Thank you! Finally, someone who actually showed us how to utilize the shoulder rest without talking about herself for three-quarters of the tape. You are so helpful and I appreciate your common sense approach to using a shoulder rest.
Thank you so much!! I do ramble on a bit too much in my videos...something to work on! Thank you so much for your comment and I'm so glad you stopped by :)
Just got one of these today. WOW! For the first time ever the violin stays on my shoulder without my having to bend my neck at a painful angle and hunch my shoulder. SOOOO much better than anything else I've tried.
I really like your collection of colorful cloths or hankerchiefs covering your chin rest to keep it soft and comfortable for your chin while you play your songs.
This is the first time that I've heard of a detailed reason, as to why we try to position the violin the way we do.Makes so much more sense. Thank you.
An attorney never represents himself in a court of law. A doctor doesn't diagnose him/herself, but receiving such insightful instruction on violin playing in comfort may lead all into fashioning ourselves into the highest of all art, allowing a violinist and violist represent themselves in the highest tradition of playing onstage to really great patrons. Byeee Deary
Thanks! I'm an old fiddler and your video helped me a great deal. I purchased the same set-up as you, and my sore wrist and neck have improved. Thank-you Again. dan
WOW! thanks so much for your tips. I am a beginner, and I was about to give up playing, after realizing it would be impossible to hold the violin and use my left-hand fingers to play - it was not working. I just bought my first shoulder rest and things got so much better. But after watching your video, I now really know I'm gonna have to find a shoulder rest till the violin sits on my shoulder like it does on yours in your video (2:23 in your video). So, again - super thanks. THis is Alexandre Ramos, from Sao Paulo - Brazil, 59.
Great demonstration of using a violin shoulder rest. By the way, she demos the Wittner Hypoallergenic (side mount) chin rest and Bon Musica shoulder rest.
Hi! I have broken free from the shoulderwrest I have recently played my very best Sebilious vibrato introduction and it was without a shoulder rest. I found the shoulder rest interfered with bow exchange. I didn't like being locked in! By a shoulder rest. I'm perfectly comfortable without one. Still I do agree They help with support and getting the thumb to relax. But when I play and sound as good as I did the other day without one I know it's time to break free from the tow rope of the shoulder rest. It's like being a glider and breaking free from the tow plane. Just wanted you to know. Your humble student here in Oregon, chris. Bye for now!
Currently I have removed my chin rest and shoulder rest and . Am mailing Paganini. I ALSO AM IN AGREEMENT WITH Menuhin, whom I seldom see using a shoulder rest. IUNDERSTAND THE MODERN KITSCH IS TO USE A SHOULDER REST. AND I AM IN AG poREEMENT THAT A REALY LOOSE THUMB DEPENDS on a shoulder rest. I AM THINKING ABOUT REINSTALLING MY CHIN AND SHOULDER RESTS.
You had to bend that rest so it didn't sit where your angel wings were attached!! Over a year of playing and I'm still fighting shoulder rest and a proper fit! Thanks again sweetest girl; God bless!!
Well the Strad magazine just put out an article on why you should not use a shoulder rest. One being it interferes with the technic of the left hand. Heifetz would not allow a student to have one in his classroom. I just started this week learning without it. I can tell the difference. It's a little tougher to hold but my playing skills are easier to achieve.
My shoulder rest progression: none >Resonans>Bon Musica>none. My only stability aid is a sling, which keeps the thing from swinging forward and from slipping away from my neck. Cost: under $4 for a long strip of cloth and 50” of string. I’ve drastically reduced my neck tension. FYI, it takes 2.5-3 lb of weight on the chin rest to lift the scroll if using a shoulder rest, and you can’t look away or something might drop. Since my left hand has to be up anyways, I assigned it the job of lifting the violin.
I first started experimenting with my shoulder rest a few months ago when I started learning vibrato. My teacher told me that I would need a real shoulder rest for extra support, so I got one for 14 dollars. It took me four months to get my shoulder rest to where I could really play and not worry about pain… but now I’m starting to learn to play the viola and I’m trying to find a better fit. Thank you for this! I have asked around so many times but no one’s explained it this deeply before.
Bonmusica shoulder rest was the best buy ever. I noticed improvement in my left-hand playing immediately. It feels more relaxed and I noticed that I had to compensate with my left hand, as I had to make sure my violin stays in place all the time. I am tall and slim, and bonmusica is a perfect fit as you can adjust it any way you want. It has extra holes, you can twist it and shape it however is more comfortable for you. I was playing with wolf forte-primo shoulder rest for years, always feeling uncomfortable and very stiff!
Great to have had you focus in on that positioning of the viola, to lock in on what will work for me, as all the rest of my playing movements are totally oriented to that and if I have to change that chin/shoulder position it would drastically reorient everything ! So important to get it as good as possible FIRST. Thanks!!
I have just started on the violin, and my shoulder rest battle has also just started. Have tried out one brand and found out that it's not high enough, although it has helped a bit. Now I'm going to order another one that is higher, and also do some adjustments to the chin rest. Thanks for your insight and tips!
