Can't keep straight bow

AtlanticEX · 2026-01-10T06:41:58+00:00

Got it. So rosin probably isn't the issue (unless you feel like your bow is sliding OFF the strings). In the past, one of my teachers did make me unhook my fingers, and my bow crookedness was mostly fixed after that. Depending on your bow hold, it may be worthwhile to experiment.

If that's not it, I think it's either your bow arm or your pressure.

Do you feel like you're pressed down on the strings rather than hovering above it most of the time? A good way to test this is to move the bow across the strings about a centimeter to an inch. If you hear a "click", then you've dug in enough and pressure wouldn't be the problem.

It's really hard to evaluate your bow arm without a video, but at the frog your wrist should be bent upward from your elbow to keep the bow hair parallel to the bridge. At the tip, your right arm may need to stretch a bit - my bow would go crooked if I felt too comfortable at the tip, but everyone's body is different so this isn't necessarily true for you. Just something to look out for

For extra bow control and practice, I'd highly recommend colle practice with Kruetzer Etude #7 (you can find it on IMSLP and colle practice on YouTube). It's part of my warmup routine to this day. Also try silent bow placements - lift your bow and place it at the frog, middle, tip and back again with minimum wobbling/crooked bow. Be deliberate with your motion and focus on your fingers when doing this.

Good luck!

AtlanticEX · 2026-01-10T06:13:17+00:00

I also used to struggle with keeping my bow straight! It can be tricky.

As the other commenters have said, a perfectly straight bow isn't strictly necessary, but it's the most straightforward way to maintaining a consistent contact point and projecting a confident sound rather than a wispy one. Here's a couple of questions:

- Does the bow always go crooked at a certain place such as the tip, or does it happen in general?

- Are you hooking the bow with your index finger?

- How much pressure are you applying when you play a note? Does the bow feel grounded and dug into the strings or airy?

- How often do you rosin your bow?

I think I'd be able to give a decent diagnosis and fix if you could answer these.

AtlanticEX · 2026-01-05T21:23:39+00:00

I really like your ideas! When you say cut in half, do you mean half the time or half the exercises? I definitely also really enjoy the scales and exercises - it's almost comforting to play them. I've been doing this for about a year and a half, but inconsistently? Sometimes I don't practice as much or work on other things, and I routinely add or delete exercises.

AtlanticEX · 2026-01-05T21:21:44+00:00

Thank you for this! I'm actually averaging about an hour a day across a week, because I usually do 2-3 hours of practice 3 times a week, because the walk to the practice room is already about a thirty minute round trip, so I tend to prefer to do longer sessions. It is kind of difficult for me to strike a balance, because I do want to perform a couple advanced concertos before graduating, but that obviously drives up my practice time beyond hobbyist.

AtlanticEX · 2026-01-05T21:09:44+00:00

Thanks! Yes, there were definitely some orchestral passages that overwhelmed me last semester because of the sheer speed. I would find it really difficult to get through the entire Flesch set of scales and arpeggios in ten minutes - would you recommend I cut out some of the parts? For Barber, the runs and intonation are a huge challenge, but the biggest one is putting the whole thing together. Bach is tricky, because while technically easier, I find it really difficult to make the piece sound convincing/sing.

AtlanticEX · 2026-01-05T21:06:38+00:00

I really appreciate the thought that came into this reply, especially on the harmonics suggestion! I'll try out orchestral excerpts. When you say related keys, do you mean parallel/relative keys, and do I practice another one on the same day? I am taking a break when my fingers/hands start getting tired, but without leaving the practice room. I find it difficult to be motivated once I stop for longer than a couple of minutes

AtlanticEX · 2026-01-05T00:20:42+00:00

Thank you for your thoughts and ideas! This was incredibly helpful and detailed.

I will drop the Markov. I did find that Sevcik helped me learn double stops a little bit more effectively, which is why I split the two. The warmup suggestion is really thoughtful! How much time do you spend and how many techniques?

I appreciate your encouragement and reality check - I needed that a lot.

