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Violinist in Balance
Equipment Consultations
To combine with your Alexander Technique lessons
There is often a link between technical problems in playing and ill-fitting equipment. The Violinist in Balance research conducted at the Utrecht Conservatory clearly indicates that a properly fitted chin rest and shoulder rest can remove impediments to healthy playing technique and help to alleviate recurrent playing discomfort or pain.
The research team opens it’s doors (by appointment) to clients outside of the conservatory. Many professional and amateur players have already taken advantage of the consultations and equipment fittings, including violinists and violists from the Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Rotterdam Philharmonic, the Gelderse Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, and students from Dutch and English Conservatories. The findings of the research have been presented at the ESTA (European String Teachers Association) conferences in Holland and Scotland, the Sanitas Musicas medical conference in Amsterdam, and at conferences at the London University and the Guildhall School of Music. To make an appointment e-mail criss.taylor@muziek.hku.nl
How it works
At Violinist in Balance, we combine the fitting of custom made chin rest and shoulder rest to the individual player with re-training of cramped playing habits associated with ill-fitting equipment. We have brought together a team of independent experts who work together for the violinist or violist client. The team is made up of the consultant and researcher, an Alexander Technique teacher/violinist and equipment technicians. The approach is meant to be combined with ongoing private lessons in the Alexander Technique, which you can take with any Alexander Technique teacher listed on www.alexandertechniek.nl or internationally: www.stat.org.uk While you continue to take your Alexander Technique lessons with your usual teacher, a team of independent technicians and consultants work together to form your custom made equipment.
During a series of Alexander Technique lessons it may become increasingly clear that your equipment is not suited to your body. Our research has shown that there is often a link between technical problems in playing and ill-fitting equipment. To make the most of your Alexander lessons, and your playing technique, taking a new, informed look at your chin rest and shoulder rest may be in order. Properly fitted equipment can remove impediments to healthy playing technique and help to alleviate recurrent playing discomfort or pain.
Before, during and after the process of fitting the equipment, it is essential that the player takes responsibility to re-train cramped playing habits with regular lessons in the Alexander Technique to insure:
-That the measurements for the new equipment are made using a healthy position of head, neck and shoulders.
-That the player has the support and mental tools to accustom themselves to the new equipment and the improved instrument position with the least amount of confusion or stress.
-That the player can become his/her own expert in the subtle work of coordination in relation to playing their instrument.
Your options:
1. Work yourself on improving your equipment using the information on the online textbook www.violinistinbalance.nl. (see tips below) A new website addition in February 2010 in will provide musicians with updates and further guidelines. www.artistinbalance.org
2. Make use of the newly designed equipment available, such as the research designed Equilibrio Chin Rest Series (Wolf Products) which is expected to be on the market in February 2010. Four chin rests and accompanying corks give the musician 16 chin rest options. When these chin rests are available, you can read about them online.
3. Choose to make use of the consultation services of Violinist in Balance in Utrecht, the Netherlands and let the team analyze your playing troubles and design custom made equipment for you. (see the attachment to this e-mail)
If you would like to be put on the waiting list for consultations please let us know via e-mail. info@artistinbalance.org
Equipment Tips:
Out of our research, certain recurrent problems and guidelines for chin rests and shoulder rests have become apparent:
1. Chin rest should be adjusted in three dimensions to suit the neck length and jaw of the player, while positioning the violin on the collar bone for maximum bone resonance. When the chin rest is fitted well, the player should be able to find it with the jaw by a simple turn and nod of the head. The shape of the chin rest cup should provide the required hold by being in line with the jaw bone.
2. Shoulder rest should not press on the chest muscle or acromion (tip of the shoulder joint) as this immobilizes not only the left shoulder joint, but also, demonstrably, the bowing arm shoulder.
3. Often players feel that there are only two options: with or without a shoulder rest. With a proper fit of the chin rest, and the use of a collar bone wedge according to our design, support is given where it is needed without immobilizing the joints needed to play. (To imitate a collar bone wedge, players can roll wool or other materials inside anti-slip rubber sheets, which are usually used to line shelves.)
