Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering a specialist consultation for a physical problem when playing the violin or viola, the questions below explain how the service works, what you can expect and how consultations are arranged.
About the Service
What is the specialist consultation service?
The service provides private, individual consultations for violinists and violists who experience physical problems when playing.
The focus is on understanding the particular problem in the context of your playing. This can include tension, pain, discomfort, stiffness, fatigue, restricted movement, altered sensation or difficulties with the way you hold and support the instrument.
The consultation is different from a conventional violin or viola lesson. It is not about teaching a particular technique or telling you that there is one correct way to hold or play the instrument.
The aim is to understand your individual situation and explore practical ways of addressing it in your playing.
If a physical problem is affecting your playing, a private specialist consultation provides an opportunity to examine your individual situation in detail.
Is this a violin or viola lesson?
No. A specialist consultation is different from a conventional violin or viola lesson.
A normal lesson is primarily concerned with developing your playing. The specialist consultation is specifically concerned with a physical problem that is affecting you when you play.
There is no particular technique that you are expected to adopt. The purpose is to understand your individual situation rather than impose a predetermined way of playing.
If you are looking for specialist help with a physical problem rather than a conventional lesson, you can arrange an initial consultation.
Who is the service for?
The service is for violinists and violists at all levels, including beginners, amateur players, advanced players, professional musicians and soloists.
You do not need to be a professional player or have a long-standing problem. If something physical is interfering with your playing, the consultation can focus specifically on understanding what is happening.
If a physical difficulty is interfering with your playing, you can arrange an initial consultation regardless of your level of playing.
Are consultations available for clients under 18?
Yes. For clients under the age of 18, another adult must be present during the consultation. This may be a parent, legal guardian, teacher or another adult agreed in advance with Michael Hegeman.
How much experience do you have with these problems?
I have 45 years of experience playing and teaching the violin. My musical training includes study at the Conservatory of Utrecht and experience with both Russian and Belgian-French traditions.
My violin studies included Pavel Šorm, Concertmaster of the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, representing the Russian School tradition. My viola studies included Prunella Pacey, Soloist and Principal Viola of the Royal Northern Sinfonia Orchestra, within the Belgian-French tradition.
I have also played with and without a shoulder rest and have extensive experience considering the physical relationship between the player and the instrument.
If you would like to discuss a physical problem with someone with extensive experience playing and teaching the violin, you can arrange an initial consultation.
Physical Problems
What types of physical problems can you help with?
The service covers a broad range of physical problems that can arise when playing the violin or viola.
These can include pain or discomfort; excessive or persistent tension; stiffness; muscular fatigue; restricted movement; difficulties with movement or control; numbness or altered sensation; problems involving the neck, shoulders, back, arms, wrists or hands; jaw-related difficulties; and problems related to holding or supporting the instrument.
A problem does not have to fit neatly into one category. Different physical experiences can occur together, and the same symptom can have different circumstances behind it in different players.
If you recognise your problem but are unsure exactly what is causing it, the consultation can focus on understanding what happens when you play.
Do I need to know what is causing my problem before making an appointment?
No. You do not need to know the cause of the problem before making an enquiry.
You only need to provide a brief indication of what you experience when playing. The consultation is intended to help understand the problem in the context of your playing.
If you know that something is physically interfering with your playing but are unsure why, you can begin with an initial consultation.
Do I need a medical diagnosis before having a consultation?
No. A medical diagnosis is not required in order to make an enquiry or arrange a consultation.
When making your initial enquiry, a brief description of the physical problem you experience when playing is sufficient. You do not need to provide a detailed medical history.
The consultation is not a medical diagnosis or medical treatment. Where a problem requires medical assessment or treatment, appropriate medical or healthcare advice remains the responsibility of the relevant healthcare professional.
If you are experiencing a physical problem when playing but do not have a medical diagnosis, you can still begin with an initial specialist consultation.
Can you help if my problem only happens when I play?
