JAVS Spring 2025

are still used. Spohr’s contribution, however small it may have been at the time, laid important groundwork.

It is also helpful to keep a small collection of chinrests and shoulder rests in your studio, as my teacher did for me. Start with versatile models that suit a range of musicians. For chinrests, consider the Berber, Dresden, Flesch, or Zitsman models. Adjustable options like SAS and Kreddle are also excellent, especially for players with longer necks. Be sure to include a mix of side-and center-mounted options and have cork on hand to raise rests as needed. For shoulder rests, focus on models with comfortable foam and minimal curvature, such as Everest, Wolf, Viva la Musica, or Mach One. Foam pads are another useful option, both for minor adjustments and as standalone supports. Keep in mind that larger foam pads can dampen sound, so if this is a concern, smaller pads or alternatives may be better. My own experience using a small foam pad for four years didn’t result in noticeable sound dampening, but the effect may vary with size. The Importance of Individualized Setup While general recommendations are helpful, no single setup works for everyone. During my undergraduate studies, I worked at the Instrument Shop at Brigham Young University, where I helped students find comfortable setups. This experience taught me that setup solutions depend largely on three factors: jaw shape, neck length, and shoulder shape. Understanding these elements can make a significant difference in both comfort and injury prevention. • Jaw Shape : Players with thinner faces often benefit from center mounted chinrests. For myself, I have a thin face and used a side mounted chinrest when I first started playing. This worked for a short time, but I needed a change as I advanced. I switched to a Berber chinrest a few years ago which is a center mounted rest with some side support. This has worked very well for me. In general, with a student that has a thin face, I would start with center mounts and see how that works. You might expect that I would now say those with a wide jaw do well with a side mount, which may sometimes be the case. However, I had one student come in that had a very pronounced wide jaw, and her side mounted rest was rubbing on her jaw because it seemed to cover too much ground on her chin. We switched her to a center mounted Flesch without a hump, and it worked very well for her. What I have found about side mounted rests is that they work mainly

The rise of the shoulder rest is a lot more nuanced. Initially, musicians used handkerchiefs and pads between themselves and their instruments, either to stabilize the instrument or add height. This practice began spreading among prominent players in the late nineteenth century. 3 The first mention of a “shoulder rest,” however, wasn’t until the early twentieth century. According to Cnop, the modern shoulder rest was invented by Vlado Kolitsch (1899–1979) in 1936. 4 His goal was to create a removable rest that wouldn’t damage the instrument. Thanks to these early innovators, today’s musicians have a range of tools to support comfortable playing. With these advancements, one might assume that musician injuries would decline, but the opposite is often true. The primary cause of musician injuries today is overuse or misuse of the instrument, leading to conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, and tendinitis. While these issues often stem from long hours of playing or poor technique, they are exacerbated by setups that are not ergonomically sound. Studies show that musician injuries increase mid-career, often between the ages of 25 and 35. 5 For some, these injuries can be alarming or even career-ending. Preparing for long hours of playing by optimizing your setup is crucial to ensuring your equipment works for you—not against you. With the evolution of these accessories, musicians today have more ergonomic options than ever before—an essential factor in preventing injuries and ensuring longevity in careers. Suggestions for Setups Listing every chinrest and shoulder rest available would require more space than this article allows. Since their invention, countless iterations have been developed, offering today’s string players an incredible variety. However, this abundance of options can also feel overwhelming. A quick Google search like “chinrests for a long neck” or “adjustable shoulder rests” is a good starting point to explore what’s available. When beginning a setup trial, it’s usually best to start with the chinrest. Adjusting both the chinrest and shoulder rest simultaneously can make it difficult to identify problems. Once the top of the instrument feels comfortable, you can assess whether additional support is needed on the bottom.

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