Archery and String Playing

Shooting arrows with a bow and playing musical sounds on bowed strings have many similarities, and insights can be gained by examining their relationship. Let’s look at a few of these.

What do archery and string playing have in common?

The violin bow functions somewhat like an arrow and the violin strings are similar to the bowstring in archery.

For their greatest success, both activities require, among other things, calm and focused concentration, excellent posture, precise form with lack of tension, balanced use of left and right arms in different but complimentary functions, and a constant refinement of aim.

Archery and intonation

Picture the process in archery of aiming an arrow at a target. Once you release the arrow, you can no longer control where that arrow arrives—you need to adjust your aim for the next shot in order to get closer to the target.

In string playing, controlling where your left hand fingers drop onto the string to produce notes in tune is a similar process. Each time you play a note on your instrument, you must listen to how much you need to adjust where you are aiming, so that your intonation improves and becomes more reliable.

Violin bows and archery arrows

The bow drawn across the string on a stringed instrument functions quite similarly to the arrow being shot from the archery bowstring.

In archery it is very important for both arms to be positioned in a single straight line when at full draw, then, with a correctly positioned bow and arrow, releasing the string in such a way that the arrow travels smoothly, thus achieving the greatest power from the bowstring with the least amount of disruption and turbulence. The arrow then will move in the straightest line possible with maximum speed in order to reach the target with the greatest control.

In string playing, this is related to the bow being drawn perfectly parallel to the bridge and perpendicular to the string with a relaxed bow arm and hand, along with other factors.

To produce the optimal vibration of the string, you also need to use the correct combination of weight, contact point on the string, and bow speed, resulting in a resonant and beautiful tone.

Such mistakes as having an alignment of the violin bow that is crooked or pressing into the string would produce an undesirable tone, much in the same way that a misaligned archery position or an awkward release of the bowstring would have a negative effect on the arrow’s flight.

Full bows in string playing and full draw in archery

String players getting started in archery should find a familiar feeling in pulling the archery bow to a full draw. The shape of the arm when at full draw when preparing to shoot an arrow is very much like the shape of the string player’s arm when the bow is at the frog. The violin player’s straightened arm in reaching the tip of the bow is also similar to the archer’s drawing arm when starting the setup process for a shot. Perhaps the slight bend in the archer’s arm at this point could be analogous to the lowered wrist in the bowing arm when at the bow tip for the violinist.

What is striking in the above examples is the great similarity in the process of actually drawing the arrow to that of pulling a down bow on the violin. This may be why string players have such success initially when they start archery.

Players of string instruments also need to develop their control at the extreme ends of the bow so that every particular part of the bow hair feels equally as comfortable as every other part. This particularly bears a relationship with the feel that the archer develops so that they feel exactly when the bow is at full draw. In the Olympic-style archery that Wes practices, a clicker on the bow tells the archer precisely when the arrow is at full draw and should be released. This has great similarity to the fine control of an advanced string player when bowing up to a millimeter of the end of the hair at either the frog or tip.

Pizzicato and archery string release

The similarities are impressive between the relaxed and smooth release of the bowstring required for good results in archery and what is required to produce a quality and musical-sounding pizzicato (plucking) on string instruments. In this case we would want to include such instruments as classical guitar, electric bass, and harp in relation to some of the principles involved.

In archery, it is crucial not to “pluck” the string, as this impedes the smoothness, speed and power of the bowstring as it impels the arrow towards its target. The archer should, at full draw, merely allow the bowstring to be released by bringing the shoulder blades together using the back muscles, at the same time relaxing the fingers on the bowstring at the moment of release. Upon release, an advanced archer’s hand and arm will rebound in a natural way towards the back of their neck.

String players similarly need to relax their pizzicato finger, avoiding any stiffness, typically using the fleshy part of the finger and avoiding contact with the nail or hooking the finger under the string. In many cases, a player will want to have an oblique or a rolling release from the string, depending on the type of tone color they want to produce. The contact point of the finger on the string will affect the sound as well. Wes advises his less advanced students to think of their pizzicato finger as a “little bow” to aid them to improve their pizzicato.

