Mimicking Mutter ---> Ideal Setup?

April 18, 2009 at 9:37 PM

This is simply for my reference. I do not wish to rehash a shoulder rest discussion.

I've ditched my shoulder rest in liu of trying a sponge (the thick, red, circular, cosmetc sponge from Shar). Attaching it with a rubberband on my violin where it will fill in the gap to my shoulder works great. I think I'll be able to make the transition fairly smoothly. It's a bit different, but it helps with my weak left shoulder so much. I only have issues playing fortissimo and long shifts. My neck tends to get tighter than it used to. I think I can train that out, though; I'm fairly confident.

I tried a couple different chinrests. However, my violin is so skinny in the ribs that standard chinrest clamps at Shar don't fit--they're too long. I'll have to head to Psarianos. Peter always has a way of making chinrests fit. =D I'm looking forward to that trip. This will put everything in place. I'm mimicing a setup like Anne-Sophie Mutter, except my neck is too long and my shoulders to sloped to go without a sponge. I'm also using a strad pad. I'm hoping to ditch that with a different chinrest.

I'm shocked. Whenever I've used a different sponge, my violin was muted. Now, my violin sounds even more Guarneri like. It's by James Brown, c. 1880, England. It's pretty small for a full size, length and rib wise, but its sound is huge. I have Tonica New Formula G,D,A with Gold Label E strings on.

I seem to be closing in my ideal setup/instrument/bow combination. Hallelujah!

From Patricia Baser
Posted on April 19, 2009 at 12:54 PM

While I am a kun with tall feet user, the thick red sponge has worked well with many of my students. There is one humorous caution with the red sponges in a school setting-those sponges can easily become dislodged when leaving rest position and then they go rolling across the floor.

From Tom Holzman
Posted on April 20, 2009 at 12:22 AM

there is nothing like trial and error in this business. Glad you seem to be approaching your destination.

From Tasha Miner
Posted on April 21, 2009 at 1:12 PM

Well, it was too much of a change to use in my jury yesterday, but I have all summer now to adapt! I'm looking forward to what new discoveries I will make this summer. I think I'll write a separate blog to reflect on after this summer is over...

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Mimicking Mutter ---> Ideal Setup?

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