Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Violin Chinrest Styles Make A Difference

By Jerri Perry


Stringed instrument have chinrest to assist a player in properly positioning their chin. It is an important tool for any violinists, regardless of age or ability. A good fit will greatly improve a player's performance, while a bad fit could make it more difficult to play and possibly even painful. The good news it that players have a few good violin chinrest styles to choose from.

Those who have never played a violin or any other string instrument probably wouldn't realize that a chinrest is not permanently attached to the instrument. It actually comes as a separate piece which is added to the instrument for proper chin positioning. Believe it or not, the instrument is sometimes played without it.

However, when properly fitted, this accessory actually becomes a valuable tool for most violinists. This is because proper chin positioning allows the player to move more freely, making it easier to transition throughout a piece, thus it can vastly improve a player's performance. Unfortunately, one that is not the correct size or shape for an individual can actually have a negative effect on a violinist's ability to play. The poor fit may make it difficult to play certain notes or cause the player to need frequent breaks. Furthermore, if it causes the player to tilt their head too far, clench their jaw or tighten their neck muscles, it may even lead to injury.

Fortunately, there are a few different options for violinists to pick from, and they are readily available in most instrument stores. Because of this, it should be fairly simple to find something that works, especially after doing a bit of research and preferably getting some help from a professional. The are three main types, including the center mount, the side mount, and the Guarneri model.

The Guarneri is the most well known style. On this model, the chin bed is positioned on the left of the tailpiece. The clamps are attached to the center of the violin. For the center mount and the side mount pieces, the positioning is as would be expected by their names. The side mount and its clamps are placed directly to the left of the tailpiece, and the center mount is positioned directly in the middle.

When choosing the best chinrest, it is important to consider the correct shape and style. However, they must also consider what type of material it was made from. Most of them are made from wood, with the most common being rosewood, ebony and boxwood. However, they are also sometimes made from plastic, which is often considered a more hypoallergenic option.

While it is best to seek professional help when choosing the best fit, it is thought that a player can judge a good fit if they can actually comfortably hold an instrument using only their chin. In addition to fit, it is always important to think about the material it's made from. Some players have been known to have allergies to the more popular woods, which would make plastic a better option.

All players should consider proper chin placement. A chinrest that fits well can improve the performance of a player and it will likely help them avoid any injuries. Some guidance from a professional will help players should choose the most well suited option from all of the available violin chinrest styles.




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