Hi,

Thanks stringy for your encouragement. I didn't touch the violin yesterday just having a rest because I've been trying too hard; today I'm busy elsewhere but I'll soon be practicing again. When I first applied rosin to the new bow hair I did rub it in and the violin plays OK; it did leave a deposit on the violin and strings so I must have applied enough. I simply don't understand yet regarding so many things; I'll stick with the Kaplan rosin though because it appears to be highly recommended unless I'm informed otherwise; I did wonder about the Hidersine rosin.

I'm fully tensed out when I practice just trying to balance the violin and it's likely this will remain until I get lots more practice in; I can stand it so long until pain and burning sets into my left arm due to gripping the violin neck so tightly; I've tried lesser grip but then can't control the violin; at the moment even with the shoulder rest fitted I can't contact the chin rest correctly unless my head is right over; for my set up I think I need a mitre joint in my neck. I've tried lots of positions with the shoulder rest even having it adjusted to maximum height; it's uncomfortable and putting me off.

What a shame York is an hour away but I've just emailed our local violin shop requesting help in setting me up for correct posture so am awaiting their reply; visitors are by appointment only but the shop is pretty near; it's worth a try.

I fully understand you never wanting to be without instrument in a similar way I'd never consider being without a lathe and I have three of these but used to have five; totally different to violins of course but the desire remains even after almost 60 years of using a lathe.

Thanks Fiddlerman; you make playing a violin look so easy; I've tried many positions to use my violin both with and without shoulder rest and confess I'm really struggling; I have most problem contacting the chin rest hence I need to support the violin with my left hand; if I ease back on grip the violin slides away; I've been pretty near with setting it up but then the violin rotates if I let go; I'm not the only bony member built like a stick insect with a longish neck but it doesn't help me so I will find a solution.

Thanks Andrew for the Hill Light rosin information but as you say the Kaplan rosin will be fine for some time; I've lots more to think about. Thanks also for taking the time to add the two videos which I've just watched in their entirity; as you rightly say Yehudi appears to have the chin rest located under his ear which is a position I've not tried. I hope I'm not boring but I'm adding information as to my progress or lack of it as each day passes by. I'm expecting a center chin rest to arrive and in the meantime I'll pester our local violin shop; every little helps; I'd like to hold the violin between chin and shoulder unsupported by my left hand; I'm not sulking I just want to feel at ease whilst playing which at the moment I'm finding so hard to accomplish; as a child I learnt how to ride a bike but lost count the number of times I ended up tangled in the bike; a violin is smaller which should help?

The selection of engineers new files arrived today so another step nearer to making a violin; I keep moving forward.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

I hope I'm not coming across as a whinger or moaner; I'm just sharing my story and in fact I feel quite cheerful after all I'd be a fool to expect to play a violin overnight.

Thanks Andrew for taking the time to study the pictures; not the best of pictures because I was trying to do so much hence the facial expression which actually changes little. I've book marked the shoulder rest link you kindly added and please have a look at this company I hope to visit once they respond to my email enquiry;

https://www.hansonmusic.co.uk/.....ulder-rest

Lots and lots of shoulder rests but I doubt they're all in stock but you'll see they sell Hidersine products; surely they should fix me up and yes money certainly isn't a problem in fact any suggestions as to anything else I might need whilst there; they only have one type of chin rest though but it's a lot different to the chin rest I have; I measured my chin rest earlier and it's very low; I was looking at a site where they sold chin rests up to 35mm high which even for me I think would be too high. A thought did occur to me in that a higher chin rest would slightly lower the height of the violin? I'm trying to consider everything.

Thanks stringy for adding the highly informative video; Bron and I have already watched this but I've just watched once again full length absorbing the information; this lady is brilliant and even speaks better English than I do; I still struggle with "Yorkshire" joking apart there are some truly wonderful tutorial video's to watch and not forgetting our very own Fiddlerman whom I took a lot of notice of regarding getting my elbow under the violin to reach the D & G strings; I must be making progress though because I can use all four fingers on both the E & A strings so I'm sure once I get the violin support I'm striving for things will improve a great deal. I liked the inflatable pad if I understood it correctly.

