The Bowzo - New Teaching Aid Keeps Violinists and Violists On The Straight And Narrow

Proper bowing technique is a fundamental skill for beginning violinists and violists, yet students of all ages often have trouble keeping the bow in the correct position. The straight path motion necessary to produce a pleasing tone does not come naturally to the human arm, wrist and fingers, and mastering this movement can prove a major stumbling block to new violinists and violists. Teachers often find it difficult to impart this skill, since it cannot be ‘taught,’ but must be learned by feel. 

Enter the Bowzo, a temporary teaching aid that keeps the bow in the correct position, allowing contact with the strings only when the bow is at a 90º angle. An open-sided tube with a slot just wider than a bow, the Bowzo slips over the bridge and fingerboard to guide the bow correctly. Easily attached or removed in seconds, the durable polypropylene device is rigid enough to provide spring grip on the violin, yet sufficiently soft and pliable to avoid damage to the violin or bow.  

The tonal quality produced with the Bowzo in place is infinitely preferable to the sound produced by scraping or sawing the bow across the strings at an incorrect angle. 

Repeated use of the Bowzo helps promote neuromuscular facilitation or brain-muscle memory, the ability to perform an action by feel without having to think about the details. When this muscle memory kicks in, the student will automatically adopt the correct position without using the Bowzo, a lesson that will endure for the entire playing career. 

“Adopting the correct bowing technique is one of the hardest things a beginning student encounters, and it’s tough for teachers to explain to them,” said Neil Lilien, President of Meisel Stringed Instruments. “Using the Bowzo makes it impossible to pick up bad habits, and helps the violinist or violist learn by feel how to bow properly. Having mastered bowing, the student is then free to concentrate on other aspects of instrument technique, so the learning curve moves much faster,” he added. 

The Bowzo fits 4/4 through ¼ violins and 14” through 11” violas.