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Summary and Purpose: A healthy and effective method of balancing the violin on your shoulder for long periods of playing.Time Required: 2 minsFrequency: Perform these motions each time you place the violin on your shoulder, until a new habit is established. Review as needed.

The Dynamic Violin Hold Motions

1. 1. While balancing the violin on your collar bone or shoulder and also supporting with your left thumb, rotate your head horizontally and vertically. Perform this for about 30 seconds without a bow or bowing on an open string. (see below)

2. While in your normal playing position, are you able to pivot the violin from left to right or pivot the violin vertically? Can you easily pull it straight out from your body? If these motions are difficult or uncomfortable notice that you are squeezing with your head and neck. Simply let your head lightly float and lightly brush the chin rest then retry this activity.

3. While smoothly shifting your left hand up and down the neck, lift your head just off the chinrest during the upshift and drop your head to support the violin during the down shift. Use the minimum amount of head weight possible to keep the violin from pivoting down during the down shift.

Learn to hold up your violin with ease. Divide the effort between head, your collar bone/shoulder and your left hand.

In the video above, watch Nathan Milstein’s head frequently change position while playing to suit the needs of the moment. His violin and left hand are also free to move as needed. He’s not worried about the “keep your violin horizontal to the ground at all times” rule. How does he achieve this flexible and mobile approach? Why are so many violinists unable to do these simple motions?

Common Problem: Newcomers to the violin (and even veteran players) use a “vice grip” approach to keeping the instrument rigidly in place on the shoulder. This can lead to difficulty and discomfort in playing as well as eventual pain and injury.

Solution: Use a dynamic, 3 point balance system to support the instrument. Here’s what holds up your violin:

1. Your collar bone or shoulder underneath the violin
2. The bowling ball weight alone of your head on your chin rest. No squeezing is required.
3. Your left thumb from below with the side of your left index finger as a gentle side guide.

The system is dynamic, because at times one or two of the three may be doing the majority of the work. For example if your left hand is busy shifting to an upper position, the head may momentarily take up the difference. Similarly if you don’t want to overwork your head and neck, let your violin hand provide the support needed to to give your head a break.

Tips for this activity:If you have a long neck: consider trying a tall or “lifted” chin rest. This is much preferable to using a thick or fully extended shoulder rest. Ideally the thickness of your violin plus the height of your chin rest fully equal the length of your neck. In this arrangement, you may be able to dispense with a shoulder rest altogether. The gold standard is being able to keep the violin from sliding around randomly on your shoulder, but allowing it to move dynamically when the need arises. In general, use the thinnest shoulder rest that works, or if possible none at all. The lower your violin, the less effort needed to play.My own setup: lifted chin rest, acoustifoam pad, no shoulder rest. The violin sits directly on my collarbone.