Violin Shoulder Sponge

How To Play The Violin: Tips To Assist You To End Up Being The Best

It can be quite easy to learn how to play the violin if you are passionate in learning to play the instrument. It would also help significantly if you have experience or already know how to play the guitar. It looks pretty simple if you just read the steps but technically it can be painful to your hands and can take quite some time especially if you are a beginner. For those who are truly interested in music, especially in playing the violin, you will only need a short time and you’ll be playing it like a pro. What you should know is that there are secrets to become truly the best in playing the violin. The tips are as follows.

The first thing that you should know before you learn how to play the violin is you have to be passionate in learning it. The passion can truly help you in becoming the best in playing the instrument. Then you must focus. You must be well focused so you can play it with heart and have fun while you do it. Concentrate on the strokes as well as the sound. You also have to be relaxed in order for you to play it effectively. At first, you will definitely make mistakes, but you shouldn’t surrender so easily. You have to be determined when your practicing.

If you wish to learn how to play the violin effeciently, then you must have these traits. There are those that just wants to play it for fun and there are also others that are very serious. Whether you do it for fun or for your career, you must keep your focus when your practicing. Having said this, you must not be all too serious; have fun in playing the instrument so you can truly enjoy it. You won’t become a master in playing the violin or perhaps the best in playing this instrument if you are do not like the sound or you are not having fun in what you do.

Keep in mind that while learning how to play the violin, you have to be positive in thought, be relaxed, stay focused, and make sure to have fun. It might not be what you expect during your first time but keep practicing and in no time, you will notice that you are getting better each day. Those who persevere and focus will get what they want and if you do the same, you will also learn how to play this instrument like a professional.
Violin Shoulder Sponge

Getting The Perfect Beginner Violin Perfect For You To Use

The Fiddle or more commonly known as the Violin is the smallest string instrument in an orchestra’s string family. If played for traditional music they are called fiddle. It is also considered to be the most user friendly instrument as it comes in wide varieties of sizes that fit to the age of the player. In choosing for the best beginner violin to use, one must consider the following attributes.

Here are the size of the violins considering the age of the user: For ages 3 to 5 years, the best size to use is 1/16. It has a length of 14 to 15 3/8 inches; arms length for most children in this age bracket. For young musicians also aging from 3 to 5 years old and with an arm length of 15 3/8 to 17 inches, size 1/10 is good to use. With the same age level and an arm length of 17.1 to 17.5 inches, size 1/8 is most appropriate to use. For children ages 4 to 7 with an arms length of 17.6 to 20 inches, it is best to use size 1/4. For children ages 6 to 10 years old with an arms length of 20 to 22 inches, the ideal size to use is 1/2. For those children aging 9 to 11 years old with an arms length of 22 to 23.5 inches, it is best to use size 3/4. And for those ages 9 and above with 23.5 inches and above arms length, size 4/4 is the best to use. A beginner violin can be of any size. It main depends on the age of the violinist using it.

There are two types of violins. The non-electric or mostly known as acoustic violin. An acoustic violin is the first violin type and it is considered as a beginner violin. The next type is the electric violin. What it does basically is use electronic signals to create a violin sound, with a twist. It is used generally by advanced or expert violin players who have practiced first with the acoustic violin. The sound also differs from each type as the electric one has a sharper tone than the acoustic or non-electric.

There are certain steps on how a beginner beginning to acquire a beginner violin would choose from. The first one is to think carefully if you really love to play the instrument. Next is to find out where the violin was made. Then you need to examine the looks of the violin carefully. The fifth step is to listen to the tone of the violin. The 6th is to consider the amount you want to invest. Next is choose the best fit and last is purchase from a known violin store to make sure you have the right one fit for you.

Hence, I would be best if you would ask for advices, read reviews and search for the best and most suitable violin for you before you buy, rent or acquire one.

You may check out http://www.learn-how-to-play-the-violin.org for further information regarding violins.

violin shoulder sponge

The subject of violin shoulder rests has generated a lot of controversy amongst teachers and violinists. Because they were not used until fairly recently and also because they may affect the sound, there are still some teachers who recommend against using them at all. Certainly, there are some violinists who do fine without a shoulder rest. Often, these people have short necks.

For example, David Oistrakh, one of my favorite recording artists, fits this mold. For the rest of us, a shoulder rest can make playing the violin much more comfortable. It frees the left hand from having to support the instrument and should allow the violinist to play without raising the left shoulder. The choice of shoulder rest depends on the unique physiology of each student.

