JAVS Spring 2025

With Viola in Hand

Finding the Perfect Fit: An Exploration of Chinrests, Shoulder Rests, and How to Play More Comfortably by Elizabeth Thorup

to consider that their invention was driven by the need to play more demanding passages on the instrument. Ann Cnop, in her article “The Rise of the Chinrest and Shoulder Rest,” explains “… frequent movement of the left hand up and down the neck of the instrument [became] increasingly necessary… forcing musicians to seek solutions that would provide greater stability and comfort.” 1 With symphonies, concertos, and sonatas placing increased strain on the left hand, it makes sense that additional support became essential to allow greater mobility. The first chinrest was developed by Louis Spohr in 1820. A simple, center-mounted design, it provided some stability, though it remained relatively uncommon in the early years.

Introduction At seventeen, I had just bought a new viola, and my old setup simply didn’t work. For the purposes of this article, “setup” will refer to the combination of chinrests and shoulder rests used on an instrument. My teacher spent weeks pulling out boxes of chinrests, shoulder rests, foam pads, and other options. We tried everything during lessons, and I would practice with the best candidates throughout the week. At the time, I didn’t fully understand why she prioritized this process. But after completing my undergraduate degree in viola performance—playing six to eight hours a day—I realized it was the most important thing she could have done for me. I began to recognize how rare it was to be encouraged to explore comfortable playing at such a young age. The fact is, the topic is not discussed enough, and resources to help are limited. After two years of helping college students explore and find ideal setups for the individual, I started a business to ensure more musicians have access to the products they need to play comfortably. This journey led me to help others find their ideal setup, but it all started with my own struggle. Understanding the importance of a well-fitted setup requires looking at its history. The tools we rely on today—chinrests and shoulder rests—were not always standard. To fully appreciate the impact of finding the right setup, it helps to understand how these accessories evolved and why they became essential for modern string players. History of the Chinrest and Shoulder Rest Although chinrests and shoulder rests have been around since the mid-nineteenth century, they did not gain widespread use until a few decades ago. It is fascinating

Although Spohr praised its benefits, early musicians were slow to adopt it, possibly due to tradition or discomfort with change. What we do know is that it has little mention in treatises written by his contemporaries. No original Spohr models exist today, but similar designs Figure 1. The basic, round-model chinrest developed by Louis Spohr in 1820. 2

Journal of the American Viola Society / Vol. 41, No. 1, Spring 2025

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