Do professional violin players use shoulder rests?
Chinrests and shoulder rests are very personal and must be adjusted to the individual player. 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.
Why do violinists use shoulder rests?
It’s true in life and it’s true with playing the violin and viola. Violinists and violists use shoulder rests to help support the instrument and to keep it in a stable, comfortable position so that you’re not twisting your neck and shoulders, which can lead to all sorts of physical problems.
Do you need a shoulder pad for violin?
The short answer says, if this space is small, you may not need a shoulder rest. If, however, this space is larger than the height of the violin and chinrest combined, then you probably need some kind of shoulder rest. The long answer is a bit more involved.
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.
Did Paganini use a shoulder rest?
Paganini, himself, born in 1782, had to learn to play without chinrest and shoulder rest. For a lot of violinists today, this way of playing is a big mystery and only fairly recently has there been a revival in the old way of playing.
Does Itzhak Perlman use a shoulder rest?
‘ There are some stellar names in the anti-shoulder-rest lobby, Nathan Milstein, Jascha Heifetz, Yehudi Menuhin, Pinchas Zukerman and Itzhak Perlman among them. Period instrument players also do without rests. Kate Allott used to play Baroque viola.
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 get a pretty violin tone?
5 Ways To Improve Violin Tone
- Bow Pressure. The pressure you apply on the bow affects the tonal quality of your violin.
- Bow Location (Straight Bow) Where the bow makes contact with the strings makes a difference too.
- Rosining.
- Bow Grip.
- Replace your Strings.
Why do violinists put a cloth?
June 11, 2005 at 04:44 PM · Some players use it for extra traction when playing in dress clothing made out of smooth/slick fabrics. Someone who uses a handkerchief with a dress shirt or tux often does not use one at home or in the studios when playing in sweats or a t-shirt.
How much does a 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. Aduistability: Most shoulder rests are adjustable in several different ways. You can adjust the height of the rest by tightening or loosening the screws that the feet are attached to.