I use the Bonmusica shoulder rest and it works wonders that's for sure. It's like night and day compared to anything that I've used before and I've use many. I'll definitely try the Whitner chin rest though I'm torn between that and the Wolf violin Maestro (I may try both if I don't get a good result from the first that I try). Thanks for the video it really did help me with extending my choice of chin rests and confirmed ( if any was needed - NOT) that the Bonmusica was the shoulder rest for me. Thanks again, from DownUnder Australia !!
I wish I would have seen this video before ordering the Kun collapsible shoulder rest.. I hope it works well. I ordered online yesterday, and waiting for it. By the way great video thanks.
I was suffering from neck pain after long period practices, so I searched online and saw this presentation. My long neck definitely needs this execution. now I see my chin rest was also adding to the pain. I placed an order for both items and will be getting them tomorrow. Can't wait to try them... Thanks very much for sharing your experience in such detail.
How did that work out for you, Homan? I have a Kun shoulder rest and a Kinnhalter chin rest and have found them to be awfully giving me a lot of pain. My violin slides and I've to compensate with a very bad posture and assist with my left hand to prevent the violin from falling; basically, a disaster. I'm curious to know how this setup worked for you as I've ordered the same today and will get a chance to test it out next week.
@@alexandrugheorghe5610 I think its a never ending challenge LOL. Do you have a long neck, like me? I tried a bunch and as I played more, I realized its not just the shoulder-rest. and there is not one-solution for all. Try raising the chin rest a bit and get a cloth or rubber cover over it. it may help with slipping. right now, I use a Wolf Forte-Secondo shoulder rest and I bought and installed a Wittner adjustable chin rest which helped raising it up to 6 mm. it did help me a lot. still not perfect but that's probably on me! lol To find out if any of these solutions work, before spending money, try adding cloth or a sponge to have your chin sit higher to see if the height adjustments work for you.....good luck
@@homann638 interesting. The shoulder rest you're currently using looks nice. My problem is composed.of.the two pieces. The chin rest, unfortunately, has a bump just at the edge and gives me.a.very sore jaw - definitely this one needs to go. I think is the height of the shoulder rest because if you think about it, the violin should simply just sit under your jaw comfortably and simply what you've to do (the effort) is to simply apply a *tiny bit* of pressure using the jaw by tilting a tid bit and resting on the chin rest and that should be enough (this is how I see it after watching many clips out there). That's what doesn't happen to me. For me the violin slides to one side of my body (in front of me) and I need to overwork to compensate. Clearly that won't do it and will only have me develop very bad habits (let alone not being able to even play with my left hand since it needs to support the violin from falling). So I hope that the bonmusica will allow me to hook it well and also be enough in height to keep it secure. While the new chin rest will allow my jaw to comfortably sit on the violin instead of having to struggle in keeping it secure. N.B. your shoulder rest does seem nice. P.S. my body I think is a bit different than most people's I've seen in clips on RUclips. My back, shoulder and neck are forming a trapezoid which is more associated with bodies of athletes and haven't seen many people with this format which makes me think is the main reason the current shoulder rest won't do and slips from under. I'll try the cloth for sure.
Thank you for all the tips/advice on the chin/shoulder rests and correct holding position, this is very helpful. I have been playing the violin for fun for the past 36 years and I have always had neck pain, which is becoming a major problem as I get older. I did buy the same should rest you are using about 8 years ago and have bent it up as well to make it fit better. The chin rest is a different story, I am using a Guarneri-style and it’s (I think) the main source of my pain. In shopping for a better chin rest however, I noticed all those companies that sell them, have a basic picture to describe their offering, which tells me almost nothing. As a bare minimum, they need to list the distance from the chin rest top, to the violin body directly below the rest. Ideally, I should go to a large violin store and try out several chin rests but, the nearest one is about 50 miles away. Again, thanks for posting this helpful video, it’s helping me to better understand what to look for in solving my problem.
If you watch Maxim Vengerov, he tends to play mostly with the violin drooping down slightly, but lifts it up above the horizontal for high soaring passages! I don't see this as a problem for the bowing: if the violin strings aren't parallel to the floor, you can keep the bow in the same spot despite gravity by controlling the angle of the bow relative to the bridge. E.g. if the violin slopes down, on a down bow, bow hairs should be further from the bridge on the E string side than on the G string side. The opposite is true if the violin slopes up or on an up-bow. I tend to have a problem that I cannot avoid my violin sloping down, due to length of neck and shoulder shape. I'm pretty sure I haven't got the best set-up, but bow control is not an issue.
I used the Bon Musica for a couple of years, but without extra wrapping as you show here. It slipped off the instrument a few times and scratched my viola while i was playing loud and fast.The wrapping is a good ideafor another reason, too, because the rubber on the rest did not stay put on the cotton shirts I wear. After a couple of years I went back to the Kun foldable rest and it was as if the Bon Musica rest had trained me in a better posture so I no longer needed the bigger rest. You must be quite petite, because I could never get the largest Bon Musica to actually hook over my shoulder like that. You are so right about the search for a good rig being never ending. I am thinking about trying the Wittner chin rest now to take uo the last bit of wiggle in my set up.
