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I am trying to get more discussion, in an attempt to get newbies to be more involved with forum participation. In this topic, please do not post video or website links. Sometimes, first hand discussion, thoughts, and opinions based on the experiences of the forum users are more helpful, and for some, preferable. Videos help some, but not all.
So first up, let's start basic. Setup.
Many newbies state they have issues with setup. Let's assume, no instructor, my first instructor would not touch that topic, anyway. So, stating to get help,from someone else will not fit the bill. I think that is the case for most members, self learners.
If you have an issue with the neck being sore, in you experience, what worked best for you?
I kind of went for a different height chinrest first because my chinrest, at that time, was a little high, not super high like some are, but higher than some. I went with a shorter one, but I remember not being as comfortable, in spite of the soreness lessening.
Then, I realized my neck was NOT sore from my violin being too high. I think the lessening of the discomfort was just because it was a different neck angle. I suspect it would have reappeared. I looked in the mirror and it was not as high as I thought it was. My head was bending down. So, I went with an even higher chinrest.
The problem was, that this chinrest, itself was not comfortable, but my neck felt better. I decided to try to mimic the height with the chinrest I liked with a slightly higher shoulder rest, and then finding a chinrest.
New shoulder rest. I was getting there. The chinrest was just not comfortable. Edges were too harsh. Entered the Fiddlerman Freedom Chinrest. It is low profile, and it has nice smoothly rounded edges, very soft to the skin. That was the ticket. The higher shoulder rest with the lower smoother edged chinrest.
Now, my problem is that I cannot get my shoulder rest from slipping off the violin, I have 2 and I have the same exact problem, of course, they are very similar, so I am now working on that. So, I need to see about, maybe, grippier legs for the shoulder rests. I like, their curve.
Have any of you some experience to share? Does anyone have a question? Newbies, what are your thoughts, questions on the topic of setting up your violin or viola?
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I personally love the Freedom Chinrest from Fiddlershop. All of my time playing violin I used the traditional Guarneri chinrest. The Freedom chinrest has a similar style without the bulk against my jaw line. I think it's important to find the right shoulder rest. I grew up using a standard Kun when I was in school. As a returning adult I purchased a collapsable Kun and I was happy with it for the last several years. When I wanted to "upgrade" I purchased a wooden shoulder rest, but when I first tried it out, it was obvious it was a mistake, so I donated it to the local school orchestra (I did this with a bow I grew out of as well and a set of strings I tried and didn't like).
For Christmas I received the Kun Seven. It did take a week or so before I realized how much I liked it, I would switch between my old Kun and the Kun Seven several times, but now the old Kun just sits on my bookshelf (it will probably get donated soon, as it still has lots of life left in it). On a side note, I have recently lost 35 lbs and my face and neck have slimmed down, so I think that is why I am enjoying the Kun Seven more. It sits a bit taller than the original Kun, and before the weight loss it was a tad too tall. (the Kun Seven also doesn't slip off of my violin!)
So my advice is to try different set ups. Go to your local violin shop and try as many shoulder rests as you can. Ask your luthier of you can try different chin rests.
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Kennon said
I personally love the Freedom Chinrest from Fiddlershop. All of my time playing violin I used the traditional Guarneri chinrest. The Freedom chinrest has a similar style without the bulk against my jaw line.
That was my issue with the Guarneri, was bulk at the jaw line, and it cutting in, and the edges are not nearly as smooth and soft as the Freedom chin rest.
On a side note, I have recently lost 35 lbs and my face and neck have slimmed down, so I think that is why I am enjoying the Kun Seven more. It sits a bit taller than the original Kun, and before the weight loss it was a tad too tall. (the Kun Seven also doesn't slip off of my violin!)
@Kennon That is wonderful input, Kennon.I think when you mentioned the change in body build, that brings up an excellent point. I don't think people realize how much that plays a part. You could have a perfect setup and it changes and you think that maybe it is the violin, the way you are holding it, etc. Has your body build changed? That plays an important part. I don't recall anyone pointing that out in any discussions.
Thank you. Kennon.
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Thanks @Mouse . I also think age can play a part. How my body works at 55 compared to when I was 20 also has an effect on my playing. I think with age you deal with things like arm strain, dexterity, etc. When my weight increased so did the diameter of my fingers so that came into play as well. Even things such as eye sight, and needing to be closer to the music to see it (clearly lol).
Ken
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The problems I have had is not with the instruments, or the fact that my first few violins where VSO.
It was getting instructions on the violin. There are no books on the subject. Take suzuki for example, I have found it to be nothing but a book of sheet music. And I have searched for books, even books from the late 19th and early 20th century. There are none.
Having been over all the beginner topics, from intonation to vibrato, it makes no sense to me why. When I find a book, it stops at intonation and never talks about anything else. Not dynamics, articulation, or anything.
And then I find the book only has say, 43 pages. Suzuki books have 24 in the violin set I think. Each book might have just one thing in it. From searching for a book on the subject, I found out this has been going on for over 150 years.
It's in my opinion, that fiddlerman might be able to profit from writing such a book. From holding the violin till vibrato. Novice to Intermediate level. Practice lessons needed. Which is something else I found flawed with lessons, nothing to practice it with.
So I have first learned from fiddlerman on fiddlerman.com, but now the instruction videos are scattered and the order makes no sense to me. Before they where in order from first to watch to last. I can't navigate it now, but would like to watch them.
If I remember correctly, he covered all the topics needed to play the violin. he also had advanced subjects.
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Suzuki Books are meant to be used by Suzuki trained teachers, hence no real instruction in them. They are a good source for music to play and learn from, though,
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Learn Violin and Fiddle
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Samuel Applebaum, has a series of books that teach everything right from the start up to playing in 5th position. These are the books I learned from, as well as scales from Wohlfhart. I dont really understand when you say there are no books, I myself have at least forty on everything from scales, etudes to double stops. And then I have another forty or so full of sheet music andIrish type tunes, such as O neils, I even just posted a link yesterday to Niel Gows scots fiddle tunes.
There are hundreds of videos on articulation, intonation, bowing exercises, phrasing reading music, on you tube..
Intonation is something that cant really be taught, its a matter of constant practice and ear training, which can take years, there are lots of different ways such as checking a note against other strings.
Vibrato can be shown and there are hundreds of different exercises for that as well, but in the end it comes down to practice, some people never learn it, and in some forms of music such as Irish jigs and reels and the like its actually frowned upon, unless of course its a lament.
I myself have only ever had 1 lesson, but I think I get by. I will never be a soloist but that isnt my aim.
By the way vibrato is an advanced technique, its not a beginner topic.
Record yourself playing very often, what you hear is not what you are playing actually sounds like, and can be quite a shock, with intonation for instance.
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