Of course I understand the importance of strict alternate strokes and I know slurring with the bow pretty well. And I know to avoid the shrugging motion with the shoulder. I know that bowing can get complicated but am I missing anything thats basic and REAL important for bowing technique in that? The style that I like the most is a type of heavy metal music called neo-classical or bach rock. So its pretty seriouse music but not as seriouse as Beethoven or Mozart symphonies. I only want the basic techniques - I dont want to get REAL technical about it unless I have to.