Animato Strings is introducing the Horace Bow Guide to Australia!
This accessory is used to help keep the students bow straight and at the appropriate position on the strings. Its clever design doesn't prevent the strings from vibrating and gives full movement over all four strings. It is great for students who are just learning to use the bow or have trouble keeping their bow straight on the strings.
They come in two sizes for violin/small viola:
For 1/8 - 1/4 violins
For 1/2 - 4/4 violins or 12" to 14" violas.
Like shoulder rests, these bow guides fit more than one size violin. They will also fit a violin strung as a viola and the 1/2 to 4/4 Horace Bow Guide will fit 12" to 14" Violas.
Posted by Marita on 6th Jan 2016
I purchased this for our daughter along with the Cello bow guide.
She is enjoying it as it assists her to keep her bowing straight as she said to me the other day, it makes her playing sound better because her bow is not all over the place.
Her teacher has commented on how well her bowing has been so its assisting her.
Posted by Kathryn Chilton on 22nd Oct 2014
I tried this bow guide and didn't realise just how crooked my bowing was when l didn't have my teacher to correct me.Since using the Horace bow guide over the past month,even my teacher has noticed a difference.lt took a while to get used to it, but always a part of my pratice now, particularly with technical work
Posted by Wendy on 19th Oct 2014
I am finding the Horace Bow Guides that I bought for Cello and for 4/4 violin to be very helpful.
Posted by Unknown on 20th Apr 2014
Handy and easy to use, this bow guide has one setting in terms of distance from the bridge according to size of instrument. The soft grip legs clip on to the sides of the violin with relative ease without marking the varnish. It is light and folds up surprisingly neatly, with box for storage. The guide may be a useful aid for short term reminding and training, either in remedial situations or elementary, especially of the upper half stroking. I've tried it myself and with two newer students who are working on basics at elementary level so far - it brings ones attention to the contact of bow to string and to the bow's path. It's great that there are different sizes. The shape does restrict use of the lowest section of the bow close to the frog, so is limited in that regard. Also it is possible for slight angle (rather than square) to string to occur and for stick to turn towards the bridge, so student may still need to be observed when using. Certainly no guide can replace excellent professional guidance in terms of efficient body usage, balance and flexibility of the bow hand and arm, but such a device can serve as a useful reminder and assist with developing good upper half habits if used in moderation and with care!