Chin Training.
Almost all of us crane our necks over to the left in order to reach the chinrest.
We can't help it- we've been forced to do so by traditional chinrest structure. Due to this,
many players say that the WAVE at first digs into their necks- and it will, if they approach it
as they have been trained to do by their conventional chinrests.
Because of this, players can try
We can't help it- we've been forced to do so by traditional chinrest structure. Due to this,
many players say that the WAVE at first digs into their necks- and it will, if they approach it
as they have been trained to do by their conventional chinrests.
Because of this, players can try
“chin training”
(by the way, these exercises are well to be done in front of a mirror, to give us a visual context):
First, identify the placement of the head's balance point.
The head sits on top of a joint, the atlanto-occipital joint, which is quite far forward in the neck.
To find it, place your index fingers directly in front of your ears and open and close your mouth,
feeling the slight depression that forms when the jaw opens. If your fingers were to extend all the
way in to the middle of the neck, that is where the balancing joint is.
Then,
To find it, place your index fingers directly in front of your ears and open and close your mouth,
feeling the slight depression that forms when the jaw opens. If your fingers were to extend all the
way in to the middle of the neck, that is where the balancing joint is.
Then,
spin the head on the joint, right and left,
feeling as much head motion behind the joint as in front. Remember, it does not swing from the
back of the neck- it rotates around the middle of the neck.
Now,
back of the neck- it rotates around the middle of the neck.
Now,
place the instrument into playing position.
This is particularly tricky, as most players stretch over with their heads to find the chinrest. Allow the instrument to come up to the body. It might even be necessary to hold the chin in
place with the right hand in order to keep it still.
place with the right hand in order to keep it still.
Allow the instrument to come to you.
Then,
simply spin the head.
Some players spin their heads far to the left; others, just a slight spin. Everybody's body is different;
we are looking to find YOUR balance, and then fit the instrument into that balance.
You might find that the instrument feels far away.
Understand that your head is in a healthy balance point, and that the arms will have greater range
to encompass the instrument.
You might feel that your head is tilting back behind you.
Looking in the mirror, check the line of your eyes. If your head is balanced properly, your eyes will
align horizontally. Many players think that their head is level, when in fact they are tilting it towards
the audience.
You will also notice that the contact point is farther in towards the body's core of balance.
This adds to stability and comfort, as the contact point is now not out at the tip of the chin, but
farther back along the line of the jaw.
we are looking to find YOUR balance, and then fit the instrument into that balance.
You might find that the instrument feels far away.
Understand that your head is in a healthy balance point, and that the arms will have greater range
to encompass the instrument.
You might feel that your head is tilting back behind you.
Looking in the mirror, check the line of your eyes. If your head is balanced properly, your eyes will
align horizontally. Many players think that their head is level, when in fact they are tilting it towards
the audience.
You will also notice that the contact point is farther in towards the body's core of balance.
This adds to stability and comfort, as the contact point is now not out at the tip of the chin, but
farther back along the line of the jaw.
Also, the WAVE, with its wide stance, accommodates many holding styles and allows for experimentation of head position using only one chinrest.
Additionally, we fill the space between the jaw and the neck by using tall shoulder rests and short
chinrests; however, this often raises the instrument to an uncomfortable height, making it difficult
to reach the lower strings or the tip of the bow.
With this in mind, the WAVE comes in three heights, 1”, 1.25”, and 1.5”, as well as the ultra-low Da Capo,
to accommodate many different neck heights.
Also, players often find that, when they have found a good body balance, their shoulder rest no longer
fits. This might mean that the shoulder rest needs to be altered to match this change.
Experimentation is the key here, remembering that maintaining the body's balance, and fitting the
instrument into that balance, is crucial. Be ready to try unconventional fits and shoulder rests, even
trying tall chinrests with only a thin pad under the instrument to provide some support and friction.
For a discussion on shoulder rests, visit here.
Additionally, we fill the space between the jaw and the neck by using tall shoulder rests and short
chinrests; however, this often raises the instrument to an uncomfortable height, making it difficult
to reach the lower strings or the tip of the bow.
With this in mind, the WAVE comes in three heights, 1”, 1.25”, and 1.5”, as well as the ultra-low Da Capo,
to accommodate many different neck heights.
Also, players often find that, when they have found a good body balance, their shoulder rest no longer
fits. This might mean that the shoulder rest needs to be altered to match this change.
Experimentation is the key here, remembering that maintaining the body's balance, and fitting the
instrument into that balance, is crucial. Be ready to try unconventional fits and shoulder rests, even
trying tall chinrests with only a thin pad under the instrument to provide some support and friction.
For a discussion on shoulder rests, visit here.
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Chin giving you a problem? We can help with that. Let's talk live by videochat. Email us at [email protected] to set up an appointment. |