Yes. A problem may occur specifically during violin or viola playing, during particular movements or passages, or only after playing for a certain length of time.
During the consultation, we first discuss the problem and what you experience when playing. We then work directly with your individual physical problem and examine what is happening when you play. We can try relevant changes or different possibilities and consider how the problem responds.
If the problem appears specifically when you play, the consultation can consider what happens in the circumstances in which the problem occurs.
Instrument Hold, Posture and Setup
Do you only look at posture?
No. Posture can be relevant, but the consultation is not limited to posture.
The focus is on your individual physical problem and what happens when you play. What is relevant depends on the particular problem and your individual situation.
There is no assumption that one particular posture or playing position is correct for everyone.
If you are experiencing a physical problem while playing, the consultation considers the problem in the context of your individual playing rather than focusing on posture alone.
Can problems be related to the way I hold my instrument?
They can be. The way a violin or viola is held and supported can be relevant to an individual physical problem.
Whether it is relevant depends on the individual player and the particular problem. During the consultation, we work directly with the problem as it occurs when you play and consider what may be relevant to it.
If you suspect that the way you hold or support the instrument is connected with your problem, this can be considered during a private consultation.
Do you consider the use or non-use of the shoulder rest?
Yes. Where relevant to the individual problem, the use or non-use of a shoulder rest can form part of the physical circumstances considered during the consultation.
I have personal experience playing both with and without a shoulder rest.
If you would like the use or non-use of your shoulder rest considered in relation to your particular problem, this can be discussed during a consultation.
Should I bring my normal shoulder rest and chin rest?
Yes. If you normally use a particular shoulder rest and chin rest, it is useful to use your normal equipment during the consultation. This allows me to consider the problem in the setup you normally play with.
The Consultation
What happens during the initial consultation?
The initial consultation lasts 75 minutes and is focused specifically on your physical problem when playing.
During the consultation, we work directly with your individual physical problem and examine what is happening when you play. We can try relevant changes or different possibilities and consider how the problem responds.
Depending on the problem, we may examine particular movements, passages or playing situations. This practical process helps develop an understanding of what is relevant to the difficulty and what may help address it in your playing.
The initial 75-minute consultation provides dedicated time to examine your individual problem in the context of your playing.
What exactly am I getting for the initial consultation?
The initial consultation is a 75-minute Initial Specialist Consultation with Michael Hegeman. It is complete in itself. Its purpose is to understand your individual physical problem in the context of your playing, rather than to place you into a predetermined system of equipment, exercises, lessons or ongoing work.
During the consultation, you will play and we will work directly with the problem as it occurs. We can examine what happens during particular movements, passages or playing situations, try relevant changes or different possibilities where appropriate, and consider how the problem responds. This practical process can help establish what is relevant to the difficulty and what may help address it in your playing.
After the consultation, you can decide whether you need any further consultations or whether the problem has been resolved sufficiently. You may not need any additional consultations, equipment, lessons, exercises or other services. If particular options could be beneficial, we can discuss them together, and I can help you make an informed choice about whether you would like to pursue them. There is no obligation to choose any of them.
If you would like to use the full 75 minutes to work directly with your particular physical problem, the initial specialist consultation is the recommended starting point.
Will I need to play during the consultation?
Yes. You will play during the consultation so that we can work directly with the problem as it occurs.
Depending on the problem, we may try particular movements, changes or playing situations and consider how the problem responds. This allows the practical work to focus on your individual playing rather than discussing the problem only in general terms.
The consultation involves practical work with the problem as it occurs when you play.
What should I prepare before the consultation?
It is useful to know when the problem occurs, what you experience and how it affects your playing.
You do not need to prepare a detailed medical history or diagnosis. Your own description of what happens when you play is sufficient for the initial enquiry and provides a useful starting point for the consultation.
If you know what happens when you play and are ready to discuss it, you can begin with an initial specialist consultation.