There are two major categories of shoulder rests. The first are is the group of “soft” rests (such as curved foam pieces, sponges –even a kitchen sponge with a rubber band will do– and the Play-on-Air, which is formed of a “bladder” filled with air that can be adjusted by varying the amount of air contained in the bladder.

Some teachers prefer rests that are not rigid. Their logic is that a rigid rest locks the player in one position and can add tension. However, the sound can be affected by the pressure of the soft pad against the back of the violin. Often, the contact of the soft rest will muffle or create fuzz in the sound.

The second major category of shoulder rests are composed of the “rigid rests.” There rigid models are based upon the same principal: feet that attach to the sides of the violin and a curved, rigid, shaped bar that connects the feet. Each brand of rigid rest is shaped slightly differently, which provides a good variety to fit the many different shapes of violinist’s upper body, neck height, collar bone prominence, and slope and width of shoulders.

To help with selection, I have assembled a list of the more popular brands of rigid rests with descriptions of each and tips on which model will best fit a given violinist’s unique physiology. To begin, the Everest is made in America and is relatively cheap. The padding is thick and the rest seems to fit well for medium to long necks. One model offers collapsible, folding feet.

The Bonmusica is made of flexible metal with a “hook” that can be molded to fit over the shoulder. It is a heavy rest composed of aluminum that can affect the sound more than some but can work well for violinists who have not found any of the other rests to be comfortable because of it’s high degree of flexibility and ability to curve around the back of the shoulder.

Kun is the original inventor of the rigid rest with feet. There are several different models. They tend to fit most people fairly well. One model has a bar connecting the feet that can tilt towards and away from the player. Though potentially a very valuable feature, this bar cannot be locked in the chosen ideal position and therefore must be adjusted sometimes several times in a playing session.

The Mach One is very light and made of nice quality solid maple. Some people find it very comfortable but it is rather short and the padding can seem slippery and is quite thin.

The Wolf is an excellent rest for very tall necks, but can feel very rigid. Though it appears to have no curve, it can be bent to suit the player. Individuals with “A-Frame” (highly sloped) shoulders sometimes find this is their only viable option as it is the tallest rest.

The viva la musica rest comes in many colors and adjusts in two planes. This extra ability to adjust allows it to accommodate certain violinists who have had difficulty finding a comfortable rest. However, the bar is fairly flat, with little curve, and can rub against the backside of the instrument. In addition, this rest is composed of plastic with a tendency of breaking sooner than other rests.

In sum, my recommendation for selecting a shoulder rest is to try several and look for a comfortable fit. In the case of the rigid models with feet, the pad should rest securely against your shoulder and collar bone with little if any gaps between you and the rest. To adjust the rest on the violin, experiment with different placements for the feet. In general, the feet under the chin rest fill the space between the shoulder and the back of the violin. The closer the feet are positioned to the chin rest, the more the violin will tend to rest away from the end of the shoulder and more towards the neck. The height should be set to fill the space between the jaw and the top of the shoulder. On the opposite side of the instrument, a placement for the feet closer to the scroll side will position the instrument more toward the center of the chest and away from the shoulder. More height tends to flatten the instrument, and less height tends to create more slope.

A shoulder rest that is too high will tilt the neck and chin upward, which is often very uncomfortable, along with raising the violin and thus the entire playing posture, which can place more strain on the shoulder as it stretches upward towards a higher violin. But if the rest is positioned too low, the player must bend the neck excessively to reach the chin rest, which especially deleterious to the health of the neck.

The importance of the shoulder rest can easily be underestimated, and it is often useful to ask your teacher to help you assess fit.

Lisa Ann Berman, M.M.
Masters of Music in Violin Performance, Yale School of Music http://www.simplyviolin.com

Violin Lesson 2: Shoulder Rests, Sponges, And Neck Measuring

Below are some cheap but quality products related to violin shoulder sponge. We are pretty sure you will find good deals with the products below relating to violin shoulder sponge. Enjoy!