I am practicing without shoulder rest so unable to shift and do a good vibrato.and good string crossing. after watching your video I am going to get a shoulder rest. Thank you for your nice video.
Incredibly helpful video! Thanks so much! I’m just learning and have had issues with just how to hold/position it. I have osteoarthritis in my neck as well as two bones fused together, so my neck mobility is a bit impaired, all that results in me trying to find a shoulder rest that works for me lol. I’m going to try this one!
Just seen this v useful video but can you tell me the brand of that flexible shoulder rest, please. You say the name in the video but I cannot hear clearly the brand and model. I have a lot of issues with finding a good fit shoulder rest so would like to try that one. Thanks
Hello, retired guy here. Since 5th grade I wanted to learn to play the violin but things got in the way. Retired now with plenty of time to learn. Taking lessons 9 months now. I have the bonmusica shoulder rest and I want to wrap it like you have your’s. Can you tell me how to wrap/build up my bonmusica so it will look like your’s? Thank you so much!!
I started playing violin 3 days ago and it's hard! My el cheapo violin only came with a chin rest, no shoulder rest included :( The fact fact that I am rather thin and have a longish neck isn't helping either... I'll make sure to buy one soon. BTW you're gorgeous & thanks for the tips!
I think is more than important not only to "have a good posture" but work on correcting one's regular posture because on today society we all have bad postures that need correction. I've been working on that for some time now and you can notice on a matter of days/weeks how your bones moved after doing a little every day. This changes affect greatly specially if you want a natural collarbone-chin balance angle.. I've tried already a couple chin rests, no shoulder rest for a while and also no chinrest with shoulder rest haha The problem is that everything seems too big for me haha... the bonmusica looks pretty cool though.. you should make a partnered link from amazon everyone seems to want it now
Last week i bought a 16 inch viola without shoulder rest so i had to use a sponge, i've been playing for an hour every day, i like the instrument but really it hasn't been the best of the experiences.I saw people playing without one but on the violin so thought i didn't actually need one but it seems that for the viola is something necessary because of its weight and size.
Hey there! Well, there are varying opinions on whether or not to use a shoulder rest. I would guess that over 50% of professionals use a shoulder rest. In my opinion its a good idea to use one...comfort is everything. If you're working against your body, then you're working too hard. Its like clenching your body before trying to sprint...you probably wont get very far : ) Congrats on your new baby!! yay!
Thank you, Amber, for this very informative instructional video! I'm searching for proper fit and greater comfort, and if I may ask some questions. My chin rest shape and mounting bracket look very similar to your Wittner (although yours is dark wood, while mine is black plastic), but my chin rest is not positioned as high above the tail piece, as yours. My tail piece attachment cable, wraps over a black guide piece that lifts the tail piece above the body about 1/4" which looks too high. If you once used a centre mount chin rest, can you say if there were any disadvantages to this position compared to the side mount? I wonder if a centre mount would put less twist in the neck (so less strain and fatigue)? Your Bon Musica shoulder rest looks very interesting, with all the adjustability and your suggestions. I really like the way you have shaped the centre piece to fit you, with part of it curving over your shoulder. This looks comfortable as well as very stable, which must make the chin rest feel more stable as well. It is interesting how your shoulder rest attaches close to the chinrest, and angles across the back of the instrument instead of straight across. Is this done because it fits better this way? If someone has a long neck, would this mean making the height of the shoulder rest higher (chest side rather than shoulder side), or would it be a chin rest adjustment? Thank you very kindly! I look forward to seeing your other videos.
Joel Pettit hi there! It never hurts to try out a bunch of things :) try the center and see if you like it...try out the Wittner side mount too, it’s great.
Amber, Have you considered a 5 string violin? --as the bottom open string is the "C" then GDAE. You have 2 instruments at same time. I LOVE WATCHING YOUR VIDEOS Blue Dave.
I’d be so offended by the shallow comments on your appearance. FWIW, I’m very average looking but feel comforted that age is the great equalizer. I’m 66 years into this lifetime and haven’t looked in a mirror for at least the last twenty. Play on. Cheers.
You look like a small person; I'm pretty small, myself. My neck seems your height. I have narrow shoulders, like yours I think. But, mine are very straight. This means that I have little room to spare for a shoulder rest. One wishes to look DOWN sightly, over the violin. I've been using a Kun at its lowest setting with part of the rotating block filed down, by as much as I dared. Sponges don't work for me: they too much mute my violin. I don't use a chin rest .. there's no room for one. The violin keeps slipping. I'm really. unconfortable. I'd love to have a Bon Musica. They're expensive. I live in a remote area .... there's no way to try one. Are you at the limit as to how low you can get yours? You must, once, have tried a Kun, can you get the Musica as low? I would appreciate any advice you could give. Thanks for the good video.
also what do you thabout incredibow? please read about it if you dont know. It sounds easier to keep since it lasts so long and you dont need to rehair.
