It makes the violin feel much more secure than my other one.
-Mary S., adult student
Here is what professionals, amateurs, and students are saying about the WAVE.
Sally Ahner (M.A. Eastman School of Music) is an ATI-certified teacher of the Alexander Technique and serves as Lecturer in Music at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University. She also maintains a large private studio and has worked extensively with upper string players of all ages and levels:
Mr. Olson's knowledge of body-mapping plus his determination to solve his own playing discomfort led to the extensive research and development of this remarkable chin rest. The WAVE is so well thought-out according to how the body is structured and works best that every upper string player who has experienced a painful “set-up” will want to try this!
David Greenlees, Assistant Principal Viola, Tonhalle-Orchester Zurich:
The WAVE chinrest has really improved my level of comfort when practising and performing as a professional Violist.
Highly Recommended.
Hal Grossman, Associate Professor of Violin, the University of Oklahoma; founder, The Grossman Method:
The WAVE chinrest is a wonderful addition to the violin community. Beautifully crafted and ergonomically correct for optimum playing comfort, the WAVE has alleviated painful playing for many students and professionals. I've included the WAVE chinrest in my Grossman Method workshop and teacher training sessions, and the WAVE chinrest has generated much excitement. Thank you Randy!
Susan Waterbury, Professor of Violin and Chamber Music, Ithaca College School of Music:
Thank you so much for the WAVE. The chinrest you have designed is brilliantly functional and beautiful to look at.
Craig Duncan, Member, North American Fiddler's Hall of Fame, Mel Bay author and composer:
Randall Willis Olson has designed a chinrest that is more comfortable than the styles currently available. It follows the bone structure of the face, giving smoother contact for holding the instrument. Students and professional players alike will enjoy use this new design.
Thornton Cline, Ph.D., Mus. Ed., Eastman School of Music, violin teacher/performer/clinician, author of "Practice Personalities", pub. by Hal Leonard:
Today I had the opportunity to try out the WAVE, which is a revolutionary new chin rest invented by Randall Olson. Now I own one! No more struggling with poorly fitted chin rests. I perform my violin with ease and comfort! The WAVE is such an exciting invention! It is shaped so that all you have to do is keep your head straight and make a slight turn to the left with your head. I can see how the WAVE will revolutionize the world of violin playing. Everyone should own one!
Chris Carmichael, Violinist/fiddler, arranger/composer:
I am exceedingly happy to say that I recently tried a violin chinrest made by Randall Olson that is truly revolutionary! Gone is the inevitable compromise in order to attain a naturally comfortable position. The violin was just there. I find myself eagerly anticipating the use of the WAVE and I dare say that my very career shall be extended as a result. I wholeheartedly recommend his ingenious improvement to a player of any caliber. I hope that you have the chance to try one, for it is truly a remarkable achievement.
Steven Dunning, Professional classical and improvising violinist and educator, Nashville, TN:
This is great. I found my head balance through Alexander Technique, but was unable to apply that to the violin because the chinrest kept forcing my head out of position. Now my head simply swivels to the left and the chinrest truly supports it. Also, I like a low violin position, and with the highest setting I don’t have to force my head down in order to meet the chinrest.
Isabel Bartles, First Violinist, The Nashville Symphony:
Upon seeing Randall Olson's chinrest, I was immediately intrigued, because I'm a professional violinist who plays a lot and am always in the market for things that make the physical part playing easier. Because the surface of the chinrest that comes in contact with the jawbone is longer, it helps distribute the weight of the violin, thus making it easier to hold the violin up.
Kyle Pudenz, Nashville-based 7-string electric violinist, fiddle player for Billy Dawson and Ashla Taylor; co-founder of the electric violin/drumset duo The Khromatics:
Building a solid-body instrument radically alters the balance point of the violin, and I have struggled for years to find a suitable chin/shoulder rest combination that is both comfortable and playable. The WAVE chinrest does exactly that. Its extended contour and shape provide the extra leverage needed to balance the electric violin without putting any extra stress on my neck or shoulder. Even after hours of practicing or performing, I put the violin down and hardly notice it was there!
Jeffrey Reed, Conductor, Music Director, Orchestra Kentucky and North Charleston Pops!:
As a professional conductor who has led orchestras for nearly fifteen years, I have observed first hand how long rehearsals can take their toll on violinists. It seems that no one has been able to design a chin rest that works with, instead of against, the human physiology of playing the instrument...until now. Randall Olson's ergonomically designed chin rest, The WAVE, maximizes the potential of playing the violin comfortably. Students and professionals alike will benefit from his creation.
Patrick O'Rourke Orchestra Director, Bowling Green Independent Schools; KYASTA 2012 Teacher of the Year;
Conductor, Bowling Green Youth Orchestra:
When my students started coming to rehearsals with the WAVE on their instruments, I was puzzled as to its function. Then I tried it and became an instant believer in its benefits. My students who use it have greater comfort, better posture, balance, and ease of playing. The results, physical and musical, have been remarkable. I recommend to all my students that they try the WAVE. They will love it.
Emma Penfold, Freelance Violinist, London, UK:
I find my WAVE extraordinarily comfortable- it feels as if it's hardly there, and I love the Padauk wood. It's so light and really great to play on, and I do think it adds to the resonance of the violin.
Anastasia Migliozzi, Violist, Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Faculty, Old Dominion Univerisity, Norfolk State Univeristy, Governor's School for the Arts, Norfolk VA:
This is an amazing chinrest. I have a very short neck and have never felt comfortable with traditional rests. The Da Capo II works so well I have three. They really are crafted beautifully and customer service is absolutely the best. I highly recommend this chinrest.
Travis Wilson, Associate Professor of Architecture, Western Kentucky University; President, Foundations in Architecture, Inc.:
The WAVE chinrest allows the player to correctly position the shoulder, arm, and back in a comfortable form, and it works to reduce errors in stance, body position, and balance. This valuable solution positions the body correctly, providing optimal balance and distribution of weight to the feet.
Erika Burns, Violin Performance major, University of Oklahoma:
The WAVE is the most comfortable rest I've used yet, and it's significantly helped reduce of my neck and shoulder pain.
Ava S., 6-year old student:
I like it! I love it! I could take a nap on this chinrest!
Carrington C., age 8:
It makes me feel happy. It makes we want to practice.
Samuel K., age 15:
My old one feels worse. By far worse. I felt like my head was tipping forward way too much. This is much better.
Sydnie Dickison, adult student:
I feel like it's not even there. The commercial ones cut into my jaw. I'm not even paying attention to this chinrest; I'm paying attention to the music.
Kristen J., high school student:
It's a miracle! My head feels so nice and light, I feel like a violin model!
Dr. Gilman P., M.D., adult student:
I don't ever want my old one again. This one is more natural, more comfortable, and lets your head lie in the correct position.
Scott D., adult student:
With my other rest, I felt as if the violin was slipping down my shoulder and that the rim pushed into my jaw. With this one, I finally feel comfortable with my violin.
Check out more reviews in the Store pages.