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Just How Necessary Is the Shoulder Rest in Violins/violas ?
Does every violin/viola player use a shoulder rest ?? If not, I don’t understand why not, because it seems extremely uncomfortable to be without one, and we’re all humans built in about the same way…
I am starting to play the violin and unfortunately my teacher doesn’t care how I hold the violin or how I feel with it, so it would be nice to get some advice from other sources.
Anything I should know about the shoulder rest ??
Tags: violins/violas, rest, necessary, just, Shoulder
Once upon a time no violins or violas had shoulder rests – it is a comparitively recent phemonenon. Its main purpose is to make playing more comfortable by not having to hold the instrument on the shoulder with so narrow a space to hold on to with the chin.
Today it is accepted practice to have shoulder rest (apart from period-instrument performers) and you need to be fitted for one rather like your foot needs to have a shoe fitted. Go to a decent violin shop and they should be able to supply you with one which suits you and your instrument.
Your teacher should be ashamed for taking money from you for not taking great care about how you hold your instrument or how you feel about it. Holding it badly can lead to discomfort, muscle strain and even serious injury. Dump him/her and find a decent teacher.
If your teacher doesn’t care how you hold the violin or how you feel with it, why go to that teacher? Your teacher is supposed to take care of you and protect you. Of course, I’m referring to a private teacher. If you mean your public school teacher, that’s a different matter. Find a private teacher.
But no; everyone doesn’t use a shoulder rest. But I think it’s safe to say that most players do. “How you feel” is the real deciding factor. I’d get a KUN and use that; you will enjoy playing much more and feel much better. See:
Shoulder Rests
http://beststudentviolins.com/survival.html#shoulderrests
if you dont have a shoulder rest then it’ll be hard for you to grip the violin properly between your chin and your shoulder (unless you have a very short neck?). and it gives more comfort. When you’ve tried with and without a shoulder rest you’ll know. (= hope this helped
Shoulder rests are good because they keep your violin on your shoulder and its more comfortable. It keeps it up and its more in tune that way, if you didn’t have on, it would be more difficult to hold it up. your wrist would be collapsed on the neck and your fingers would slide. Shoulder rests are as necessary as underwear. :)