Sura Beily I have been playing one for ten years.... they are non adjustable and many fiddlers think you have a bow for a musical saw lol..but...they are light..Never break a hair....my go to bow
I seem to have a really short neck. I tried a Kun shoulder rest all the way lowered and a couple different chin rests, but the shoulder rest made the corner of my jaw hit the chin rest really uncomfortably. I’m using small sponges, but I would really love better stability. I definitely can’t hold the instrument just with my chin. Do you have any suggestions for someone with a really small neck and shoulder on a full sized instrument?
There isn’t a shoulder rest by that name. "Magic Posture" is a service from Animato Strings in Australia, which provides proper setup for the Wolf Forte Secondo shoulder rest.
KatnKeys you’re totally right! It depends on your body though, if you have longer arms it can be a better position, but I think for most people keeping it at a 45 degree angle out from the neck is best🙏🎶🎻
Thank you for the prompt response! Several weeks ago I bought a Wolf Forte Secondo, and I'm trying all of the adjustment possibilities (and making modifications to overcome some of that product's limitations), trying to achieve a good playing position. At this point, I still can't hold the viola comfortably, but I'll keep at it. Next step, if I can't make it work, is to build my own from scratch. Thanks again.
If you want to play better than you ever have before, use my new and exciting product that helps you hold the violin or viola effortlessly without the use of a shoulder rest, and without even the use of your left hand! It's called "THE CHINREST LIP". It's the evolutionary development which supports a principal that many of the greatest violinists of all time knew already---that playing without a shoulder rest is vital to playing at the highest level. Just go to my website at: www.thechinrestlip.com and read the TUTORIAL page. You can read about all the benefits that using this new and exciting product gives you.
Peter I think your advertising video on your website is terrible. But I have been experimenting with using various "lips", and I think you are actually on to something. The reason, one reason, your video is terrible is you demonstrate holding the violin up with no shoulder rest and just the lip. You say - It is easy to hold up like that - It looks like the violin is in danger of smashing down onto the floor any second.!!! It also looks like a very unnatural angle. Also your face is pointing in a strange direction, with your chin lined up with the scroll - not a position anyone would play in for long. Not surprisingly, there is no footage of you actually playing the thing with the "lip". However I am improvising various lips and going to test this out tomorrow. Some of the points you make in the video seem quite valid
Hi !! I have the same shoulder rest that you use, and my tchin rest is a Kreddle, it's magical, thats the link, have a look www.kreddle.com. For me that was the pieces that all put it together. I have 3 kinds of tchin rest and it was never good, i got tired to spend money and but 1 that do everything.
Why is it called a chin rest when it's your jaw that is resting on it and your actual chin - the one god barely gave me, unfortunately haha - isn't even touching it?! Am I the only person confused by this?! This is confounding me and I can't really move forward until someone explains this to me (my teacher seems confounded by my question!) argggghhhhhh
Is no one actually going to talk how extremely gorgeous she is? I mean, this video is very useful and informative and all that stuff, but you guys are lacking in stating the most eye catching aspect of this video 😂😂😂
as a lifelong musician and player and lover of many instruments (including the violin and cello), the most important question i have concerning this video is....what is your phone number?
Thank you! Finally, someone who actually showed us how to utilize the shoulder rest without talking about herself for three-quarters of the tape. You are so helpful and I appreciate your common sense approach to using a shoulder rest.
Thank you so much!! I do ramble on a bit too much in my videos...something to work on! Thank you so much for your comment and I'm so glad you stopped by :)
tape?
From her tone I can deduce that's she's a very nurturing teacher. We need more people like this.
Just got one of these today. WOW! For the first time ever the violin stays on my shoulder without my having to bend my neck at a painful angle and hunch my shoulder. SOOOO much better than anything else I've tried.
I really like your collection of colorful cloths or hankerchiefs covering your chin rest to keep it soft and comfortable for your chin while you play your songs.
Thank you Amber, I LOOK. FORWARD TO MORE LESSONS. IM WORKING OUT OF CHATS WITH VIOLIMISTS BY
This is the first time that I've heard of a detailed reason, as to why we try to position the violin the way we do.Makes so much more sense. Thank you.
An attorney never represents himself in a court of law. A doctor doesn't diagnose him/herself, but receiving such insightful instruction on violin playing in comfort may lead all into fashioning ourselves into the highest of all art, allowing a violinist and violist represent themselves in the highest tradition of playing onstage to really great patrons. Byeee Deary
I'm brand new to the violin and this presentation was very, very helpful. TY ~Doc
Thanks! I'm an old fiddler and your video helped me a great deal. I purchased the same set-up as you, and my sore wrist and neck have improved. Thank-you Again.
dan
yayyyyyyyyy!!
WOW! thanks so much for your tips. I am a beginner, and I was about to give up playing, after realizing it would be impossible to hold the violin and use my left-hand fingers to play - it was not working. I just bought my first shoulder rest and things got so much better. But after watching your video, I now really know I'm gonna have to find a shoulder rest till the violin sits on my shoulder like it does on yours in your video (2:23 in your video). So, again - super thanks. THis is Alexandre Ramos, from Sao Paulo - Brazil, 59.
Amber,,,You are the BEST !!!!! Right to the point,,no bullshit..... I bought one of these because of your video,,, Thank you so much !!!!
