Does anyone have any opinions to offer on the devices available to fit onto a violin in order to encourage straight bowing? I was wondering whether to try one for my son's violin. Are they as magical as they appear or is it best to stick to the old slog of patience and practise? (more familiar to me!!!)

Mirror/video recorder are much better They can help to identify other problems at the same time. I was encouraged to put a pencil in the R f-hole to ensure straight bowing, but found it made playing properly at the heel completely impossible. Tbh I would imagine that it's more effective in the long term to practice straight bowing without a physical guide, since when it's taken away your son could more easily go back to bad habits, whereas just using a mirror means that changes are permanent.

I bought the foam rubber version (at around £8) and it didn't help at all and I was worried about it damaging my bow. But I was getting desparate!

Using a mirror, or a second person, to show where the bow is straight is more effective IMHO.. Listening to tone production and relaxing my right shoulder helped a lot.

Don't you have similar problems with your cello students? My daughter's bow used to wander all over the place.

Not a permanent solution maybe, but for older students and adults you can roll up a couple of smallish squares of paper so that they sort of look like thin cigarettes and gently stand one up in each f hole. If you then try bowing, especially using a mirror, it becomes very obvious where and when the bowing is going wrong! The very sight and feel of this is usually enough to get students to focus on getting the bow straight.

Without the violin, hold in the left hand a cardboard tube (such as out of an old kitchen Roll) where the bow should go, then bow through it. Use a mirror to make sure you are bowing where you normally would with the violin. This helps you feel the subtle combination of movements in the arm, elbow and wrist needed to keep the bow straight. Then try without the tube on the violin.

I don't think clip-on devices or guides stuck into the f-holes are much use.

Thanks for your replies. It seems fairly conclusive that the devices aren't a good idea. Kerioboe - Yes, my pupils all have the same problems but I know what to do with cellists!!!

I liked the suggestion with the kitchen roll tube. I'll get him to give it a go.

I guess you could get some practice by rosining your bow holding it in a similar place, don't do it too much though!

Much like sticky tape on the fingerboard, an attempt short cut and quick fix a problem.

The student needs to be taught to be aware of what their arm and the bow are doing, rather than sticking an implement on the instrument that does the job without the student having to think for themselves. Take the implement away again and most times the problem will return.

Thanks Amanda. I did think of the horrible stickers when I was asking about the device!!! I think I'm just feeling a little bit torn in that on the one hand I obviously want my son to play properly and can see the obvious things that are wrong but on the other hand I don't want to interfere with what his Teacher is doing. He's doing fine though and hasn't taken his Grade 1 yet so I guess I have to be patient, take a back seat and encourage him.

Do other teachers find it difficult not to "interfere" with their own childrens' learning????