2/21/25 The Groove Proficiency System (GPS)

I’ve been teaching the Strum Bowing Method since I first came up with it over 20 years. I’ve had students that take to it like a fish to water. And I’ve had students that struggle.

Over the years, I noticed that there were a few “tricks” that I was using to solve different challenges that come up for different players.

To play grooves on strings, we first have to know what we want it to sound like and then we have to get our hands to replicate that sound.

The only way to do this is to internalize that groove—in our bodies and in our mind.

So, the first thing we do is vocalize the groove. Scat it or boombox it.

“Hum It”

Along with vocalizing it, we are also going to make sure we are grooving with our whole bodies, including subdividing the beat in our bow arm.

“Strum It”

Then we are going to make sure we clearly know where the accents of the groove fall in terms of the bow direction. We’re going to say the bow direction as a lyric.

“Say It”

This simple process creates a powerful matrix that unites our voice, our body and our brain, because grooves are physical things—they are as much about the way we are moving as they are the sound we are making. Rhythmic music is a by-product of rhythmic movement.

A groove is what dance sounds like.

This has been the most foolproof way to get any student grooving.

Hum It
Strum It
Say It
Play It

GPS for strings. It will navigate you to the right bowing for any groove.