Give Your Shoulder a Rest

I always get a kick out of watching my colleagues attach their various kinds of orthopedic devices on to the backs of their instruments. Silently I think to myself, ‘Poor blokes, still got their training wheels on.’

Fact is, most people use a shoulder rest for one of two reasons. Either they grip the violin between their chin and shoulder, and therefore need a device to keep that chronic muscle contraction from causing serious back and neck disorders, or they fear the violin will slip away from them without it.

Now, don’t get me wrong, there are many terrific players that rely on them. I also think, however, that they are missing a kind of intimacy with the instrument that you cannot have otherwise.

Of course, with intimacy comes a certain amount of challenge.

Learning to play without a shoulder rest after a long dependency does require commitment. But it’s a commitment to relaxation, a commitment to balance and finesse.

And yes, there is the potential for some embarrassment onstage in the early going.

But think about it, how many times has your shoulder rest leap from your violin in the heat of battle? You see, there are no guarantees.

The instrument is not to be controlled, it is, rather, a thing of beauty to be worked with. It’s a partnership rather than a dictatorship, in my humble opinion.

But hey, this may not be your way. After all, maybe you still ride a bicycle with training wheels too – haven’t seen anybody win the Tour de France with them yet, but anything’s possible you know.

Just kidding, the important thing, whether you use a shoulder rest or not, is to breathe well, relax your shoulder, and support the violin in part with your left hand.

P.S. Of course, it’s important to have great tools in hand when hunting. That’s what you’ll find in ”Kreutzer for Violin Mastery”. Come get started with it today.