Violinist in Balance
Consultation procedure
Alexander Technique lessons should be followed for at least two months before beginning the consultation process. You should make your consultation appointment at Violinist in Balance well in advance to insure that you can begin the equipment fittings when you are ready.
1. The process begins with a two-hour long consultation.
In the first hour we analyze the playing to discover where the equipment is preventing free movement of the head, neck and both arms and hands. Some of the things we check for are:
-Unnecessary pressure on the tip of the left shoulder and insufficient support of the instrument by the shoulder rest.
-Poorly fitted chin rest that requires excessive twisting or shortening of the neck, or stress to the jaw and face.
In addition, we check to see if the instrument is in the optimal position for the joints in the bowing and fingering arms/hands. Often it is the equipment that determines the position of the instrument, and not the player. Some of the things we check for are:
-Is there over-stretch of the bowing arm at the tip, or cramping at the frog?
-Is the left shoulder cramped by the equipment?
Because we general create or adjust the chin rest and shoulder rest for each player, we can choose the position of the instrument, then build the equipment to suit the desired position.
In the second hour we make trials and measurements in order to choose or design the new chin rest and shoulder rest. This is assisted by our wide selection of commercial equipment, including our research-designed Equilibrio chin rest series (Wolf Products), plus specially designed shoulder rest forms. If commercial equipment does not suit you, technical drawings are made to design custom made equipment. The design drawings and instructions, along with the playing analyses are then copied for you and your Alexander Technique teacher, and also sent to the chin rest maker. Only after the chin rest is made is it possible to measure for a custom made shoulder rest.
Cost of first two hour consultation: €158, €118 for students. To be billed.
2. An appointment is made at the chin rest maker’s atelier.
When the chin rest maker is ready with the proposed chin rest an appointment is made at her atelier around the corner from the Utrecht Conservatory. The consultant, the client and the chin rest maker work further to form the chin rest together. Some of the things that we pay attention to are:
-Leaving the throat clear of pressure or irritation
-Allowing enough room to turn and nod the head freely
-Forming the chin rest cup to fit the jaw for maximum hold
Once the forming session is over, the chin rest is ready for use, but left on the underside in an unfinished state so that the player can try it out for a few weeks. Then he/she can report any additional changes that may still need to be made, and the chin rest can be finished to professional standards.
Now that the chin rest is in a usable state, the player can also make an appointment to take the measurements for a custom shoulder rest.
Cost of consultation at chin rest maker €79, €63 for students (C. Taylor)
Cost of making of chin rest:
-First payment at fitting: €125, reduced fee for students (please bring this payment at the time of the fitting)
After chin rest is completed: second payment: €125, reduced fee for students. Chin rest maker (L. Muller)
3. Shoulder Rest Measurement and order
After the chin rest is completed it is possible to make the measurements for a custom shoulder rest. The measuring takes one hour, after which the order is sent to the shoulder rest maker, Sindy Buissink in Amsterdam. Generally clients opt to pick up their shoulder rests from the consultant (C. Taylor) and to combine it with an equipment check (see below) to make sure that the chinrest and shoulder rest work well together.
Cost of shoulder rest measurement: €79, €63 for students (C. Taylor)
Cost of custom made shoulder rest: €120-€160 depending on difficulty, Shoulder rest makers (S. Buissink, N. Gersen):
4. Equipment check-up and playing re-orientation sessions
After the chin rest and shoulder rest are finished, many player wish to make a follow-up consultation to have the equipment checked. During the consultation we can double check that the equipment have met our specifications, and that the chin rest and shoulder rest are working well together.
With the new equipment in place, old habits of clamping the instrument in place are no longer necessary. In addition, the sensations of playing with the instrument in its improved position may be unaccustomed. During the re-orientation session the consultant gives suggests playing exercises that may help during the first weeks of playing with the new equipment. Players report that the re-orientation to the improved instrument position generally takes no more than two weeks.
Cost of follow-up consultations €79, €63 for students (C. taylor)