Is a shoulder rest necessary for a violin?
Is a shoulder rest necessary for a violin?
Technically it is not necessary to use a shoulder rest. But it really makes playing a lot more comfortable. If you find yourself needing to raise your left shoulder to hold the violin, then you need a shoulder rest.
What is a shoulder rest for violin?
What Does a Violin Shoulder Rest Do? The shoulder rest attaches to the back of the violin and rests on the shoulder and collarbone. Its purpose is twofold: It makes the violin comfortable to play for long durations, enabling proper posture and preventing injury.
Why do some violinists not use a 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.
How much does a violin shoulder rest cost?
Price: Shoulder rests can range anywhere from $10 to $70, but we recommend most students spend about $20-30 on a quality shoulder rest.
What can I use instead of a shoulder rest?
Here are some of the materials that we used:
- Anti-slip sheet rubber. Strangely enough, these sheets of anti-slip rubber were one of the equipment staples during and after the project.
- “Eprex” Balls.
- Violin sponges.
- Foam rubber.
- Miscellaneous materials: chamois leather, wool and cleaning sponges.
Why does my shoulder hurt when I play violin?
Having a high shoulder rest might seem comfortable at first, but the higher you lift your violin, the higher you have to lift your bow arm. This causes tension and pain in your shoulders. If you want a higher rest for your chin, adjust your chin rest rather than your shoulder rest. 2.
Can shoulder rest damage violin?
First, the rubber feet will not allow the wood to ‘breathe’ and may damage the varnish in those spots over a long period of time. And second, the compression/pressure exerted by the shoulder rest may not be optimal for the violin’s health especially if it is old.
How do you pick a violin shoulder rest?
Things to consider when picking out a shoulder rest include finding one that is made from a material you find comfortable, does not affect the sound you want to get from your instrument, and fits your body type.
Are all violin shoulder rests the same?
Naturally, each violin player will gravitate towards another shoulder rest choice. Even though there is no one-size-fits all solution, there are a few rests on the market that work for a lot of my colleague violinists and students.
How do I choose a shoulder rest?
Aspects such as your shoulder breadth, and neck height are crucial in choosing a shoulder rest that provides comfort and matches your body. Most shoulder rests, however, will be adjustable and also provide a curve where your shoulder is supposed to fit for extra comfort.
Does violin hurt 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.