To loosen his wrist, the child should practise scales and bow strokes with his arm touching the cello, or make a hook of his wrist.
This exercise is helpful if care is taken to see that the tip of the bow does not wander. It must move practically straight.
The finger joints should be supple. Put a finger of the cello-hand on top of the bow hand and then try to lift the bow only using the fingers of the bow-hand.
The child can do this at mealtimes, by putting his wrist on the table and then lifting his knife up and putting it down again, as if it was a bow.
“Piccadilly Circus” should be practised first with a lot of bow, and then less and less and staccato.
The wrist is slapped with the cello-hand and is left to bounce until the bow is still (the wrist must be very flexible). The same is then done controlling the wrist movements.
This is a game, but it is also a new way to learn the “balzato” – children usually get the idea very soon.