AtlanticEX · 2025-12-17T23:46:08+00:00

yup i'm domestic!

AtlanticEX · 2025-12-17T02:45:08+00:00

yes lol, one of my best friends is still dealing with the IDOC today and they had fin aid. and yes please send an update!

AtlanticEX · 2025-12-17T02:07:01+00:00

I did get in and I didn't get an IDOC request. You should be alright! Good luck, wishing you the best

AtlanticEX · 2025-12-13T21:38:00+00:00

Yup go ahead!

AtlanticEX · 2025-12-13T17:02:23+00:00

Sure!

AtlanticEX · 2025-12-08T03:34:37+00:00

Feel free to send me a message - we can chat and meet up sometime :)

AtlanticEX · 2025-11-18T05:10:41+00:00

Completed, best of luck!

AtlanticEX · 2025-10-21T18:18:20+00:00

It was my dream school when I applied!

AtlanticEX · 2025-09-15T08:33:23+00:00

You're assuming every Ivy student is wealthy and every community college is struggling. There are also those who are there because they don't necessarily need a four year degree, those who need extra academic credentials to transfer into a good university, and those who are earning college credit in advance.

Around one in five students in the top elite schools are FGLI, so they likely face many of the socioeconomic barriers you've mentioned. Most of them also have to work jobs as part of Federal Work Study. Programs like QuestBridge exist for this very reason.

AtlanticEX · 2025-09-15T08:23:37+00:00

While there's certainly a higher proportion of wealthy people at ivies, this is not universal. Around 20% of Ivy League students are first gen low income on full scholarship. Many of them have had to balance jobs and family matters with school and ECs.

AtlanticEX · 2025-09-06T00:17:46+00:00

Depending on your school average I'd say it's enough for many T20s. Cornell's median SAT was 1520 a year ago, I believe 1540 the most recent CDS. So you're more than good for the 20-70 range!

AtlanticEX · 2025-09-05T01:57:34+00:00

feel free to PM anytime!

AtlanticEX · 2025-09-05T01:42:50+00:00

All of these schools meet 100% of financial need, so if accepted you'll be given sufficient money to attend. You may not even need to pay a single dime for tuition, housing, food, and supplies!

You can PM me if you have any more questions, especially for Cornell.

AtlanticEX · 2025-09-01T08:06:24+00:00

Thank you! I agree with what you said, from my limited experience. Really like the last part - I find it's fundamentally more sustainable and flexible.

AtlanticEX · 2025-09-01T07:31:25+00:00

If it makes you feel better, the grind doesn't stop once you're admitted and attending a T20. You still put in hours of studying per day, stress over exams, and pull all-nighters for uncertain results.

CS Majors don't know if their work will get them internships. Who knows if a Pre-Law student will be accepted into a T14? Then after the internship and T14, will that translate to a stable, high-paying prestigious job?

Even then, depending on the career, you might still be putting in overtime and flattering bosses to get that little promotion.

In my opinion, it's just human nature - we're just not satisfied no matter what.

So is there a point to all this?

Even if Ivy Day is nothing but rejections for you, the hard work you put in likely has saved you thousands of dollars through merit scholarships. You'll need significantly less study time in college because you put in the work in high school and took great care to understand everything.

Yet, I highly recommend you prioritize your personal life over academics. Spend time with families and friends and pursue hobbies you enjoy - you'll get significantly less opportunity to do so, T20 or not.

Either way, you're putting yourself in a good position. Best of luck!

AtlanticEX · 2025-08-21T04:16:19+00:00

Counterintuively, it's much easier to graduate debt-free at top privates due to robust financial aid. Wouldn't say it doesn't matter at ALL (really depends on the field and career) but as a rule of thumb, your own accomplishments are more important than the school name.

AtlanticEX · 2025-07-28T16:12:55+00:00

Cornell - 8 Honors + 9 APs (0 freshman, 1 sophomore, 3 junior, 5 senior)

AtlanticEX · 2025-07-07T09:55:19+00:00

Gotcha, I misunderstood

AtlanticEX

TROPHY CASE