I either teach this during the Minuets in Book 1 or during Hunters' Chorus in Book 2, depending on the student. Both of these pieces benefit from loose right hand knuckle movement, and the ability to "catch" the bow in your hand after taking a short up bow. Here's how to practice:
- take a handkerchief, rag, or some piece of cloth in your hand. Hold it lightly with all fingers and thumb.
- fling the hanky from your hand, straightening all fingers and thumb.
- pick up the hanky, curving all fingers and thumb.
- practice the same motions (straightening and curving fingers/thumb) without the hanky.
- practice the same motions while holding your bow in the air or while resting it on the strings of the violin.


To use in Minuets or Hunters' Chorus to catch the bow in the hand after a short up bow:
- prepare for the up bow by making sure the elbow is relaxed and "dangly". Place the bow on the string somewhere in the lower half. Near the balance point is a good place, but experiment!
- nudge the bow by dipping the elbow in towards your body.
- as the bow moves, "pick up the hanky" with your fingers so that the bow ends up just barely off the string.
- experiment: as you nudge the elbow more quickly, you can "toss" the bow up with the elbow, and "catch" it with your hanky fingers.
These are some places in Minuet 1 and Hunters' Chorus; in Minuets, you can try this any time you have 2 up bows next to each other.