Physical benefits

Besides the insights derived by string players from doing archery due to the similarities between the two activities, an additional benefit is that archery uses a complementary set of muscles to those used in string playing.

In the playing of bowed stringed instruments, the muscles involved are basically focused on the forward movements and front part of your body, whereas in archery, the muscles involved are mostly in your back and the motion is toward the rear, the other hand pushing against but not grasping the grip of the bow, similarly to the need to avoid squeezing the neck of the violin. Archery also develops specific muscles between the shoulder blades and the lower back, which especially come into play in coming to full draw and subsequently releasing the arrow. This is of enormous benefit to string players, so both sets of muscles are developed in a complementary way.

Archery, done properly, also encourages relaxation and control of the tension needed in certain muscles at the proper time, the same way that relaxation and control of muscle tensions is required for good string playing.

Psychological and neurological benefits

Successful string playing requires calm concentration to control the many intricate functions that need to occur. Archery helps to develop that calm concentration. Placing yourself in the role of “participatory observer” can be helpful to both activities. Archery trains the archer to pay attention to the quality of their effort, avoiding any negative self-talk. Telling yourself what you want to avoid doing has the tendency to attract the undesirable thing, whereas giving yourself the message of what you want will bring you closer to it, whether this is in archery, violin playing, or any other arena in life. String players can gain from this training for the improvement of their technical control and musical development on their instruments.

The calm focus that is necessary for archery is also beneficial to string players to help control concentration and nerves when the musician is under the stress of performing in front of others. Music can use a lot of adrenaline at times, whereas successful archery uses none. Nervousness in performance is a common problem even among very famous soloists, so effective methods to control it can be very useful.

Archery background

Wes had a little archery experience as a youth, which captured his imagination and has stayed with him throughout his life.

Six years ago he decided to learn archery seriously to gain more insights into its relationship to string playing, considering that he already had been using archery images in his violin teaching for many years. The results have been remarkably beneficial to both his performing and teaching, and his understandings from violin and viola playing and teaching have also benefited his archery.

Any string player can benefit from archery

Wes recommends to his violin and viola students that they consider gaining some archery experience, which could also be helpful to them. The benefits from doing archery can apply as well to student, amateur, and professional players of any bowed string instrument.

If you are interested in learning or trying archery, you could choose from one or more of the following options:

• Introduction to archery from Wes — not only can Wes instruct you in the basics and many of the fine points of archery, but he can also provide you with invaluable experience in how archery and bowed string playing synergize with each other.
• Next Step Archery — Seattle’s premier center for archery lessons and excellence. Located in Mountlake Terrace, Next Step Archery hosts private coaching, archery lessons, group lessons, video training, private parties and mini-camps in the summer.
• The Nock Point — Indoor archery shooting center and pro shop, located next door in the same building. The Nock Point rents archery equipment that you can shoot at their indoor practice range. They have friendly and helpful staff who will set you up with the proper equipment and can give you pointers to help you get started.

Next Step Archery
Greater Seattle’s Archery Education Center
22313 70th Ave W, Suite U1A
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043
(425) 977-2770
www.nextsteparchery.org

The Nock Point
Indoor Archery Range & Pro Shop
22313 70th Ave W, Suite U5A
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043
(425) 672-8080
www.thenockpoint.com

Wes’s blog post on archery:

The Relationship of Archery to String Playing

A post from 2014 with Wes’s thoughts and reactions after having spent a few months doing archery.

Blog posts on violinist.com:

Violin and Archery

A detailed post in 2006 by Rebecca Darnall on the topic.

Archery and Violin Playing

You can read in the comments of this 2006 post by D Kurganov one of Wes’s Seattle Symphony colleagues, Gennady Filimonov, mentioning The Archery Project at the Keshet Eilon violin program in Israel. Former Seattle Symphony concertmaster Emma McGrath participated in that program and discussed it with Wes around the time he was beginning his archery training.