I think the sponge will also come in useful too Andrew if wetted to cool my fevered brow after struggling practicing. I tried a short while ago practicing without shoulder support and now I've got left lower chin aching gums but my left arm isn't hurting. Clenching my teeth trying to reach the chin rest sure doesn't work but when I've tried every combination of what doesn't work I'm sure I'll make a breakthrough. The shoulder rest you like Andrew looks nicely shaped. I've actually got the Wolf shoulder rest the Russian lady spoke of.

I'll be happy to post an update if and when I visit the violin shop which I'm looking forward to; we still have Covid causing problems where masks are requested to be worn in stores although so many prefer to spread Covid and not wear a mask.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

Many thanks Andrew regarding posting commercial links which I'll bear in mind in future; I thought it would be safe mentioning our local violin store because anyone importing from the states to the UK would need a mortgage to cover postage (shipping) but I'll not do it again. I've looked at The String Zone but again isn't this commercial although like the violin store I mentioned is here in the UK. I'm unsure what postage charges are the other way round from the UK to the states; in an earlier post I mentioned I'd been looking at stickers costing only $3.25 but was horrified to see shipping at $59.93 I only wanted to buy the stickers not the company.

I hadn't realized Andrew I'd not activated PM's so thanks also for this I'll look into it shortly because I do receive quite a few PM's from members of other forums.

Last night I had a 15 minute practice session just using the bow; first thing this morning I decided to have a quick browse because I'm thinking of making my own shoulder rest after all I've got lots of materials and machinery etc; on Pinterest Fiddlerman popped up showing a shoulder rest. So much to choose from.

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

Everything here is starting to increase in price Fiddlerman but WOW shipping costs from the US to the UK for even the smallest item means buying from the US isn't on; what is strange though buying direct from China on eBay the shipping is often included and the item in the first place is cheap too so shipping costs must be exceedingly small.

As they say Andrew regarding clock changing the easiest way to remember is Fall back Spring forward; we don't actually lose any daylight it's just at a different time and I don't know why we bother changing clocks; kids now tend to go to school by car hence the school run.

I've just enjoyed half an hour practicing and this time sat down to get comfortable and just go for it on the E & A strings. Being seated I can bend my head forward and with the violin pointing more foward and downward I can actually get my chin onto the standard chin rest but not support the violin without help from my left hand but if I'm very careful indeed with balancing the violin on my left thumb I've been running up and down both these strings with all four fingers and this time no death grip and no arm burning; I must be doing something right; as my confidence grows then I can start looking at correct posture etc and getting my left elbow in the correct position.

I tried to hold the bow correctly and also control not only bow stroke but pressure whilst not doing too badly supporting the violin neck with just my thumb with my fingers virtually hovering over the strings; I'm as yet still unable to hold the chin rest under my chin without the chin rest getting away but I've got a center chin rest due to arrive anytime to play with. I've not had chance to really look to see if I can modify the chin rest to give greater height but definite progress tonight; the usual squealing at the start but with full concentration I'm running the bow almost full length with more control. Tomorrow I might be rubbish again but I've seen a glimpse of what is possible and my right arm action is smoothing out as are my fingers on the strings.

The weather forecast isn't too bad if we can believe it over the next few days so I might manage some exterior painting of the handrails; there's always work to be done even in retirement.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=viol.....;ia=images

Lots of ideas to choose from but here's an interesting one which could be modified to prevent rope burn;

Kind regards, Colin.

Hi,

Thanks for the information Andrew; it explains why I can buy directly from China at such low cost; a good way to get the economy moving.

I doubt I could practice playing a violin at the moment; my hands and fingers are tingling from power sanding a big long handrail; work never lets up around our bungalow and gardens.

Kind regards, Colin.