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Hi,
Chinrest + shoulderest + pain in the neck.
During a long time I lived into this equation. This was the reason that I left violin in order to play viola. After had been tried many viola sizes (from 38 to 42 cm), shoulder and chinrests types, pads, etc, the equation closed this way: raise the chinrest and replace the shoulderest for a small anti-sllipery domestic rubber.
The better viola, the one I have been using this last two years, is a 40.5 body lenght with a string lenght close to 37 cm and a rib height of 4 cm. The chinrest is a Berber model, raised 1 cm.
Playing without a shoulderest seems strange at the beginning. But it's just a matter of get used. Slowly pain and tension go away cause this style of playing requires shoulder and neck relaxed.
Two sites helped me in this search of an ideal equipment:
A research with Conservatory students - www.violinistinbalance.nl and the Frisch and Denig: Violin and Viola Chinrest Fitting System - http://www.chinrests.com
Also important are some masterclass with the immortal Yehudi Menuhin - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7BZV1btlK4 (the first one), the best violin player, in my oppinion, and also a very special person.
Another source of study is compare the younger Vengerov style, playing Sibelius concert with his head leaned over the violin, and his actual posture, playing Beethoven. Even thought both Vengerovs are fantastic.
Jascha Heifetz doesn't need any comment about his playing posture.
Christian Ferras, with tears on his face at the end of Sibelius second movement, is also impressive.
My consideration is that there is no magic formula for playing viola or violin. Each person has his/her own body and the equipment must fit him or her, not the opposite. But a proper posture is a must for anyone, no matter which equipment will be used.
Thank you, Andre, for your great comment and tips! You are totally right: there is no magic formula.
Of course, if I didn't say it clearly in the video, chinrests and shoulder rests are not mandatory. Some like to play without, some just the shoulder rest, others just the chinrest... or a shoulder pad or a cloth... any combination can work for you. Just try everything out and see what's best for your body and playing style!
Well, to be honest, I would be happy if my chin rest wasn't actually made of plastic and it wasn't that slippery... Other than that, I'm really happy with my violin posture, and with my bonmusica shoulder, also my chin rest is a strad type although as I said is made of plastic... I just wish it was made from boxwood or ebony! I really hate it...
Hi George, why don't you go buy an ebony chin rest in the same shape as the one you have? Or could a Gelrest offer the solution: http://violinlounge.com/play-comfortably-with-gelrest/