Does anyone know whether Sarah Chang uses a shoulder rest? She's the only violinist I can think of who has a really short neck! Besides Elman whose neck is probably even shorter! You have to be a "respectful antique" to have witnessed his concert performances so very many years ago!

I want to know whether people like her and VN (who despite being one of the tallest girls in her class has a rather short neck) really NEED a shoulder rest. She has been taught a new violin position to try out and the shoulder rest she said now hurts her. Moreover, my adult friend who also plays the violin opined that if your neck is short, you don't need a SR and all you have to do is, ask your luthier to try raising your chin rest? Can't ask the teacher / her orchestral pals as they are all on holiday for a long while yet.

VN will be changing violin size in Sept so it is a good question to ask now.

Thanks, all.

I don't think it matters who does and who doesn't. We're all different, and VN needs to find what's comfortable for her, and it could be a different combination of shoulder and chin rest, or one or even neither.

It might be a time for trial and error trying different combinations, and as she's growing her body might change and her needs might change in the future. keep reviewing it, these things aren't set in tablets of stone.

Thanks very much, Jane and Primavera, for the advice.

She dislikes sponges in general. Thinks they are fidgety.

Actually she does have a comfortable Kun shoulder rest at present but her size is changing to 3/4 in Sept so we may have to get another one and also, the teacher wants her to try an exercise for a period of time (just for the purpose of a particular music piece) whereby she has to hold the violin pointing upwards like Milstein which makes the SR a nuisance unlike its comfortable self with her usual violin position of pointing the violin sideways and straight to the wall, parallel to the floor.

Will have to do what Jane says and take the trip to the luthier to try and find something comfortable. The difficulty is, I was thinking, what she thinks is comfortable then may not feel so comfortable when she gets home - these things happen all the time - post-shopping regrets.

Any more views?

I'll e-mail you.