Hi All, My name is rachel, just joined today and hopeing to get a little info from anyone here about violin should rests.

I start my lessons for the violin on the 25th and i'm going to need a shoulder rest. I've tried a wolf and one other but can't remember it's make. I think I'm having a little trouble with finding a comfortable rest as my left collar bone was broken as a child and never healed correctly.

Any Ideas please.

many thanks

Rachel.

I don't have a suggestion but just thought I'd say


broken collar bone sounds nasty

Hopefully your teacher will be able to reccommend one-hope you sort something out

Maybe try using a sponge instead of a normal rest, since it will mould better to your collar bone, and put less direct pressure on any particular area. You can buy them especially for violin, or just from any regular shop, and then attach it with an elastic band. It sounds a bit childish but lots of famous violinists did it (although putting the sponge under their shirt, rather than securing it with an elastic band) like Milstein, Perlman, Stern. There is also a way to make sure the sponge doesn't cut out too much of the violin's sound and it almost invisible for anyone watching, by looping it round the tailpiece and then the lower left hand bout.

I agree - if I was teaching someone with the sort of problem that the OP describes, I would start with a really cheap sponge that could be cut to shape with scissors. I find that the big sponges sold for washing cars are pretty good. They seem to be a bit firmer than bath sponges and they're big enough to cut up into several small sponges so that you can experiment with different heights or shapes.

Thanks everyone for the input, very much appreciated.

regards

Rachel.

The other thing you could try is a 'playonair' shoulder rest - I use one on my viola because I only need o lift the viola a small amount. You blow air into it, so it is padded, and you can adjust the height of it by how much air you blow in. I have a very bony collar bone, so some rests are uncomfortable because of that, but this is fine (as long as I remember to take my necklace off first - I forgot the other day and couldn't work out what was causing so much pain!)

yes I know what you mean, I wear a necklace too and even though very fine it still cause a problem.

See the break in my bone is towards the outside, furthest away from my neck right next to the ball if you know what i mean, and the long section of bone lifted by about half. So there is a marked step in the bone now. heyho, I'll find a way.

thanks for the info on the playonair though, I'll go have a read.

Rachel.