Great demonstration of using a violin shoulder rest. By the way, she demos the Wittner Hypoallergenic (side mount) chin rest and Bon Musica shoulder rest.
Hi! I have broken free from the shoulderwrest I have recently played my very best Sebilious vibrato introduction and it was without a shoulder rest. I found the shoulder rest interfered with bow exchange. I didn't like being locked in! By a shoulder rest. I'm perfectly comfortable without one. Still I do agree They help with support and getting the thumb to relax. But when I play and sound as good as I did the other day without one I know it's time to break free from the tow rope of the shoulder rest. It's like being a glider and breaking free from the tow plane. Just wanted you to know. Your humble student here in Oregon, chris. Bye for now!
Currently I have removed my chin rest and shoulder rest and . Am mailing Paganini. I ALSO AM IN AGREEMENT WITH Menuhin, whom I seldom see using a shoulder rest. IUNDERSTAND THE MODERN KITSCH IS TO USE A SHOULDER REST. AND I AM IN AG poREEMENT THAT A REALY LOOSE THUMB DEPENDS on a shoulder rest. I AM THINKING ABOUT REINSTALLING MY CHIN AND SHOULDER RESTS.
You had to bend that rest so it didn't sit where your angel wings were attached!! Over a year of playing and I'm still fighting shoulder rest and a proper fit! Thanks again sweetest girl; God bless!!
Awwwww thank you!!! Good luck 🍀 I know it can be a hard thing to find🙏🎶✨
Well the Strad magazine just put out an article on why you should not use a shoulder rest. One being it interferes with the technic of the left hand. Heifetz would not allow a student to have one in his classroom. I just started this week learning without it. I can tell the difference. It's a little tougher to hold but my playing skills are easier to achieve.
My shoulder rest progression: none >Resonans>Bon Musica>none.
My only stability aid is a sling, which keeps the thing from swinging forward and from slipping away from my neck. Cost: under $4 for a long strip of cloth and 50” of string.
I’ve drastically reduced my neck tension. FYI, it takes 2.5-3 lb of weight on the chin rest to lift the scroll if using a shoulder rest, and you can’t look away or something might drop. Since my left hand has to be up anyways, I assigned it the job of lifting the violin.
I first started experimenting with my shoulder rest a few months ago when I started learning vibrato. My teacher told me that I would need a real shoulder rest for extra support, so I got one for 14 dollars. It took me four months to get my shoulder rest to where I could really play and not worry about pain… but now I’m starting to learn to play the viola and I’m trying to find a better fit. Thank you for this! I have asked around so many times but no one’s explained it this deeply before.
Bonmusica shoulder rest was the best buy ever. I noticed improvement in my left-hand playing immediately. It feels more relaxed and I noticed that I had to compensate with my left hand, as I had to make sure my violin stays in place all the time. I am tall and slim, and bonmusica is a perfect fit as you can adjust it any way you want. It has extra holes, you can twist it and shape it however is more comfortable for you. I was playing with wolf forte-primo shoulder rest for years, always feeling uncomfortable and very stiff!
Great to have had you focus in on that positioning of the viola, to lock in on what will work for me, as all the rest of my playing movements are totally oriented to that and if I have to change that chin/shoulder position it would drastically reorient everything ! So important to get it as good as possible FIRST. Thanks!!
I have just started on the violin, and my shoulder rest battle has also just started.
Have tried out one brand and found out that it's not high enough, although it has helped a bit.
Now I'm going to order another one that is higher, and also do some adjustments to the chin rest.
Thanks for your insight and tips!
This seems like a really good set up and something that should work for me.
Thank you for so generously giving such wonderfulsound fundamental advice.
役に立った
誠にありがとうございます😊
Thanks a lot.
Though this video has been uploaded 5 years ago but it really helped me a lot
I didn’t know that shoulder rest could be bent that much. I’ll be adjusting mine tomorrow!
… very helpful! Well done!
I prefer to play with the Bonmusica shoulder rest, too! Thank You!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and expertise and always sharing awesome information .
Russ Corbett thank you!!
I use the Bonmusica shoulder rest and it works wonders that's for sure. It's like night and day compared to anything that I've used before and I've use many. I'll definitely try the Whitner chin rest though I'm torn between that and the Wolf violin Maestro (I may try both if I don't get a good result from the first that I try). Thanks for the video it really did help me with extending my choice of chin rests and confirmed ( if any was needed - NOT) that the Bonmusica was the shoulder rest for me. Thanks again, from DownUnder Australia !!
I wish I would have seen this video before ordering the Kun collapsible shoulder rest.. I hope it works well. I ordered online yesterday, and waiting for it. By the way great video thanks.
Sooo helpful, great pointers, thanks!
You are beautiful and thank you for a really great video!! Thanks again!
I was suffering from neck pain after long period practices, so I searched online and saw this presentation. My long neck definitely needs this execution. now I see my chin rest was also adding to the pain. I placed an order for both items and will be getting them tomorrow. Can't wait to try them... Thanks very much for sharing your experience in such detail.
glad it helped!!!
How did that work out for you, Homan?
