MINNEAPOLIS, MN, March 06, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- When a new student begins lessons with Marnie Thies Violin Lessons, it is important to evaluate their chinrest, determine the correct violin size, and shoulder rest or sponge, which goes on the back of the violin. An optimal set-up helps prevent injury and improper technique, while enhancing the overall playing experience and encouraging more practice time for the student.

The chinrest was invented in the early nineteenth century, circa 1920, by German composer, violinist, and conductor, Louis Spohr. The ideal chinrest helps the violinist hold the violin. Although referred to as a chinrest, many in the violin community agree that it primarily benefits the jawbone.
Chinrests are made of plastic or various kinds of wood. Because each player has a unique neck length, choosing the right chinrest to support the violin is crucial. If a chinrest and shoulder rest do not occupy the space between the chin and left shoulder, a student may compensate by clenching their teeth or raising their left shoulder. This can lead to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues, shoulder pain, or injuries. If a chinrest is too tall, a student may strain their neck to compensate, possibly leading to injury. For many reasons as discussed below, Marnie Thies is passionate about helping students play with a suitable set-up that works for each student.

Chinrests come in various shapes and sizes. The shape of a player's chin helps determine which chinrest would be suitable for a violinist. Lynne Denig, Gary Frisch, and other researchers worldwide have studied how different chinrests correspond with various jaw types. Other businesses that are helpful for achieving a comfortable set-up include "Violinist in Balance." Chinrests can be positioned low or high on the violin and placed either in the center or on the left side. A player with a short neck may feel more comfortable with a low chinrest, and a student with a longer neck may feel more comfortable with a raised chinrest. Chinrests with humps may be preferred by some players, while a chinrest without humps may be preferred by others. Marnie Thies has found that most of her students are satisfied using one of the following chinrest types: Standard Guarneri (side-mounted), Flesch (center-mounted), Berber, or Zitsman chinrests.

Marnie Thies and many of her students prefer the Flesch chinrest for its superior support for the chin compared to the Guarneri chinrest.

Center chinrests have increased in popularity in recent years, partly because the chin naturally rests in the violin's center. There is debate in the violin community as to whether side or center-mount chinrests should be used. The primary consideration should be whether the player is comfortable and maintains good technique with their chosen chinrest. Selecting the most comfortable chinrest is found by trial and error. Music stores often let students try different chinrests to find the best fit.

How does Marnie Thies assess a chinrest and shoulder rest that works for each student?

Marnie Thies considers a few factors in evaluating a student's set-up. For purposes of this article, a student's set-up is defined by the chinrest and shoulder rest they are using. The first thing Marnie Thies asks students to do is hold the violin on their shoulder solely with their head and chin, which promotes stability of the violin on the left shoulder. Occasionally, a student may find their violin drifting toward the center of their body. If the violin is secure on a student's shoulder, Marnie Thies encourages students to hold the violin with their head and chin while moving their left arm and hand to higher positions on the instrument. If the violin is stable on the shoulder, the set-up is appropriate. If not, Marnie Thies will suggest different chin rests or shoulder rests to find the ideal set-up. The importance of keeping the violin on the left shoulder and finding a suitable set-up for the student will be discussed later in the article. In some cases, TMJ can be prevented as a player does not clench their teeth while playing due to the chinrest and shoulder rest providing adequate support between the chin and shoulder.

Marnie Thies has observed that both she and many of her students at Marnie Thies Violin Lessons prefer using shoulder rests to aid in holding the violin. A shoulder rest is a device that is placed on the back of the violin. The history of the shoulder rest is not well known, but it was first used in the 20th century.

Marnie Thies and most of her students prefer using the Bonmusica shoulder rest. Finding adequate chinrest support should take priority over raising the shoulder rest. Raising the shoulder rest before adjusting the chinrest can elevate a player's right bow arm, leading to strain in the right shoulder or arm. However, there are a few instances where both the shoulder rest and chinrest need to be raised to accommodate a musician's longer neck. The Bonmusica shoulder rest can be shaped to fit a player's shoulder and chest cavity, making it an excellent choice for players with long necks. The ability to customize the Bonmusica allows students to keep their violin securely on their left shoulder, preventing it from slipping toward the center of the body while playing.

The stability of the shoulder rest is important for a few reasons. