Things 4 Strings®
Teacher-designed bow-hold accessories created by ASTA educators Ruth and Martha Brons to help beginners develop a relaxed, natural bow hold. Designed to reinforce good finger placement between lessons and support players from age 3 through to adult.
Teacher-designed bow-hold accessories.
Why teachers use Things 4 Strings
Choose the right bow-hold aid
Bow Hold Buddies®
Bow Hold Buddies® — Bright Blue
A two-piece set comprising the Frog and Hold Fish®. Together they position and support the fingers to create an immediate, relaxed bow hold without preventing normal contact with the bow stick.
- Ages: 3–Adult
- Fit: adjustable and suitable for all bow sizes
- Helps prevent the thumb, index finger and pinky from wandering
- Encourages a relaxed hand and ready bow arm
- Medical-grade silicone, latex-free and dishwasher safe
- Supplied mounted on a Things 4 Strings® pencil
Hold Fish®
Hold Fish® — Concert Black
A single bow-hold accessory designed to support the pinky, guiding it just behind the top of the stick.
- Sloped opening allows flexible finger motion
- Slides beside the ring finger for a customised position
- Ages: 3–Adult
- Fit: all bow sizes
- Medical-grade silicone, latex-free and dishwasher safe
CelloPhant®
CelloPhant® — Purple Raspberry
The elephant-shaped CelloPhant® is designed to encourage a relaxed and flexible cello bow hold. Its tactile reference points help the player find consistent finger positions.
- Toenails and legs provide tactile finger reference points
- The trunk circle guides the thumb towards the frog-stick intersection
- Alternative thumb placement can be used for very young hands
- Ages: 3–Adult
- Fits all bow sizes
- Adds a small amount of weight to assist early tone production
- Latex-free and dishwasher safe
Designed to reinforce good habits
Things 4 Strings accessories are designed to help reinforce the hand shape and finger positions being taught by the teacher. They can be particularly useful with young beginners, group teaching and Suzuki-based tuition, while remaining suitable for older students and adults.
Players, teachers & trade customers
Things 4 Strings products are available through music shops and specialist retailers. If you're having difficulty finding a product or colour, we can help.
Existing trade customers can order directly from AR Distribution or request current pricing and availability.
Bow Hold Buddies, Hold Fish & CelloPhant — customer reviews
“Great help for children to play more naturally and relaxed.”
“The original Things 4 Strings Bow Hold Buddies is the ONLY bow grip learning aid that meets all these demands and is really helpful.”
“A FANTASTIC idea designed to help students develop their bow hold with ease, with the assistance of some buddies.”
“It helped me to keep my hold on the bow in place and this has helped me to focus more on my wrist flexibility.”
“A very useful and fun invention for the beginner players.”
“The CelloPhant is particularly useful in helping the beginner cellos to produce a respectable tone.”