I have a Kun shoulder rest and a Kinnhalter chin rest and have found them to be awfully giving me a lot of pain. My violin slides and I've to compensate with a very bad posture and assist with my left hand to prevent the violin from falling; basically, a disaster. I'm curious to know how this setup worked for you as I've ordered the same today and will get a chance to test it out next week.
@@alexandrugheorghe5610 I think its a never ending challenge LOL. Do you have a long neck, like me? I tried a bunch and as I played more, I realized its not just the shoulder-rest. and there is not one-solution for all. Try raising the chin rest a bit and get a cloth or rubber cover over it. it may help with slipping. right now, I use a Wolf Forte-Secondo shoulder rest and I bought and installed a Wittner adjustable chin rest which helped raising it up to 6 mm. it did help me a lot. still not perfect but that's probably on me! lol To find out if any of these solutions work, before spending money, try adding cloth or a sponge to have your chin sit higher to see if the height adjustments work for you.....good luck
@@homann638 interesting. The shoulder rest you're currently using looks nice. My problem is composed.of.the two pieces. The chin rest, unfortunately, has a bump just at the edge and gives me.a.very sore jaw - definitely this one needs to go. I think is the height of the shoulder rest because if you think about it, the violin should simply just sit under your jaw comfortably and simply what you've to do (the effort) is to simply apply a *tiny bit* of pressure using the jaw by tilting a tid bit and resting on the chin rest and that should be enough (this is how I see it after watching many clips out there). That's what doesn't happen to me. For me the violin slides to one side of my body (in front of me) and I need to overwork to compensate. Clearly that won't do it and will only have me develop very bad habits (let alone not being able to even play with my left hand since it needs to support the violin from falling).
So I hope that the bonmusica will allow me to hook it well and also be enough in height to keep it secure. While the new chin rest will allow my jaw to comfortably sit on the violin instead of having to struggle in keeping it secure.
N.B. your shoulder rest does seem nice.
P.S. my body I think is a bit different than most people's I've seen in clips on RUclips. My back, shoulder and neck are forming a trapezoid which is more associated with bodies of athletes and haven't seen many people with this format which makes me think is the main reason the current shoulder rest won't do and slips from under. I'll try the cloth for sure.
Thank you for all the tips/advice on the chin/shoulder rests and correct holding position, this is very helpful. I have been playing the violin for fun for the past 36 years and I have always had neck pain, which is becoming a major problem as I get older. I did buy the same should rest you are using about 8 years ago and have bent it up as well to make it fit better. The chin rest is a different story, I am using a Guarneri-style and it’s (I think) the main source of my pain. In shopping for a better chin rest however, I noticed all those companies that sell them, have a basic picture to describe their offering, which tells me almost nothing. As a bare minimum, they need to list the distance from the chin rest top, to the violin body directly below the rest. Ideally, I should go to a large violin store and try out several chin rests but, the nearest one is about 50 miles away. Again, thanks for posting this helpful video, it’s helping me to better understand what to look for in solving my problem.
If you watch Maxim Vengerov, he tends to play mostly with the violin drooping down slightly, but lifts it up above the horizontal for high soaring passages! I don't see this as a problem for the bowing: if the violin strings aren't parallel to the floor, you can keep the bow in the same spot despite gravity by controlling the angle of the bow relative to the bridge. E.g. if the violin slopes down, on a down bow, bow hairs should be further from the bridge on the E string side than on the G string side. The opposite is true if the violin slopes up or on an up-bow. I tend to have a problem that I cannot avoid my violin sloping down, due to length of neck and shoulder shape. I'm pretty sure I haven't got the best set-up, but bow control is not an issue.
Fantastica!
Really helpful, thank you
I used the Bon Musica for a couple of years, but without extra wrapping as you show here. It slipped off the instrument a few times and scratched my viola while i was playing loud and fast.The wrapping is a good ideafor another reason, too, because the rubber on the rest did not stay put on the cotton shirts I wear.
After a couple of years I went back to the Kun foldable rest and it was as if the Bon Musica rest had trained me in a better posture so I no longer needed the bigger rest.
You must be quite petite, because I could never get the largest Bon Musica to actually hook over my shoulder like that.
You are so right about the search for a good rig being never ending. I am thinking about trying the Wittner chin rest now to take uo the last bit of wiggle in my set up.
CineMutt good luck!! I know the feeling🎶
I am practicing without shoulder rest so unable to shift and do a good vibrato.and good string crossing. after watching your video I am going to get a shoulder rest. Thank you for your nice video.
Mukundan Pkandath probably bcuz you have a long neck, I had the same problem
This was super helpful!
Incredibly helpful video! Thanks so much! I’m just learning and have had issues with just how to hold/position it. I have osteoarthritis in my neck as well as two bones fused together, so my neck mobility is a bit impaired, all that results in me trying to find a shoulder rest that works for me lol. I’m going to try this one!
awesome video
You're so incredibly beautiful and competent at the same time, wow!
Just seen this v useful video but can you tell me the brand of that flexible shoulder rest, please. You say the name in the video but I cannot hear clearly the brand and model. I have a lot of issues with finding a good fit shoulder rest so would like to try that one. Thanks
Hello, retired guy here. Since 5th grade I wanted to learn to play the violin but things got in the way. Retired now with plenty of time to learn. Taking lessons 9 months now. I have the bonmusica shoulder rest and I want to wrap it like you have your’s. Can you tell me how to wrap/build up my bonmusica so it will look like your’s? Thank you so much!!
