Why do some violinists not use shoulder rest?

Why do some violinists not use shoulder rest?

Holding a violin without a shoulder rest will allow you to play better in tune with less practice. It will also allow your sound to become richer, deeper, and more natural. Finally, it will allowy you to play with less tension and become almost immediately more comfortable.

Do pro violinists use shoulder rests?

Also the choice whether or not to use them is highly personal. There are fantastic violinists playing without shoulder rest and there are fantastic violinists playing with shoulder rest. If there would be ONE ideal shoulder rest (or none), every single soloist would use it.

Do I need a chin rest for my violin?

You don’t really need a chin rest or a shoulder rest. If you will notice, the great concert violinists just use a cloth to separate the chin from the fiddle. They eliminate the “foreign mass” that hinders tone and volume. I use a chin rest but NO SHOULDER REST.

Why do some violinists use a cloth?

Many violinists that I know use some sort of cloth over their chinrest in order to improve comfort and absorb perspiration. It most likely also protects the instrument’s varnish from some wear and helps to prevent the instrument suddenly shifting around in performance.

What is a violin hickey?

Also known as fiddler’s neck, violin hickeys are red marks that appear on violinists’ necks for a variety of reasons. One of the more common reasons these spots appear is length of practice time, making them a badge of honor for both amateur and professional players.

Is playing the violin bad for your neck?

Violinists have twice as much risk of developing pain in the neck, right shoulder and left forearm, when compared with pianists. Violists and violinists have a higher incidence of pain in the neck, shoulder, elbow and forearm than pianists. 25.5% of the 235 musicians reported cervical and shoulder pain.

How do you hold a violin without a chinrest?

Place the fiddle on your collar bone, with the chin a little to the right of the tailpiece – not, as is conventional in modern playing, to the left – but not touching the violin. The head is completely free. No attempt should be made to put the chin down on the violin.

How do you pick a chin rest for a violin?

If you play with your chin centered over the tailpiece and the instrument higher up on your shoulder, you should choose something like the Flesch or Zitsman. However, most hold their violin with their chin off to the side and one of the other styles might work best.

Do violinists have neck problems?

Violinists have twice as much risk of developing pain in the neck, right shoulder and left forearm, when compared with pianists. Violists and violinists have a higher incidence of pain in the neck, shoulder, elbow and forearm than pianists.

Do violinists develop neck problems?

Do all violins have chin rests?

Some musicians can take any violin, use whatever chin rest is on it, and be perfectly happy. Most violinists and violists, though, need to find the right fit based on their personal anatomy and playing style. Head, neck, and shoulder anatomies vary widely, so when it comes to chin rests, one size does not fit all.

Do violinists get scoliosis?

Unfortunately, a lot of violinists and violists DO have pain related to some degree of scoliosis of the spine. Problems can show up as back, neck, shoulder, or other pain.