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@Strabo said (The Wave Chinrest Thread):
There’s no doubt that the violin presents all sorts ergonomic problems -- and solutions. There are numerous examples of people who play wonderfully with apparently bad ergonomics. I think of the old-time fiddlers playing with the violin on their chest, and I can’t even imagine those baroque violinists playing without even a chinrest!
Why not try holding the fiddle in a different way?
I've had some serious thoughts on why some folks play the fiddle against their chest - or even at the hip.
Most old time dance music doesn't move out of first position, maybe cross tuned music with double stops/droning & an emphasis on shuffle bowing, cause this rhythm is important for dancing.
Now, if a fiddler is also a singer, or calling out dance moves - it would be MUCH easier to sing/talk if the jaw isn't involved with holding the fiddle.
I also see men as the majority of fiddlers playing against their chest. Longer arms may be a factor, but there's just less physical effort involved when playing over a whole evening - if arms are held lower.
...this way would be excellent in a noisy situation! Playing an overly bright & strong projecting fiddle, that would cut thru a crowd - but you wouldn't really want that right next to your ear.
I decided to take a quick look at YT & found that playing in 1st position isn't really a factor!
Started video where Jesse "Lost John" Ray is playing a tune where he easily slides up out of 1st. He holds the fiddle farther down his chest, later in the video (may depend on what tune he plays).
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ELCBK said
@Strabo said (The Wave Chinrest Thread):I decided to take a quick look at YT & found that playing in 1st position isn't really a factor!
Started video where Jesse "Lost John" Ray is playing a tune where he easily slides up out of 1st. He holds the fiddle farther down his chest, later in the video (may depend on what tune he plays).
When I see it, I still think playing mostly in first position is a factor.
In the video, he's playing a single slide up to third position, playing a sustained chord, and shifting back down, and the shift is almost entirely done from the wrist -- that's something he can do because he has large hands. In fact, even when he's in first position, his arm is almost where classical violinists would hold it when playing in third position. But in any case, he's shifting between two positions with good physical reference points and with time to prepare.
I can play a lot of Baroque music without a shoulder rest. Occasional shifts are not a problem as long as I have time to prepare (rebalance) my hand, and the heel is a good physical reference for third position. But if I'm playing later music, I need the shoulder rest because the shifts become more frequent and more often to positions that don't provide physical reference points.
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Such interesting videos and comments!
The Joe Duchette video showed me that it is possible to rotate the fiddle and reach the bottom strings while keeping the right elbow down. I remember getting a bowing lesson from a locally famous OT and BG fiddler named Alan Stowell. The first thing he said to me was, “Keep your elbow down!” I never quite understood how that worked until I saw Joe’s video. Sadly, Alan has passed on so I cannot go and check in with him again.
I also noted Joe Duchette's comment that the fiddle can be very loud under his left ear when playing with the instrument in the classical position. I sometimes find that bothersome as well, and I have occasionally observed myself moving the fiddle -- without conscious intention -- more in front of my body than out to the left side, while still keeping it under my chin. When that happens the fiddle seems to droop down toward the floor a bit, but it hasn’t got to my chest yet, haha.
I’m pretty much a self-taught fiddler so I carry the remnants of all my early bad habits. If I had been smart and started with regular lessons, I’d be playing with more discipline and I’d be less subject to crazy ideas!
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