Emily Ricks Violin School
G o l d e n E r a
Bow Technique Tutorials
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Free Training Session
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Learn Bow Technique of the Great Masters
of the
GOLDEN ERA
Welcome to the Free Training
Join me to unlock the beautiful, rich tone production you've always dreamed of!
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"Learning Golden-Era technique with Emily was not always easy, but it ultimately transformed my playing in a profound way. I learned how to relax my bow arm to create a rich, full tone on my instrument." -Matt
"Before I started with Emily, I wanted to quit the violin. I didn't like my sound quality and was frustrated with even my best efforts. I went from absolutely dreading every minute to being willing to practice and excited about the sound I could create!" -Sophia
"Emily's dedication to her students goes far beyond the traditional role of a teacher. Her mastery of the Golden Era bow technique has transformed my children's playing. Under her direction, they have learned to produce a beautiful sound that has motivated them to push ahead and tackle more and more challenging material" - Celeste
What You'll Learn In This Course
Section #1: The Basics
Welcome: Overview and Background
Introduction: Technique Evolution and Critique
Lesson 1: Natural Arm Weight
Lesson 2: Holding the Bow
Lesson 3: Holding the Violin
Lesson 4: Elbow Levels and Hinges
Lesson 5: Stabs and Jabs
Lesson 6: Tilt and Resting Bowarm
Section #2: Standard Bow Techniques
Lesson 7: Detaché and Martelé
Lesson 8: How to Draw the Long Bow
Lesson 9: Bow Distribution
Lesson 10: Piano and pp
Lesson 11: Legato and Portato
Lesson 12: Colé
Lesson 13: Double-Stops
Lesson 14: Chords
Section #3: Advanced Bow Techniques
Lesson 15A: Spiccato
Lesson 15B: Spiccato Variables
Lesson 16A: Sautillé
Lesson 16B: Sautillé Variables
Lesson 17: Staccato (Up-Bow), Ricochet
Supplemental Material
Tuning the Violin: How to tune the violin using the pegs using only one hand.
Your FAQs: What will they be??
Tips on Navigating the course and community: Make the most of this community of thriving violinists.
Regular Price *Coming Soon*
$480
You're An Early Bird!
Early Launch Members
$360
You'll get 20+ Modules for LESS than the cost of 4 private lessons!
Meet Your Instructor
Emily Richards Ricks has held a lifelong passion for violin performance and pedagogy. Feeling much gratitude to teachers that have impacted her each in a unique way, she strives to instill in her students an appreciation for the legacy they inherit from those who have gone before. Emily began her study of violin under the direction of her mother, Cynthia Vance Richards. From age 12, Emily studied with Barbara Williams and subsequently Elaine Richey at the North Carolina School of the Arts. Emily earned her Bachelor of Violin Performance studying with renowned violinists, Igor and Vesna Gruppman. Emily has performed as a soloist with various orchestras across the United States, and has trained students to win various concerto competitions in addition to orchestra and college entrance auditions. Emily loves teaching violin and playing chamber music with her sisters and friends. She resides in the Eastern USA, where she enjoys spending time with her husband and five children.
Member Exclusive Private Community
Amazing Bonuses
Private Community: Get all your questions answered daily so you are never second guessing or wasting time!
Customized Course: The course will be built around your specific needs as an early adopter. This is something that folks will not get to experience with the finished course!
Early-Bird Bonuses: Steep Member Discounts on Private Consultation!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to combine aspects of Golden Era Technique with my Franco-Belgian Bowhold?
I know some professionals who feel like they have accomplished this; incorporating principles of natural arm weight into their Franco-Belgian bow technique. However, I don't recommend attempting this when approaching these tutorials. They are truly only built for those of you who are "all in." PLEASE only purchase the tutorials if you are completely committed to trying this approach 100%, which means changing your bow hold and giving it plenty of time to see if you like it. Otherwise, you may be disappointed and discouraged that it didn't work for you.
I DEFINITELY don't want that!
Can I learn about your fantastic Vibrato and Shifting in these tutorials?
Not yet, but they will be coming in the future! This set of tutorials strictly covers bow technique; with the exception of one module on teaching your student to hold the violin, and another on tuning the violin with the pegs.
I will create a different set of tutorials for Left Hand Technique. Perhaps separate courses for Vibrato and Shifting. There is so much to cover. Anything is possible!
What skill level is this program for?
Because these tutorials are designed for adult violin students and violin teachers, they outline the specific details of bow technique starting from the very first day and offer rich knowledge for any skill level. The only pre-requisite is a desire to enrich your tone using this specific technical approach.
Should I invest in these tutorials if I am currently with a different private teacher?
I love you, but PLEASE DON'T. Unless your teacher has recommended these tutorials and suggested you engage in them together, the likelihood that your teacher will be excited about you learning from me is very low.
I have worked very hard to wade through the dissenting opinions and in some cases, animosity that persists between different schools of violin technique. My mission of seeking good will, and calling for professionalism and respect regardless of technical approach is very important to me. The last thing I need is for your private teacher to feel competitive toward me or threatened by me. Thank you for asking!
Can't I learn all of this on Youtube?
There are a couple of reasons why the answer to this is 'No.'
First, most other violinists offering technique online are only teaching the mainstream Franco-Belgian approach. Do you know of anyone teaching 'Russian' technique in online tutorials? If so, please let me know. I would love to talk to them!
Second, I created these tutorials to work as a cohesive whole, with each module building on the one that came before. It is actually imperative that you watch the tutorials in order, so that the foundational concepts are absorbed before you try to play.
Don't get me wrong. I've done a tone of trouble-shooting video production on YouTube, which was indeed helpful. But YouTube would not have been enough to teach me everything I needed to create this course. (Shoutout to my filmmaking instructors at ContentCreator.com, you guys are amazing!)
With so many different violin teachers on YouTube, each with their own signature style and opinion, it's a bit like trying to make puzzle pieces from different puzzles fit together. I'm afraid the results are just not effective or desirable. Also, it takes a TON of time, with huge potential for confusion and misery.
Who Is This Course For?
Adult Violinists who want to produce AMAZING tone.
Violin Teachers who crave specific tools to get your students sounding confident and beautiful.
Violinists looking for solutions to play without tension, pain or fatigue.
Violinists wanting to learn how advanced bow techniques like Spiccato, Sautille and Cole are possible (even easier) with "Russian" technique.
Anyone with previous "Russian" training, looking for a refresher.
What Categories Do We Focus On?
Glorious tone production
Tension, pain and fatigue-free bow technique
Configuration of the entire bowarm: How to get it to work cohesively
Standard Bow Techniques: Make your playing project, even in pp.
Advanced Bow Techniques
And so much more!
Who Is This Course NOT For?
Children
Violinists who are happy with their tone production
Violin students engaged in private lessons with another teacher (unless your teacher has indicated that they want you to learn from these tutorials)
Violinists who are happy with their own Franco-Belgian approach
Violinists looking for details on Left Hand Technique. (Check back in 2025)
Violin teachers looking for a pedagogical sequence of repertoire.
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