Suggested reading

The Violin: An Illustrated History by Yehudi Menuhin

A lavishly illustrated history of the worlds most popular stringed instrument, fittingly narrated by one of the finest virtuoso violinists the world has ever known. The Violin charts the journey of the violin from its origins in the bow and arrow through to the legendary Stradivarius. Yehudi Menuhin introduces us to the astounding richness of the voice of the violin, whose appearance in ethnic music from East and West, popular and folk music, classical and jazz, has established its repertoire upon an interdependence of many musical genres. Menuhin weaves the history of the violin with his own incredible career, sharing memories of composers such as Stravinsky, Bartók, and Elgar, and of fellow performers Fritz Kreisler, Bruno Walter, Stéphane Grappelli, and Ravi Shankar.

Archery: Steps to Success by Kathleen M. Haywood and Catherine F. Lewis

Master the skills, techniques, and strategies in order to shoot accurately, consistently, and safely. Archery: Steps to Success is packed with progressive instruction and accompanying full-color photos. This one-of-a-kind resource contains exercises for each phase of the shot—stance, draw, aim, release, and follow-through—for both recurve and compound bows.

Archery: Steps to Success covers these aspects: • Selection, fitting, tuning, and upgrading equipment • Assessing, refining, and perfecting shooting form • Compensating for common weather conditions such as rain and wind • Technical and mental exercises for improved accuracy • Preparing, practicing, and planning for competition • Bow hunting strategies for judging distance and shooting on uneven terrain • Traditional archery for those wanting to use simple equipment rather than the latest technology

By practicing the 93 exercises and using the Steps to Success scoring system to track your progress, you’ll learn at your own pace and develop consistent technique and shot patterns in no time.

Whether you are new to the sport or an experienced competitor or bow hunter, this manual will help you hit your mark. As part of the popular Steps to Success Sports series—with more than 2 million copies sold—Archery Steps to Success hits the bull’s-eye when it comes to comprehensive archery instruction.

Archery: Think and Shoot Like a Champion by Terry Wunderle

Author Coach Terry Wunderle shares mental techniques used by his students to win over 350 national and world championships. This how-to book is written to help 3-D, target, NASP, and field archers, as well as hunters. It teaches methods and concepts for good form and mental control that are needed to be successful. Readers will find practical solutions to typical problems that archers face. About the Author: Terry Wunderle is one of the most successful coaches in the world. His students have won over 350 national and world championships and have set over 450 national and world records. His mental techniques are successfully being used by athletes in archery, as well as other sports.

Total Archery: Inside the Archer by KiSik Lee

KiSik Lee has again revolutionized the archery world with his second installment of the Total Archery series. Inside the Archer provides a unique perspective into the highly detailed world of Olympic archery through 28 carefully written chapters. Each chapter focuses on a new technique element, beautifully laid out with large, full-color photos and diagrams that supplement the words of the text in graphical form.

Inside the Archer is written as a collaboration between the teacher, Lee, and the student, Benner. The co-authorship creates an intriguing blend of impacting lessons from Lee and curious inquisitiveness from Benner. Never before has archery taken on such a lively form as Lee and Benner speak about archery with such passion and enthusiasm it pours out of the pages.

Inside the Archer speaks with a warmth that will remind any archer, past or present, why he loves this age old sport.

Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel

The path to achieving Zen (a balance between the body and the mind) is brilliantly explained by Professor Eugen Herrigel in this timeless account. This book is the result of the author’s six year quest to learn archery in the hands of Japanese Zen masters. It is an honest account of one man’s journey to complete abandonment of “the self” and the Western principles that we use to define ourselves. Professor Herrigel imparts knowledge from his experiences and guides the reader through physical and spiritual lessons in a clear and insightful way. Mastering archery is not the key to achieving Zen, and this is not a practical guide to archery. It is more a guide to Zen principles and learning and perfect for practitioners and non-practitioners alike.

Photography credits

Archer photos: Dan Conway
Target and bow rack photos: Wes Dyring

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