The Bowzo helps violin players improve their bowing practice. It is a slotted plastic tubular device that clips easily onto the bridge/fingerboard and guides the bow at 90 ° to the strings. Careful practice with the Bowzo trains violinists to see and feel straight bowing. Repeated use teaches muscle memory which remains once the Bowzo is removed.
Ideal for
- Warm up before lesson
- Use in the middle of practice sessions
- Practising scales with a long bow
- From ¼ to Full Size Violin and Small Sized (14") Violas
Violin teachers and learners like the Bowzo
Pete Cooper, violin teacher says:
‘By developing a physical memory of the correct bow angle, together with relaxation of the elbow, they certainly go on to produce a better tone’
Peter Sampsonidis, violin teacher, Melbourne, Australia says:
‘I would like to say how impressed I am with the product. It's Excellent!! We had straight bowing as soon as we put it on the instrument.’
Gordon Dodridge, violin teacher, East Sussex says:
‘Just a quick e-mail to say that the children who I teach have really enjoyed using the Bowzo to help them to bow straight. It's a bit of fun & adds variety to a group lesson.’
Patrick O'Neill, learner, London says:
‘Thanks for the Bowzo. I like it because it gives instant feedback, it confirms correctness, it allows for accurate and continued use of any one of five positions to play between the bridge and the fingerboard, and thus familiarise oneself with the feel and sound of their differences, and it is also about half the price of a decent book.’
The Bowzo is a device for fitting to the bridge of your violin/viola when practising to encourage the bow to travel in a straight line. It is designed to fit violins from ¼ to full size and violas up to 14”. It works on the principle that if your bow is guided at an angle of 90 ° to the bridge, eventually muscle memory will develop, and the right arm will continue to trace the same path when the device is removed. Suggested uses include warm-ups, scales with long bows, and more generally during practice sessions. Bowzo came into being as the result of a meeting in 2004 between a professional violinist and a Rolls Royce engineer. Design input came from Coventry University and the product was launched in 2006 at the British Music Fair. It has since sold in 15 countries, with particular interest coming from the US (where it is being used in a a number of class situations). Austalia, Korea and Germany. It is currently only available in the UK a dedicated website with discounts for bulk purchases. On a quarter size violin the Bowzo looks and feels rather big and intrusive, though it does fit. On a larger violin it is less obviously an encumbrance, but still does noticeably mute the sound.
For me, the biggest problem is that the device prevents the player reaching the heel, There is also rather a mechanical moment as the bow is inserted into the slot which prevents an organic relationship between bow and string, interrupting it visually as well to a certain extent. Given that the point of contact will vary minutely according to how the Bowzo is placed by the child/parent at home, the concept of finding the best sounding point, and developing a subtle awareness of how this changes, will sometimes be sacrificed.
The crucial thing is the set-up, since forcing a fixed point on an unstable basis will clearly only cause further problems. If this is in place, Bowzo can prevent the kind of ‘sawing ones head off’ movement so common amongst beginners. It can also encourage an opening at the elbow where one was not happening before, something which many teachers deal with by encouraging students to rest their upper arms against a wall, with more or less tense results. Those choosing this product can be very confident of a good deal of thought and energy having gone into its development and of prompt, friendly service from its manufacturers.
How it works:
The Bowzo springs open and easily clips on to the bridge and fingerboard of the violin. Once attached, you place the bow inside the slot of the Bowzo and carefully practice your bowing technique The arrangement gives the user a visual frame of reference to see when they are bowing straight. It’s a great way for users to experience what it feels like to bow straight.
What it does:
- A temporary practice aid which provides visual feedback to the user when they are bowing straight
- Allows free bowing movement within a straight path
- Allows the user to see the fingerboard
- When bowing correctly and straight the bow does not touch the Bowzo apart from a light brushing on one side or the other. Used sensibly, it will not damage violin or bow.
What it doesn’t do:
- The Bowzo is not designed for continuous use or for use during concerts but as an aid
to sensible learning and practice. - The Bowzo is not designed for development of the left hand.
- There is slight muting during practice with the Bowzo attached. However, players
will achieve a better tone once a better bowing action is developed and the Bowzo is removed.