How long is the initial consultation?
The initial specialist consultation lasts 75 minutes.
This provides sufficient time to discuss the problem, work with it while you play and consider the response to relevant changes or possibilities.
The initial 75-minute consultation is the recommended starting point.
Online Consultations
Are online consultations available?
Yes. Consultations are available in person, or online for clients internationally.
The online consultation is a full specialist consultation and is not a reduced version of the service. You will play, and we can work directly with the problem as it occurs. Depending on the problem, we can examine particular movements, passages or playing situations, try relevant changes or different possibilities, and consider how the problem responds.
If you are outside the Netherlands or prefer to consult online, an international online consultation is available.
Can an online consultation be useful for a physical problem?
Yes. An online consultation can be useful for physical problems because we can work directly with the problem while you play.
You will play during the consultation, and we can examine what happens during particular movements, passages or playing situations. Where appropriate, we can try relevant changes or different possibilities and consider how the problem responds.
An online consultation is therefore not simply a conversation about your problem. It can involve the same practical process of working directly with the problem while you play.
If travelling for an in-person consultation is not practical, you can begin with an online consultation.
Can I choose between online and in-person consultations?
Yes. Consultations are available in person, or online for clients internationally. You can have all consultations in person, all consultations online, or move between the two.
For example, you may have an initial consultation in person and a follow-up online, or begin online and later arrange an in-person consultation.
You can choose the consultation format that is appropriate for your circumstances and change between online and in-person consultations when arranging further consultations.
Professional Violinists and Violists
Is the service suitable for professional violinists and violists?
Yes. Professional violinists and violists can use the service when a physical problem is affecting their playing.
The consultation is private and individual, allowing the physical problem to be considered in the context of the demands of professional playing.
If a physical problem is interfering with professional playing, a private consultation provides dedicated time to examine the situation confidentially.
Is the consultation confidential?
Yes. The service is private, individual and confidential.
Confidentiality applies from the first enquiry. You only need to provide a brief indication of the physical problem when making initial contact.
If privacy is particularly important to you, the consultation is conducted as a private, individual and confidential service.
Can professional musicians use the service without other people in their professional environment being involved?
Yes. The consultation is a private and confidential service. There is no requirement for colleagues, conductors, orchestral management, artistic directors, agents, or other people within your professional environment to be involved.
If you need to address a playing-related physical problem privately, you can arrange the consultation without involving others in your professional environment.
Physical Problems and Medical Treatment
Is this a medical service?
No. The service is not a medical diagnosis or medical treatment service.
The focus is on physical problems as they relate to violin or viola playing and on understanding the individual circumstances in which the problem occurs.
Where medical assessment or treatment is required, that should be provided by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
If your concern is specifically about a physical problem as it affects your violin or viola playing, you can arrange a specialist consultation focused on the playing situation.
Can I have a consultation if I am already receiving medical treatment?
Yes. If you are already receiving medical or other healthcare treatment, you can still make an enquiry about the specialist consultation.
The consultation remains focused on your playing and the physical problem as it occurs when playing the violin or viola. It does not replace medical treatment or medical advice.
If you are already receiving healthcare and also want to examine how the problem affects your playing, you can arrange a specialist consultation alongside that care.
Will you diagnose my condition?
No. The consultation is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis.
The focus is on understanding what happens when you play and considering the physical circumstances involved in your individual playing situation.
If you want to examine what happens when you play rather than seek a medical diagnosis, you can arrange a specialist consultation.
Approach and Possible Outcomes
Will you tell me exactly how I should hold or play the violin?
No. There is no single way of holding or playing the violin or viola that is imposed on every player.
The consultation starts from your individual situation and the particular problem you experience. The aim is to understand the circumstances involved and explore practical ways of addressing the difficulty in your playing.
If you are looking for help with a specific physical problem rather than a prescribed playing technique, the consultation is designed for that purpose.
