Stretches for Violinists
Finding your violin literally a pain in the neck? Practicing/playing for extended periods of time may result in some physical discomfort. In this post discover tips on how to set up your violin hold to be as pain free as possible and violinist stretches that I personally do.
The night before making this video, I was awake in bed for two hours with neck pain. That pain inspired me to make a video to show the stretches I do to get out of pain since I know many violinists have similar issues.
It’s very normal after how many years of playing for violinists to have a sensitive neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists and we just have to take care of our body.
ALWAYS the first place to investigate is your violin hold and set up. Do make sure that you are set up the most ergonomically for your build.
There is an ongoing discussion on whether or not to use a shoulder rest. Personally, I agree with both sides of the coin. For a time I tried to play without a shoulder rest. I love to play without the shoulder rest because there’s nothing blocking me in the violin. I love that feeling of being in 100% contact with a violin and my violin sounds so much better without a shoulder rest; however, my neck is not a happy camper without a shoulder rest. I was in a lot of pain when I played for extended periods of time without a shoulder rest. Mind you this was after 23 years of playing with a shoulder rest.
Hence, why I use the shoulder rest and I’m a big proponent of the shoulder rest because when we just sit or stand our neck just is naturally the way it is. If you play the violin for a long period of time and your hunched over to hold on to the violin you seriously will have some issues with your neck.
For best results, you want to make sure that the height of your shoulder rest is the height of your neck.
Investigate your chin rest as well. For more details on how to hold the violin properly and as pain free as possible, check out my post How to Hold a Violin for Beginners and Beyond.
Okay so first and foremost, do your best to avoid neck pain with an ergonomic inspection of your violin hold.
The night that I was awake for a good two hours with insane pain, I started to do stretches to get out of pain and I thought I really should be doing these stretches on a more regular basis and not just because I have pain.
So to throw in a little disclaimer: I’m not a physical therapist. I’m not a doctor. I’m just a violinist sharing information that helps me and may help you. However, if you choose to do these stretches, you choose to do them at your own risk and may not hold me liable.
Are you ready to finally feel comfortable playing the violin? Have you been searching for just the right shoulder rest, chin rest and no matter what you try, you just can’t settle on a comfortable violin hold?
After hours of playing, you have neck and shoulder pain that limits your playing.
Sign up for a private session with Heather and get yourself diagnosed how to set up a proper violin hold, pain free. Schedule here.
Stretches for Violinists
The following violinist stretches movements are excellent to do in the middle of practice sessions, practice breaks, as a little break. These stretches for violinists can be done sitting down or standing, your choice.
- Very gently bring your chin to your chest. Very very gently rock your head back. Stay within the realms of your movement. This isn’t about extending and really stretching the neck. This stretch is literally just about motion. Just about moving your neck. You may find that when you do this movement, that pain that you might have had that very first time starts to go away.
- Slowly move your head to the left and/or to the right and the same as the first stretch we move very gently.
- Same as above but once you have reached maximum motion to the left or right side, move your head up and down.
- Gently lean your ear to your shoulder. Take your hand and gently help your head get closer to the shoulder enough to feel a stretch. Move your head back and forth.
- Half circles with the head. I just start down and go back and let my head gently drop forward and go back. Repeat on the other side.
- Clasp hands behind the back and move in an upward motion. This helps open the upper front chest muscles.
- Shoulder rolls forward and back also help gets the neck loosened up.
After completing the inital movements listed above, the same movements can be done in repition. Just a little faster but not crazy. Small repetitions of the same motion.
Let me know if you found this to be helpful in the comments below. Believe me, I know that I’m not the only violinist in the world that has occasional neck issues or small neck pain or tightness.
Sending tons of healing energy.
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