I am doing grade 6 cello in June but my RH is going funny on me. When doing the Allegro section of Vivaldi's Sonata in Emin, I get to the end and my bow hand aches. I have a feeling it may be because my thumb is too straight. i was told in one of my first lessons not to have it straight as it'll make the hand ache doing faster things. At the time i thought it was a load of rubbish, but now i see the point. My teacher hasn't picked up but i haven't said anything and so she may not have noticed. Could this be some of/all of the problem and if so, how can i stop it from straightening? Any techniques etc.?? Or is there some other reason i don't know about?

Straight should be okay but it is much better to have it curved a little in a C shape (not that much - just emphasising it's bending in, never ever out).

The way to get it to do that? Very very boring, I'm afraid. Every bar, think about your thumb. Stop. Correct it. Play again. Stop again. Correct again...Eventually this will become automatic - it could take any time from a month to a year to fully become automatic, though, depending on how ingrained the habit.

Ask your teacher. From here, I can't tell you if your thumb is causing tension in your hand - s/he will be able to.

Until you see her, stop every time your hand gets tired and before it starts to ache, and shake your hand out, relaxing it to get tension, and start again. Check your shoulder is not tense when you play, too. Good luck - let us know what your teacher says (and PM me if you have any questions)

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Straight should be okay but it is much better to have it curved a little in a C shape (not that much - just emphasising it's bending in, never ever out).

The way to get it to do that? Very very boring, I'm afraid. Every bar, think about your thumb. Stop. Correct it. Play again. Stop again. Correct again...Eventually this will become automatic - it could take any time from a month to a year to fully become automatic, though, depending on how ingrained the habit.

Ask your teacher. From here, I can't tell you if your thumb is causing tension in your hand - s/he will be able to.

Until you see her, stop every time your hand gets tired and before it starts to ache, and shake your hand out, relaxing it to get tension, and start again. Check your shoulder is not tense when you play, too. Good luck - let us know what your teacher says (and PM me if you have any questions)
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Thanks, Cellocase. At least now i know that i've not wandered too far. Shoulder relaxed...that's something i now remember being told to keep an eye on, next time i practice i shall keep a check on that, too.