Will I be expected to commit to further consultations, equipment, lessons or other services?
Each consultation is complete in itself. After each consultation, you can decide whether you need any further consultations or whether the problem has been resolved sufficiently.
Depending on your individual situation, you may wish to consider:
- further consultations
- particular equipment
- additional or specialised violin lessons
- exercises
- other relevant services
You may not need any additional consultations, equipment, lessons, exercises or other services. If particular options could be beneficial, we can discuss them together, and I can help you make an informed choice about whether you would like to pursue them. There is no obligation to choose any of them.
You can begin by addressing the individual problem without committing yourself to further consultations or other services.
Will you tell me what is causing my problem?
The consultation is intended to develop an understanding of what is happening when you play by working directly with the problem and considering how it responds to relevant changes or different possibilities.
Physical problems can have different contributing factors in different players, so the consultation does not begin with the assumption that there is one universal cause.
The practical work during the consultation can help clarify what may be relevant to the difficulty and what may help address it in your playing, without assuming that one definite cause can always be established.
If you want your individual playing situation examined rather than receiving a generic explanation, a private consultation provides the opportunity to do that.
How long can it take to notice an improvement?
This can vary considerably from one person and one problem to another. In some situations, a useful change or solution may lead to an improvement relatively quickly. In others, your body and playing may need time to adapt to changes or adjustments identified as part of working on the problem.
How long this takes can depend on the nature of the problem, how long you have been experiencing it, the changes or adjustments involved, and how quickly your body and playing adapt.
It is therefore important to be patient. Even when a useful approach has been identified, it may take time to become familiar with it and for your body and playing to adapt. This may take several weeks or longer.
Similarly, discomfort, tension or pain may sometimes improve relatively quickly, while in other situations it may take longer. There is no fixed timetable that applies to every player or every problem.
Patience is part of the process. The aim is to understand what is relevant to your particular problem and explore practical ways of addressing it in your playing, while allowing sufficient time to see how your body and playing respond.
What can I expect from the consultation?
You can expect dedicated time to discuss the problem and then work directly with it while you play.
Depending on the problem, we may examine particular movements, passages or playing situations, try relevant changes or different possibilities, and consider how the problem responds. This practical work can help clarify what may be relevant to the difficulty and what may help address it in your playing.
The consultation is therefore not limited to discussing the problem. The aim is to work with your individual playing situation and develop a clearer understanding of what is happening and what may be useful in addressing it.
If you would like to have your particular problem examined and worked on in this way, you can arrange an initial consultation.
What if the problem cannot be resolved in one consultation?
The initial consultation provides time to work directly with the problem, explore relevant possibilities and establish a clearer understanding of the individual situation.
Some problems may require further work. After the initial consultation, you can discuss whether a follow-up would be useful and whether there are further aspects of the problem that would benefit from being explored.
Further consultations can be arranged individually or as part of a consultation programme.
You do not need to decide in advance how many consultations you will need. The initial consultation provides the starting point.
Can the initial consultation be useful even if I do not continue with further consultations?
Yes. The initial consultation is complete in itself. Its purpose is to develop a clearer understanding of your individual physical problem in the context of your playing and to explore relevant possibilities where appropriate.
After the consultation, you can decide whether you need any further consultations or whether the problem has been resolved sufficiently. You may not need any additional consultations, equipment, lessons, exercises or other services. If particular options could be beneficial, we can discuss them together, and I can help you make an informed choice about whether you would like to pursue them. There is no obligation to choose any of them.
If you want to start with a single specialist consultation without committing to further work, the initial consultation can be booked on its own.
Booking and Payment
Who handles the booking process?
Appointments are arranged through Claudia Hegeman, who assists me with scheduling and the booking process. I conduct the consultations.
How do I arrange a consultation?
To make an enquiry about a consultation, start by sending a brief indication of the physical problem you experience when playing the violin or viola. You do not need to provide a detailed medical history or diagnosis.