Glaesel Violin Shoulder Pad $6.81 Glaesel Violin Shoulder Pad

Wolf Forte Secondo Violin Shoulder Rest Violin 4/4-3/4 Size $28.95 Wolf Forte Secondo Violin Shoulder Rest Violin 4/4-3/4 Size

Wolf Forte Secondo Violin Shoulder Rest Violin 1/2-1-4 Size $28.95 Wolf Forte Secondo Violin Shoulder Rest Violin 1/2-1-4 Size

Otto Musica SR-4 Muco Shoulder Rest for Violin For 4/4 violin 4/4-size $11.5 Otto Musica SR-4 Muco Shoulder Rest for Violin For 4/4 violin 4/4-size

Wolf Forte Primo Violin Shoulder Rest Violin 4/4-3/4 Size $28.95 Wolf Forte Primo Violin Shoulder Rest Violin 4/4-3/4 Size

Otto Musica Sr-4 Muco Shoulder Rest For Violin For 4/4 Violin 4/4-Size $11.5 Otto Musica SR-4 Muco Shoulder Rest for Violin For 4/4 violin 4/4-size

Knilling VIVA Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4-3/4, Green $22.79 Knilling VIVA Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4-3/4, Green

Knilling VIVA Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4-3/4, Red $22.79 Knilling VIVA Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4-3/4, Red

Bon Musica Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4 Size $48.99 Bon Musica Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4 Size

Bon Musica Violin Shoulder Rest 1/2 Size $48.99 Bon Musica Violin Shoulder Rest 1/2 Size

Bon Musica Violin Shoulder Rest 3/4 Size $48.99 Bon Musica Violin Shoulder Rest 3/4 Size

Zaret Shoulder Rest for Violin or Viola Large $3.89 Zaret Shoulder Rest for Violin or Viola Large

Zaret Shoulder Rest for Violin or Viola Medium $3.89 Zaret Shoulder Rest for Violin or Viola Medium

Kun SUPER Violin Shoulder Rest 3/4-1/2 Size $19.89 Kun SUPER Violin Shoulder Rest 3/4-1/2 Size

Kun SUPER Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4 Size $20.89 Kun SUPER Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4 Size

Resonans Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4, Low $8.4 Resonans Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4, Low

Resonans Violin Shoulder Rest 1/4, Low $8.4 Resonans Violin Shoulder Rest 1/4, Low

Mach One Maple Violin Shoulder Rest $54.89 Mach One Maple Violin Shoulder Rest

Resonans 1/2 Violin Shoulder Rest Low $8.99 Resonans 1/2 Violin Shoulder Rest Low

Resonans 1/2 Violin Shoulder Rest Medium $8 Resonans 1/2 Violin Shoulder Rest Medium

Resonans 3/4 Violin Shoulder Rest Medium $8.99 Resonans 3/4 Violin Shoulder Rest Medium

Resonans 3/4 Violin Shoulder Rest High $8.99 Resonans 3/4 Violin Shoulder Rest High

Resonans 3/4 Violin Shoulder Rest Low $8.99 Resonans 3/4 Violin Shoulder Rest Low

Knilling VIVA Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4-3/4, Purple $22.79 Knilling VIVA Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4-3/4, Purple

Knilling VIVA Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4-3/4, Black $22.79 Knilling VIVA Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4-3/4, Black

Kun Voce Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4-3/4 Size $59.89 Kun Voce Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4-3/4 Size

Everest Violin Shoulder Rest 1/4 – 1/8 $12.99 Everest Violin Shoulder Rest 1/4 – 1/8

Everest Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4 And 3/4 $12.99 Everest Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4 And 3/4

Everest Violin Shoulder Rest 3/4 And 1/2 $12.99 Everest Violin Shoulder Rest 3/4 And 1/2

Kun Collapsible Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4 Black $23.89 Kun Collapsible Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4 Black

Kun Collapsible Violin Shoulder Rest 3/4-1/2 Black $22.89 Kun Collapsible Violin Shoulder Rest 3/4-1/2 Black

Knilling Viva Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4-3/4, Purple $22.79 Knilling VIVA Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4-3/4, Purple

Knilling Viva Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4-3/4, Black $22.79 Knilling VIVA Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4-3/4, Black

Kun Super Violin Shoulder Rest 3/4-1/2 Size $19.89 Kun SUPER Violin Shoulder Rest 3/4-1/2 Size

Kun Super Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4 Size $20.89 Kun SUPER Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4 Size

Knilling Viva Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4-3/4, Green $22.79 Knilling VIVA Violin Shoulder Rest 4/4-3/4, Green

Resonans 3/4 Violin Shoulder Rest High $8.99 Resonans violin shoulder rests have a cushioned pad area, covered with velvet to provide a comfortable, secure contact surface. The adjustable feet are covered with surgical tubing to protect the violin’s finish.

Resonans 3/4 Violin Shoulder Rest Medium $8.99 Resonans violin shoulder rests have a cushioned pad area, covered with velvet to provide a comfortable, secure contact surface. The adjustable feet are covered with surgical tubing to protect the violin’s finish.

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