Others are warned of them as they are counter-productive to developing the arm strength and posture expected from a professional player. Some shoulder rests can also affect the instruments' natural acoustics and change their sound. Pro Tip: Remember to use a dry, soft cotton cloth after each practice to wipe down and remove the rosin from your strings, fingerboard, top plate and other parts. They’re usually secured to violins using rubber bands or any other type of elastic cable whereas some are made with adhesives so that they can be easily attached to violins. Clip-on Shoulder Rests

I sell some ornate tailpieces with inlaid gold and mother of pearl designs like treble clefs, flowers and other designs. They are attached to the bodiesof violins using rubber feet that are included with the shoulder rests. When aviolinist plays their instrument regularly without a shoulder rest, they will begin to naturally become accustomed to the way that violins were originallydesigned to be played. Setup - Setup is the specialized fine-tuning or tweaking of an instrument that ensures all the parts are aligned and fitting properly to allow for maximum performance. All my instruments see at least two hours of detailed adjustments and improvements then testing/playing by me personally after the instrument is crafted to my specifications. Even if you then later buy it online, trying one in person can give you a good idea as to how comfortable certain shoulder rests are and you can see if it works with your body type. Best Shoulder Rest Brands

Available in nine different sizes. Measure the viola at the mounting point to ascertain size required - usually the widest point of the lower bouts. Please note the back length shown is for guidance only. Please rely on the width measurement first.

Fun Fact: Groblicz worked with sycamore maple and our Polish maker Tomasz Kowalski also prefers with this lovely material. This shoulder rest is comfortable and comes with adjustable feet that work for all types of violins, is versatile, adjustable, comfortable, and all at a very affordable price.

Carbon fibre - A stiff, thin yet strong fiber of nearly pure carbon (the most plentiful element in the universe) that is replacing wood in modern bow making. It is created by applying heat to a variety of organic materials and compounds and results in a lightweight material perfect for air and space craft (yes, spaceships), as well as fishing poles and their far superior cousins, instrument bows. Personal Story: I was the Concertmaster of my high school orchestra for three years in California in the 90s and the Assistant Concertmaster for a year before that. More recently I served for several years as the Concertmaster of both community orchestras in my city, the Kamloops Brandenburg Orchestra (Baroque and Classical music in period costume) and the Thompson Valley Orchestra (performing pops/film scores & classics).

Helpful Hint: Unlike many shops all my instruments are made from solid wood, no veneers, with the exception of my Voxy Astute bow which is made with a carbon core and a beautiful Pernambuco veneered exterior. Sometimes a larger surface-area is less comfortable for the user, this is something subjectively down to the individual so you may find, despite their weight distribution, you prefer a smaller form. Helpful Hint: Most of my customers will not need a humidifier as new instruments are far less susceptible to dryness as older violins and my studio is setup for ideal wood seasoning. Pro Tip: I tend to install strings so the end of the wrapped section is just about touching the "cheek" (inside of the peg box) so the peg is held in place better by friction. Ball (on fittings) - This is a small round decoration on the edge of a peg or end pin. Used for decoration, balls are most often made from wood, plastic (cruelty-free ivory) or metal. They are most commonly seen on heart-shaped pegs.

This again can differ according to the type of rest you buy, but if we focus on a traditional legged style shoulder rests for a moment, then we can take you through the motions. Zipper - Come on, you know what a zipper is! While I have your attention though, the zippers on lower-end cases tend to wear out with prolonged use, but my Fiddleheads Deluxe Cases have heavy duty zippers that will stand up longer-term use and abuse. I’ve tried one foam shoulder rest in the last few years, and that was the Poly-Pad. This is a great option for kids and beginners to feel more comfortable holding the instrument! When I first started, I had a “pillow” that was a piece of foam wrapped in velvet, and held onto the violin with rubber bands. It was a comfortable way to ease into holding the violin! Sheen - Another word for "finish," this describes how shiny or reflective the varnish layer is. Typical terms include gloss (very shiny) and matte (not shiny). Gloss handles wear due to daily use better but also shows up more flaws to the varnished surface as more light reflects off it.

Bonmusica Violin shoulder rest:

Given that shoulder rest comfort is pretty subjective try to borrow a few from fellow musicians if possible, to work out which style suits you best. Did you Know The downside of the BonMusica viola shoulder rests is that there’s a lot of exposed metal and plastic edges. The plastic edges aren’t sharp, but the fact that there are edges at all is a little concerning to me. If I used this shoulder rest daily, I’d be worried about it scratching up and damaging my instrument. Fun Fact: Like the scroll, the f-hole is a defining visual characteristic of violin family instruments' maker/template. Pro Tip: Symphony musicians often hold their cases in this manner as they stand outside the venue following the concert, debating loudly in which pub to drink and complain about the guest conductor. True story.