Submitting an enquiry does not automatically book or commit you to a consultation. After you have made your enquiry, Claudia will contact you to answer any questions you may have and, if you wish to proceed, arrange a suitable date and time. She handles the appointment arrangements and payment process on my behalf.
Once the appointment has been arranged, you will receive the appointment details and payment instructions. The appointment is confirmed once payment has been received.
Consultations are available in person, or online for clients internationally.
If you would like to arrange a consultation with me, you can begin the booking process here.
Who arranges the appointment?
Claudia handles the appointment arrangements. After you make your enquiry, she will contact you to arrange a suitable date and time and provide the appointment and payment details.
To arrange an appointment, begin the booking process here.
Do I choose the appointment time when I make my enquiry?
You do not select and automatically book an appointment time when submitting the enquiry. After you submit your enquiry, Claudia will contact you by email to discuss your availability and agree a suitable date and time with you.
She handles the scheduling and booking arrangements.
You can begin your enquiry here, and Claudia will then contact you to arrange a suitable appointment time with you.
When is my appointment confirmed?
After Claudia has arranged the date and time with you, she will send the appointment details and payment instructions.
The appointment is confirmed once payment has been received.
To start the booking process, make your enquiry through the consultation page.
How can I pay?
Payment can be made by PayPal or bank transfer. Claudia will provide the payment instructions after the appointment date and time have been arranged.
The appointment is confirmed once payment has been received.
To arrange your consultation, begin your enquiry here. Claudia will then provide the payment instructions.
What consultation options are available?
There are four consultation options. The initial specialist consultation is the recommended starting point for a new client.
Initial Specialist Consultation — 75 minutes — US$295
The recommended starting point for a new client. This consultation is complete in itself.
After the initial consultation, you can choose any of these three optional follow-up routes:
Single Follow-Up Consultation — 60 minutes — US$225
To continue working on your individual physical problems after the initial consultation.
Programme of Three Follow-Up Consultations — US$625
Three 60-minute consultations to continue working on your individual physical problems after the initial consultation.
Programme of Five Follow-Up Consultations — US$975
Five 60-minute consultations to continue working on your individual physical problems after the initial consultation.
Each consultation is complete in itself. After each consultation, you can decide whether you need any further consultations or whether the problem has been resolved sufficiently.
If you are considering a consultation and would like to discuss the options for your individual situation, you can begin with an enquiry.
Which consultation option should I choose?
The initial 75-minute specialist consultation is the recommended starting point.
This gives sufficient time to discuss the problem and for the physical circumstances involved to be considered.
After the initial consultation, you can choose any of three optional follow-up routes:
- Single Follow-Up Consultation — 60 minutes — US$225 — To continue working on your individual physical problems after the initial consultation.
- Programme of Three Follow-Up Consultations — US$625 — Three 60-minute consultations to continue working on your individual physical problems after the initial consultation.
- Programme of Five Follow-Up Consultations — US$975 — Five 60-minute consultations to continue working on your individual physical problems after the initial consultation.
You do not need to decide in advance whether you will need further consultations.
If you are ready to begin, the initial specialist consultation is the recommended starting point. You can decide after the consultation whether any further route is appropriate for you.
Do I have to decide in advance whether I will need further consultations?
No. The initial consultation is the recommended starting point.
Each consultation is complete in itself. After each consultation, you can decide whether you need any further consultations or whether the problem has been resolved sufficiently.
After the initial consultation, you can choose any of three optional follow-up routes:
- Single Follow-Up Consultation — 60 minutes — US$225
- Programme of Three Follow-Up Consultations — US$625
- Programme of Five Follow-Up Consultations — US$975
You do not have to decide in advance which, if any, of these options you may need.
You can begin with the initial consultation and make decisions about any further consultations only after you have had the opportunity to work on your individual problem.
What happens after the initial consultation?
