Specialist Help for Professional Violinists and Soloists
Private and Confidential
For a professional violinist, a physical problem can have consequences beyond ordinary discomfort.
Tension, pain, restricted movement or physical fatigue can affect rehearsals, performances, recordings, auditions and the preparation of demanding repertoire.
It can also be difficult to discuss such problems openly.
Confidentiality Comes First
Every consultation is private and 100% confidential.
You can discuss physical difficulties privately without concern that information about your situation will be shared with colleagues, conductors, teachers, orchestras or other professional contacts.
This confidentiality is an important part of the service.
When Physical Problems Affect Professional Playing
A physical problem may become noticeable during:
- Long rehearsals
- Performances
- Solo work
- Difficult repertoire
- Recording sessions
- Auditions
- Competitions
- Extended practice
- Periods of increased professional activity
Something that feels manageable during ordinary practice may become significantly more difficult under performance conditions.
The demands of professional playing can also reveal problems that are less apparent in everyday playing.
Your Professional Context Matters
The physical demands placed on a professional violinist can be very different from those of occasional playing.
The consultation therefore considers your actual circumstances, including:
- The repertoire you play
- The demands of your playing schedule
- When the problem occurs
- Whether it changes under performance conditions
- How it affects your ability to play as required
The focus is on understanding what happens when you play.
The objective is not to impose a new playing system, but to examine the physical problem and explore practical possibilities for resolving it.
An Individual Approach
My experience includes both Russian and Belgian-French traditions of violin playing, as well as playing and teaching both with and without a shoulder rest.
I do not assume that one particular setup, technique or method is appropriate for every professional violinist.
The individual player remains the starting point.
The physical relationship between the player and the instrument is considered in relation to the particular problem you are experiencing.
Specialist Consultation for Professionals
The consultation is one-to-one and focused specifically on your situation.
We may examine the violin hold, posture, movement, muscular tension and other aspects of the physical relationship between you and the instrument.
Where appropriate, I will observe you playing and explore practical changes that can be tested in actual playing.
The aim is to understand the problem more clearly and work towards practical possibilities without imposing a predetermined method.
International Online Consultations
If you cannot attend in person, consultations are available online internationally.
The online service is a full specialist consultation and is not a reduced version of the service.
45 Years of Violin Experience
I have 45 years of experience playing and teaching the violin, including study at the Conservatory of Utrecht.
My background includes Russian and Belgian-French traditions of violin playing and extensive experience with both violin setups using and not using a shoulder rest.
More information about my background is available here:
Private Specialist Consultation
If a physical problem is affecting your professional playing, you can discuss it privately in a one-to-one specialist consultation.