I have bought a Wolfe Forte Secondo shoulder rest - it was a Christmas present - and despite having had it adjusted every which way for me by my teacher and any other violinists I can find, and playing with it for the last two weeks, I just can't get used to it. Will playing without a shoulder rest make things more difficult for me in the long run? - I have only been playing for a few months.
Thanks
Catrin

maybe u should check wif ur teacher whether u need a shoulder rest or not.some people doesnt need any at all.it depends on the person who use the violin.maybe the violin itself is already fit for u.

QUOTE (i like piano @ Jan 9 2005, 11:10 AM)

maybe u should check wif ur teacher whether u need a shoulder rest or not.some people doesnt need any at all.it depends on the person who use the violin.maybe the violin itself is already fit for u.

Agree. I need no shoulder rest for violin.

QUOTE

maybe the violin itself is already fit for u.

This is right. You might have a fairly short neck and therefore the violin will fit snugly between your jaw and shoulder without the need for any 'padding' in between.

There are lots of different types of shoulder rest available, so it could also be that the Wolf shoulder rest just doesn't suit you.

The only problem that might occur, is when you learn to shift your left hand up and also over the violin in order to play in higher positions on the fingerboard. To achieve this requires absolute freedom of the left arm, hand, and shoulder. If you are already using any means of force, ie. gripping and supporting the neck of the violin with your left hand - in order to keep the instrument in place - then this is very likely to be troublesome when you do learn to shift.

Just take it one step at a time and see how things go.

QUOTE (Catrin @ Jan 8 2005, 11:21 PM)

I have bought a Wolfe Forte Secondo shoulder rest - it was a Christmas present - and despite having had it adjusted every which way for me by my teacher and any other violinists I can find, and playing with it for the last two weeks, I just can't get used to it. Will playing without a shoulder rest make things more difficult for me in the long run?

Some people don't use a metal rest but just have a pad of some sort of fabric with stuffing. This conforms to your shape and that of the violin and works well up to about an inch thick. Typically it comes with a loop that hooks onto the chin rest.

I used to use a sponge and an elastic band, looked horrendous but was incredibly comfortable.

I was very sure that I didn't need a shoulder rest, but when i was eventually bought one and forced to use it, it changed my playing immensely- In my experience, they are really excellent, and i couldn't go back to playing without one.

Anyway- christmas was 2 weeks ago... that's not a long time, and I expect you'll be very comfortable with it soon.

Hope this helps!

Simon

I use a shoulder rest called "viva" and would highly recommend it! I have to use a shoulder rest.
And, its not one with the little rubber feet on the end that come off and then the shoulder rest scratches your violin. It's made of plastic and has spongey stuff on it, the bit that rests on your shoulder.

I too used to use a small beanbag size cushion and elastic band right through school up to 15 yo.

Up to then, I'd never used a shoulder rest.

When I got a teacher a while ago, I was told to use one and not the cushion.
It did take a while to get used to but I can't play without one now. It feels very uncomfortable without it.(Kun-Wolfe)

Just keep trying it.

OK - I am still trundling along with it. I am 20 and round shouldered and I have a short neck which probably doesn't help. I am starting to feel more stable when playing with it, and it's relaxed the iron grip my chin had on the chin rest!
Thanks everyone
Cat

QUOTE

I am starting to feel more stable when playing with it, and it's relaxed the iron grip my chin had on the chin rest!

And I expect your left hand feels a lot more free too???

The slippy back surface of the violin means it is difficult to support without clamping your chin down hard - as you said - and/or supporting the violin neck with your left hand.

Before 19th century composers came along and wrote scores with notes up in the gods, the need for chin and shoulder rests wasn't there.

With the advent of works containing plentiful high notes, and the subsequent need to move the left hand around freely - often in great leaps - meant the instrument had to be supported by another method.

Stick with it Catrin, you will be glad in the long run.

Viohazard also belonged to the "hate shoulder rests" group, but last year he borrowed a maple Mach One shoulder rest. Took him a while to get used to it, but that's his favourite so far.

Using a shoulder rest has cured his "turtle peering out of its shell" playing posture too! He used to hunch over to get his chin onto the chinrest, though he never thought that he did.