After the initial consultation, you can choose any of three optional follow-up routes:
- Single Follow-Up Consultation — 60 minutes — US$225 — To continue working on your individual physical problems after the initial consultation.
- Programme of Three Follow-Up Consultations — US$625 — Three 60-minute consultations to continue working on your individual physical problems after the initial consultation.
- Programme of Five Follow-Up Consultations — US$975 — Five 60-minute consultations to continue working on your individual physical problems after the initial consultation.
You do not have to choose any of these options. Each consultation is complete in itself, and after each consultation you can decide whether you need any further consultations or whether the problem has been resolved sufficiently.
If you decide to continue, Claudia will arrange the next appointment with you. Further consultations can be in person or online, depending on your circumstances.
If you decide that further work would be useful, you can choose the follow-up route that suits your individual situation.
Can I have a follow-up consultation without booking a programme?
Yes. You can arrange a Single Follow-Up Consultation without committing to a consultation programme. This allows you to continue working on your individual physical problems after the initial consultation.
If you would like to continue working on your individual physical problem without booking a programme, you can arrange a single follow-up consultation.
Do I have to book a consultation programme?
No. Consultation programmes are optional.
You can begin with the initial consultation and decide afterwards whether further consultations would be useful. If you decide to continue, you can arrange a Single Follow-Up Consultation individually, or choose a Programme of Three Follow-Up Consultations or a Programme of Five Follow-Up Consultations.
Each consultation is complete in itself, and there is no requirement to book a programme.
You can start with the initial consultation and decide later whether an individual follow-up or a programme is appropriate for you.
What if I am unsure which consultation option is right for me?
The initial 75-minute consultation is the recommended starting point.
If you are still unsure, you can mention this when making your enquiry. Claudia can then help arrange the appropriate appointment.
If you are unsure where to begin, you can start by making an enquiry and Claudia will help arrange the appointment.
Can I change my appointment?
If you need to change or cancel an appointment, contact Claudia as soon as possible. The applicable cancellation and rescheduling terms are set out in the Terms & Conditions.
Recording and Privacy
Will my consultation be recorded?
Consultations are not automatically recorded. Where appropriate, Michael may record a consultation for his own professional use, with your consent.
Clients may not record a consultation without prior written permission.
Do I need to send videos before the consultation?
Not necessarily. The consultation itself provides an opportunity to discuss the physical problem and consider the circumstances in which it occurs.
If video material is relevant to the individual consultation, this can be discussed as part of the consultation process.
If you are unsure whether video material would be useful, you can begin by arranging the consultation and discuss this as part of the process.
How much personal information do I need to provide?
For the initial enquiry, you only need to provide a brief indication of the physical problem you experience when playing the violin or viola.
You do not need to provide a detailed medical history or diagnosis.
If you would like to make an enquiry without providing unnecessary personal or medical information, you only need to give a brief indication of the problem.
Is my enquiry confidential?
Yes. The service is private, individual and confidential from the first enquiry.
Only information that is relevant and necessary for the enquiry and consultation is requested.
If you would like to discuss the problem privately from the outset, you can begin with a confidential enquiry.
Practical Questions
Where do in-person consultations take place?
In-person consultation arrangements are provided when the appointment is made.
Can I bring my instrument and normal playing equipment?
Yes. You should use your normal violin or viola and normal playing equipment for the consultation.
Using your usual equipment allows the physical problem to be considered in the circumstances in which you normally play.
Can I have someone else present during the consultation?
The consultation is intended to be a private one-to-one consultation. If there is a particular reason why someone else needs to be present, this can be discussed when arranging the appointment.
What if I am not sure whether my problem is suitable for a consultation?
If you are unsure, you can simply provide a brief indication of the problem when making your enquiry. You do not need to determine in advance exactly what the problem is or what may be causing it.
The initial consultation can then focus on understanding what happens when you play and whether the specialist service is appropriate for your situation.
If you are unsure whether your particular problem is suitable, you can begin by making an enquiry.