JAVS Fall 2016

In the Studio

Restocking Ideas for Your Viola Studio Katherine Lewis

Whether you are a new college professor with start-up money to spend, a studio teacher looking to put your materials-fee to good use, or a seasoned veteran interested in a little studio rejuvenation for the year, fall is a great time to restock your teaching space for the academic year. There are many “tools of the trade” unique to viola teachers, and the items outlined below address the diverse pedagogical, technical, and musical challenges that viola students and their teachers face. posture. “Grounding” is a term that many teachers use to describe the feeling of being relaxed, yet strong in stance, to their students. When a student’s knees are locked, their hips or pelvis rotated or tilted, or their feet come off the ground, it is easy to lose the connection with the sound of the instrument and the music. A balance board with a 360-degree motion is a great tool to use with violists of any age and level. Designed to help with stability and balance for athletes, the best type of balance board rests on a cushion and has a platform wide enough so that the feet can be placed shoulder width apart. Although it is possible to play while balancing on a balance board, the goal should be finding a strong, centered stance without the instrument for several minutes at a time, which can then be replicated with the instrument in playing position once off the board. For students who continually forget to stay balanced and rise up on their toes while playing, a simple and inexpensive solution is the placement of a plastic squeaker (commonly found in dog toys) under the foot. As a student begins to lose his or her connection with the ground, the telltale “squeak” is all they need to remember to stay grounded! Squeakers fit easily in a student’s or teacher’s case, so they can always be “at the ready” for lessons and practice sessions. 1. General Posture Tools A beautiful, full viola sound begins with balanced

2. Set-Up Accessories As students grow and mature, their set-up needs change. Violists and their instruments are all unique in size and shape, and most teachers agree that there is no “one size fits all” solution to holding and balancing the instrument on the shoulder. Although a bit price prohibitive, it can be quite useful to keep a large supply of chin rests and shoulder rests on hand in the studio. In recent years, several new products have become available that are worth trying out. These include the Kréddle chin rest and the Frisch and Denig Chin Rest Fitting System (fitting kits are available for purchase by teachers). In addition, older standbys, such as the SAS chin rest, which comes in four different heights; the Berber chin rest; and various center-mounted models work well for many students. Teachers may also help their students find an optimal set up with a variety of shoulder rests and the use of red cosmetic sponges that can fit on either end of the shoulder rest and add extra height or cushioning and prevent the instrument from slipping. Lastly, several shoulder rest models have a variety of feet lengths, and it is useful to experiment with shoulder-rest height, especially for students with long necks. 3. Right Arm and Sound Production Aids “More sound, less effort” is my studio mantra. It’s a phrase that may seem confusing until a student learns to properly control his or her right arm and maximize arm weight in the string. To help discover this feeling, a teacher can use large rubber bands and/or therapy bands to help a student feel the sensation of a totally relaxed arm. For students struggling to play at the frog (frog-a phobics!), using a fractional sized bow, or “baby bow,” can be both fun and eye-opening. After a week of playing on a small bow, students are usually much more comfortable at the frog, assuming their bow hold and right arm movement is correct!

Journal of the American Viola Society / Vol. 32, No. 2, Fall 2016

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