I started playing violin 3 days ago and it's hard! My el cheapo violin only came with a chin rest, no shoulder rest included :( The fact fact that I am rather thin and have a longish neck isn't helping either... I'll make sure to buy one soon. BTW you're gorgeous & thanks for the tips!
Giuseppe Zompatori good luck!!! Thank you!
Great
This was sooooo helpful! Thank you!
Well done, Amber!
Thank you!!
Extremely helpful. Thank you!
Beauty queen!!!!
I think is more than important not only to "have a good posture" but work on correcting one's regular posture because on today society we all have bad postures that need correction.
I've been working on that for some time now and you can notice on a matter of days/weeks how your bones moved after doing a little every day.
This changes affect greatly specially if you want a natural collarbone-chin balance angle..
I've tried already a couple chin rests, no shoulder rest for a while and also no chinrest with shoulder rest haha
The problem is that everything seems too big for me haha... the bonmusica looks pretty cool though.. you should make a partnered link from amazon everyone seems to want it now
That is SOOO true!! yes I've been thinking about making a video about posture for awhile! Thank you so much for your comment!
Many thanks - nice video
Just wondering if the chin rest was adjustable up and down. I looked on amazon but assumed not since it didn’t mention it in the description.
Last week i bought a 16 inch viola without shoulder rest so i had to use a sponge, i've been playing for an hour every day, i like the instrument but really it hasn't been the best of the experiences.I saw people playing without one but on the violin so thought i didn't actually need one but it seems that for the viola is something necessary because of its weight and size.
Hey there! Well, there are varying opinions on whether or not to use a shoulder rest. I would guess that over 50% of professionals use a shoulder rest. In my opinion its a good idea to use one...comfort is everything. If you're working against your body, then you're working too hard. Its like clenching your body before trying to sprint...you probably wont get very far : ) Congrats on your new baby!! yay!
You're beautiful girl I like you , your voice amazing 👏 ❤
Can you give me the link where to get this shoulder rest? Because when I go to your store I can't find the one your using. Help!
Who makes the chin rest and shoulder rest
Please if you can tell me the model and where to get one please ? Thanks
Question ... why do you only have a fine tuner on the 'E' string? :)
Thank you, Amber, for this very informative instructional video! I'm searching for proper fit and greater comfort, and if I may ask some questions.
My chin rest shape and mounting bracket look very similar to your Wittner (although yours is dark wood, while mine is black plastic), but my chin rest is not positioned as high above the tail piece, as yours. My tail piece attachment cable, wraps over a black guide piece that lifts the tail piece above the body about 1/4" which looks too high. If you once used a centre mount chin rest, can you say if there were any disadvantages to this position compared to the side mount? I wonder if a centre mount would put less twist in the neck (so less strain and fatigue)?
Your Bon Musica shoulder rest looks very interesting, with all the adjustability and your suggestions. I really like the way you have shaped the centre piece to fit you, with part of it curving over your shoulder. This looks comfortable as well as very stable, which must make the chin rest feel more stable as well. It is interesting how your shoulder rest attaches close to the chinrest, and angles across the back of the instrument instead of straight across. Is this done because it fits better this way? If someone has a long neck, would this mean making the height of the shoulder rest higher (chest side rather than shoulder side), or would it be a chin rest adjustment?
Thank you very kindly! I look forward to seeing your other videos.
Joel Pettit hi there! It never hurts to try out a bunch of things :) try the center and see if you like it...try out the Wittner side mount too, it’s great.
Thank you very kindly :)
Wow the most helpful violin shoulder rest advice ever! 'Your a giraffe or something'' ")
i will try the middle chin rest since i dont use shoulder rest. the side chin rest dont really help when u play without shoulder rest.
We have the same setup
+Sergio Paez Yay! That's great! I hope you like it : )
What is the name of the shoulder support
Please, what is the brand name of this shoulder rest you are using??? I am new , and having all the problems you have explained here. Thanks JWS ...
Its a Bon Musica shoulder rest : )
@@ViolinViolaMasterclass Is there a model number for the one you are using for the 4/4 size violin ????
If you could write down the name of the chin-rest you use, that would be great. Thanks again.
That's a Wittner chin rest, the side-mounted model. There exixts also a Wittner center-mounted model :)
Amber, Have you considered a 5 string violin? --as the bottom open string is the "C" then GDAE. You have 2 instruments at same time. I LOVE WATCHING YOUR VIDEOS
Blue Dave.
please tell me the model name of soldier rest. I need
I’d be so offended by the shallow comments on your appearance. FWIW, I’m very average looking but feel comforted that age is the great equalizer. I’m 66 years into this lifetime and haven’t looked in a mirror for at least the last twenty. Play on. Cheers.
ive actually removed the chin rest and the shoulder rest, and felt weirdly more comfortable.
