Specialist Help for Professional Violinists and Violists
This page focuses on the particular demands and concerns that can arise when physical problems affect professional violinists and violists.
Tension, pain, discomfort, stiffness, fatigue, restricted movement, altered sensation and other physical difficulties can affect violinists and violists at any level. For professional players, the demands of rehearsals, performances, recordings, auditions and demanding repertoire can make these problems particularly important to address.
Although this page focuses on professional playing, the specialist consultation is available to violinists and violists of all levels. The physical problems themselves are not limited to professional musicians; this page simply looks at them from the perspective of professional playing.
Private and Confidential
Every enquiry and consultation is private and confidential.
This privacy is particularly important for professional violinists and soloists who prefer not to have physical difficulties discussed with colleagues, conductors, orchestral management, artistic directors, agents, or other people within their professional environment.
When Physical Problems Affect Professional Playing
For a professional violinist or violist, a physical problem can have consequences beyond ordinary discomfort.
It can affect the ability to rehearse, perform, record, prepare demanding repertoire or maintain the professional level of playing required.
It can also be difficult to discuss such problems openly, particularly when professional commitments are involved.
A physical problem may become more noticeable or more difficult to manage during:
- Long rehearsals
- Performances
- Difficult or demanding repertoire
- Recording sessions
- Auditions
- Competitions
- Extended practice
- Periods of increased professional activity
Something that feels manageable during ordinary practice may become significantly more difficult when playing for longer periods or under performance conditions.
The physical problems experienced by professional violinists and violists are not necessarily different from those experienced by other players. What can be different is the level of playing demand, the amount of playing required and the consequences a physical difficulty can have for professional work.
Your Professional Context Matters
The physical demands placed on a professional musician can vary considerably depending on the repertoire, schedule and circumstances of playing.
The consultation can therefore consider your actual situation, including:
- The repertoire you play
- The demands of your playing schedule
- When the problem occurs
- Whether it changes during longer playing or under performance conditions
- How it affects your ability to play as required
The focus is on understanding what happens when you play and how this relates to the particular problem you are experiencing.
An Individual Approach
Every professional player has different physical characteristics, playing experience and circumstances.
My experience includes both Russian and Belgian-French traditions of violin and viola playing, as well as playing and teaching both with and without a shoulder rest.
This has given me first-hand experience of different ways of supporting the instrument.
I do not assume that one particular setup, technique or way of playing is appropriate for every professional violinist or violist.
Specialist Consultation for Professionals
The consultation is one-to-one and focused specifically on your situation.
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.
This is specialist consultation work rather than conventional violin teaching. I do not impose a particular technique or assume that there is one correct way for every player to hold or play the instrument.
Practical possibilities can be explored and tested in actual playing, in relation to the particular problem you are experiencing.
The aim is to understand the problem more clearly and explore practical ways of addressing it without imposing a predetermined method.
International Online Consultations
Consultations are available in person, or online for clients internationally.
The online service is a full specialist consultation and is not a reduced version of the service.
45 Years of Experience
I have 45 years of experience playing and teaching the violin, including study at the Conservatory of Utrecht, Netherlands.
My violin studies with Pavel Šorm, Concertmaster of the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, gave me a strong connection with the Russian School of violin playing.
I also studied viola with Prunella Pacey, Soloist and Principal Viola of the Royal Northern Sinfonia Orchestra, giving me experience of the Belgian-French tradition of viola playing.
My work draws on practical experience of violin and viola playing as well as research into physical problems associated with playing.
More information about my background is available on the About page.
Discuss Your Situation Privately
You do not need to know exactly what is causing the problem before making an enquiry. You can simply describe what you experience when playing and how it affects your playing.
If a physical problem is affecting your professional playing, you can contact me and briefly describe what you are experiencing.
Consultations are available in person, or online for clients internationally.
Private. Individual. Confidential.