I`ve been playing the violin for eight years now and had never had problems with my shoulder rest until a few months ago; I suppose now that I`m finally learning some more complicated things I need a comfortable position to put my violin in but I can`t seem to find one. I think the shoulder rest I currently have is the problem - it doesn`t seem to extend far enough (maybe I have an abnormally long neck, who knows) to hold comfortably. Can anyone recommend any companies that make shoulder rests that I should try/avoid please?

Before I do go out buying one though I probably ought to check my posture is right - I`d say when I hold the violin it`s at about a 45 degree angle to my side, and I have the side of the shoulder rest furthest from me (the thin side) extended much further that the other end. Is this correct, or is there anything I should be changing?

Thanks

I`m 11, and i`ve been playing the violin for about 6 years now. My teacher always tell me to find a position that is comfortable to me. She says that it`s fine if i have good posture. I don`t think it`s because you have a long neck. You should try to find a position that is comfortable to you. Well.....that`s what i think. I know people never listen to kids. Whatever....

Yes. My teacher told me what gesture makes me comfortable is correct.
I play violin for years, and make slow progress. The way I hold the
violin changes over time, and I also need a shoulder rest higher than
normal. My neck is a little long, and I hold my head high. I have been
thinking I should make the shoulder rest myself, and I am too lazy to
do that. I should buy tools, materials and glue, to make several ones
before I can sucessfully make one.

It is not true that people do not listen to kids. I am 53 now, but I
listen to kids. I remember when I was a kid, my father decided what
I should do. After I graduated from high school, I need my mother`s
approval to the job or the business I want to do. I would not let my
kids suffer the feelings I had. People have democratic outside the
house, but they keep dictatorship at home. We try to love our kids
and the kids from other families by listening to them.

Hm, it seems I just need to experiment a bit more with different positions then. Thanks a lot both of you!

I have a long neck too. I use the Wolfe Forte Primo shoulder rest. I think most shoulder rests in that line have a wide range of height.

Kun! Kun, Kun, Kun! I cannot say it enough. It`s excellent in fit, and quite comfortable. It`s affordable as well, at around $45. Excellent for beginniner/intermediate players. More advanced players may want to consider something also by Kun ... their quality increases with price.

One teacher I had said that it has to hurt beneath my chin on the left side, where there`s just skin and bone. Head straight up or tilted left a bit.

Chris, I don`t know what you mean by the shoulder rest not extending far enough. The shoulder rest extends to fit the violin, not to fit you. Also it sounds as if you have it on the wrong way round.

Do you have a teacher?

Liz

A shoulder rest basically fills the gap between your violin and the shoulder, so the violin is snugly sandwiched between your jaw and your rest. When the violin is snug like that, you should be holding your head in the normal relaxed comfortable position. So, if you think you have a long neck, get a shoulder rest with sufficient width and padding, and most importantly, for you, enough height. The height depends on how long the screws are.

So just basically, go into a violin shop and ask for some rests which can be adjusted to your position. They`ll probably have a violin for you to try it on. There aren`t any rests which you avoid. (except for the folded sponge, which kept me "comfortable" 12 years ago..stay off it.)

Jay

I used to use sponges and foamy stuff for my shoulder rest but found that over time I was getting too comfortable and was beginning to have bad posture. I`m not saying it should hurt though, but I now use a `playonair` shoulder rest. It`s an inflatable rest that adjusts to any size instrument. If you`re used to a lot of padding it will take a whilw to get used to at first because it`s not very thick, but I have quite a long neck and I`ve managed. It`s improved my playing over the year I`ve had it dramatically. However, it`s whatever makes you feel most comfortable, I get a bruise-like mark under the left side of my chin and on my collar bone but it`s worth it for the amount of difference it`s made to my playing. So try one out if you see one, they`re really nice to use. ^_^