+Gospodin Gabo well that makes things easy! : )
i always tought the sound was better too, my luthier told me that it really depends on the violin but mine responded very well when i removed them
You look like a small person; I'm pretty small, myself. My neck seems your height. I have narrow shoulders, like yours I think. But, mine are very straight.
This means that I have little room to spare for a shoulder rest. One wishes to look DOWN sightly, over the violin.
I've been using a Kun at its lowest setting with part of the rotating block filed down, by as much as I dared. Sponges don't work for me: they too much mute my violin. I don't use a chin rest .. there's no room for one. The violin keeps slipping. I'm really. unconfortable. I'd love to have a Bon Musica.
They're expensive. I live in a remote area .... there's no way to try one.
Are you at the limit as to how low you can get yours? You must, once, have tried a Kun, can you get the Musica as low?
I would appreciate any advice you could give. Thanks for the good video.
also what do you thabout incredibow? please read about it if you dont know. It sounds easier to keep since it lasts so long and you dont need to rehair.
Sura Beily don’t know anything about that now actually
Ok. Please get back to me if you find anything out
Sura Beily I have been playing one for ten years.... they are non adjustable and many fiddlers think you have a bow for a musical saw lol..but...they are light..Never break a hair....my go to bow
I seem to have a really short neck. I tried a Kun shoulder rest all the way lowered and a couple different chin rests, but the shoulder rest made the corner of my jaw hit the chin rest really uncomfortably. I’m using small sponges, but I would really love better stability. I definitely can’t hold the instrument just with my chin. Do you have any suggestions for someone with a really small neck and shoulder on a full sized instrument?
what is the make of the shoulder rest? Narayan
Hi! Its a bonmusica shoulder rest : )
What shoulder rest do you use?
how did you bend it to that shape? thank you.
Could you tell me the names of recommended 1. Chin rest 2. Shoulder rest. Couldn't understand what you said! Should always spell out trade names!
Hey John, it's the Wittner Hypoallergenic chin rest and Bon Musica shoulder rest. The Kun Original shoulder rest is great too
What do you think of the 'MAGIC POSTURE' shoulder rest?
There isn’t a shoulder rest by that name. "Magic Posture" is a service from Animato Strings in Australia, which provides proper setup for the Wolf Forte Secondo shoulder rest.
With the shoulder rest hooked over the shoulder, the instrument appears to go way to the left, making it harder to bow. Am I mistaken?
KatnKeys you’re totally right! It depends on your body though, if you have longer arms it can be a better position, but I think for most people keeping it at a 45 degree angle out from the neck is best🙏🎶🎻
Thank you for the prompt response! Several weeks ago I bought a Wolf Forte Secondo, and I'm trying all of the adjustment possibilities (and making modifications to overcome some of that product's limitations), trying to achieve a good playing position. At this point, I still can't hold the viola comfortably, but I'll keep at it. Next step, if I can't make it work, is to build my own from scratch.
Thanks again.
If you want to play better than you ever have before, use my new and exciting product that helps you hold the violin or viola effortlessly without the use of a shoulder rest, and without even the use of your left hand! It's called "THE CHINREST LIP".
It's the evolutionary development which supports a principal that many of the greatest violinists of all time knew already---that playing without a shoulder rest is vital to playing at the highest level. Just go to my website at: www.thechinrestlip.com and read the TUTORIAL page. You can read about all the benefits that using this new and exciting product gives you.
Peter I think your advertising video on your website is terrible. But I have been experimenting with using various "lips", and I think you are actually on to something.
The reason, one reason, your video is terrible is you demonstrate holding the violin up with no shoulder rest and just the lip. You say - It is easy to hold up like that - It looks like the violin is in danger of smashing down onto the floor any second.!!! It also looks like a very unnatural angle. Also your face is pointing in a strange direction, with your chin lined up with the scroll - not a position anyone would play in for long. Not surprisingly, there is no footage of you actually playing the thing with the "lip".
However I am improvising various lips and going to test this out tomorrow.
Some of the points you make in the video seem quite valid
"You are a giraffe or something".
how come you dont see professionals using shoulder rests. at least looking on you tube. it makes sense its better.
Sura Beily just depends❤️
I hope my son would have a wife like you when he grows up ;))
:-)
Hi !! I have the same shoulder rest that you use, and my tchin rest is a Kreddle, it's magical, thats the link, have a look www.kreddle.com.
For me that was the pieces that all put it together.
I have 3 kinds of tchin rest and it was never good, i got tired to spend money and but 1 that do everything.
Chin rest and shoulder rest but you are looking my body rest.
Why is it called a chin rest when it's your jaw that is resting on it and your actual chin - the one god barely gave me, unfortunately haha - isn't even touching it?! Am I the only person confused by this?! This is confounding me and I can't really move forward until someone explains this to me (my teacher seems confounded by my question!) argggghhhhhh
Is no one actually going to talk how extremely gorgeous she is? I mean, this video is very useful and informative and all that stuff, but you guys are lacking in stating the most eye catching aspect of this video 😂😂😂
as a lifelong musician and player and lover of many instruments (including the violin and cello), the most important question i have concerning this video is....what is your phone number?
Very helpful , thank you!