Things 4 Strings® accessories, invented by American String Teachers Association honored studio teachers, are teacher designed, tested and approved. Our Bow Hold Buddies® 2-piece bow accessory set instantly positions and supports all the fingers of the bow hold to form a relaxed and effective bow hold! The thumb hood of the accessory set's Frog FrogTM directs the inside corner of thumb tip to the intersection of the frog and stick. The rim of the thumb hood strongly encourages the thumb to remain bent and flexible. The middle finger is directed to oppose the thumb. The Hold Fish® pinky support, included in this 2-piece Bow Hold Buddies® accessory set (and also available separately) directs the tip of the pinky to slightly to the rear of the top of the stick. The sloped walls of the pinky-tip opening allow for finger flexibility. The accessory securely slides along the stick, to rest next to ring finger, allowing for a custom fit for all hand sizes, age 3 thru adult. This placement allows for the points of contact of the index and pinky fingers to be equi-distant to that of the thumb. This accessory do not preclude normal points of contact with the stick; they simply prevent the thumb, index and pinky fingers from wandering out of position. With these three fingers in place and in control of the stick, the middle two fingers, hand and bow arm are more relaxed and ready to learn the beginning bow strokes. The accessory uniquely trains the hand to hold the bow correctly and naturally, through muscle memory, thereby freeing the player to learn and enjoy other elements of string playing. Bow Hold Buddies® brand bow accessories are protected by US Patents 8,273,973, D650,828 and D650,829, Mexico Patente No. 313970, European Union Design Registration Nos. 001156830-0001, and 001156830-0002, with additional US and International Patents Pending.
- Flexes Thumb Touches Intersection of Frog and Stick: A bent yet flexible thumb is key to tone production. This accessory directs the inside corner of the thumb tip to make contact with the bow at the intersection of the frog and stick, at a 45 degree angle to the bow stick. This position, with a bent and flexible thumb, allows the player the options to exert upward pressure to the stick and/or pushing against the frog on down bows to get toward the tip of the bow.
- Supports Curved Pinky: A curved yet flexible pinky finger is critical to bow control, tone production and a relaxed bow arm overall. The pinky finger correctly approaches the stick from slightly to the rear, positioning the finger tip so the finger can remain curved and flexible without sliding off the front of the stick. This allows the player to easily move the bow to play at the frog, and to counter balance the weight of the tip of the bow while playing in the lower half of the bow.
- Positions index finger to rest on bow: A correctly positioned index finger is key to bow control and tone production. This accessory ensures the index finger's contact with the bow stick will be between the first and second knuckles. This allow the finger to control downward pressure on the bow stick, as well as the pull on the front of the stick to control the straightness of the bow stroke.
- Fingers Contact Bow in Customary Places: The empty spaces around the fingers of a correct bow hold tempt even the best beginners' fingers to wander without support. The fingers of the bow while using this patented accessory set are exactly in the same correct position as they will be when the accessory is no longer used. While the accessory set passively teaches the essential skill of the bow hold, students can proceed to learn and experience the many other skills and rewards of playing music.
- Adjustable, Universal Fit -- for child to adult hand sizes: The thumb/index finger stabilizer (designed to look like a frog) is installed on the bow and intended to remain in a fixed position, while the Hold Fish is designed to slide along the bow stick to come to rest next to the ring finger. This positions the pinky finger correctly in the Hold Fish. As long as the child or adult player is playing approximately the correctly sized bow, the resulting bow hold will be correct.
- Flexes Thumb Touches Intersection of Frog and Stick: A bent yet flexible thumb is key to tone production. This accessory directs the inside corner of the thumb tip to make contact with the bow at the intersection of the frog and stick, at a 45 degree angle to the bow stick. This position, with a bent and flexible thumb, allows the player the options to exert upward pressure to the stick and/or pushing against the frog on down bows to get toward the tip of the bow.
- Supports Curved Pinky: A curved yet flexible pinky finger is critical to bow control, tone production and a relaxed bow arm overall. The pinky finger correctly approaches the stick from slightly to the rear, positioning the finger tip so the finger can remain curved and flexible without sliding off the front of the stick. This allows the player to easily move the bow to play at the frog, and to counter balance the weight of the tip of the bow while playing in the lower half of the bow.
- Positions index finger to rest on bow: A correctly positioned index finger is key to bow control and tone production. This accessory ensures the index finger's contact with the bow stick will be between the first and second knuckles. This allow the finger to control downward pressure on the bow stick, as well as the pull on the front of the stick to control the straightness of the bow stroke.
- Fingers Contact Bow in Customary Places: The empty spaces around the fingers of a correct bow hold tempt even the best beginners' fingers to wander without support. The fingers of the bow while using this patented accessory set are exactly in the same correct position as they will be when the accessory is no longer used. While the accessory set passively teaches the essential skill of the bow hold, students can proceed to learn and experience the many other skills and rewards of playing music.
- Adjustable, Universal Fit -- for child to adult hand sizes: The thumb/index finger stabilizer (designed to look like a frog) is installed on the bow and intended to remain in a fixed position, while the Hold Fish is designed to slide along the bow stick to come to rest next to the ring finger. This positions the pinky finger correctly in the Hold Fish. As long as the child or adult player is playing approximately the correctly sized bow, the resulting bow hold will be correct.
