About
Surf Bow
Surf Bow was created by violinist and acclaimed pedagogue Danielle Belen as a fun and effective way to teach high-level bowing concepts to her class of advanced violinists at the University of Michigan.
Surf Bow works for all ages and levels. It provides a simple, memorable focal point for lessons and practice, helping everyone from beginners to college students and beyond build better bow control and technique.
WHY DO I NEED ONE?
LEVEL-UP YOUR PLAYING
THE BOW IS YOUR FRIEND
Surf Bow draws your attention to what matters most—how you interact with your bow.
When you practice, it's easy to focus almost entirely on your left hand. But learning to pay equal attention to your bow can transform your playing.
With Surf Bow, you'll develop:
Straight bow awareness—even without using a mirror.
More consistent bow speed and bow distribution.
Awareness of unnecessary tension, so you stop squishing, squeezing and tilting the bow without realizing it.
A freer, more resonant sound by allowing the stick of the bow to vibrate naturally.
The ability to self-evaluate, so you can see and feel what's happening even when you're practicing on your own.
The result? A better sound—and even better intonation.
Why? Because great left-hand technique can only shine when it's supported by healthy, efficient bowing. Surf Bow helps eliminate right-hand habits like squeezing, twisting, and unnecessary tension that can quietly undermine everything you've worked so hard to achieve.
Read on to discover how Surf Bow can change the way you practice—and the way you play.
WHY is this so important?
FLAT BOW HAIR
Flat Bow Hair is a concept that most teachers know is important, but most students have a very difficult time fully embracing it, or understanding the right hand thumb technique behind it. A student's attention is often on other aspects of playing (like that pesky left hand!) Surf Bow puts the focus right on the bow, and the results are astounding.
Why does is matter?
Contrary to the typical explanation that one must use FBH in order to utilize all the hair on the bow, the real reason is more complex. Think more about the orientation of the stick itself, placing it centered over the hair, rather than a tilted, compromised position.
It's much more about the role of the thumb balance and looseness in the right hand and fingers. It takes those skills to keep the stick upright and with an opening between the hair and the stick, enabling vibrations and a bigger sound.
FBH is most important for building our soloistic playing - it might not be needed often within an orchestra, but the skill you develop in you right thumb will benefit you anywhere, anytime, even when you play with different sound colors!
See video below for what this technique really looks like from the perspective of a soloist.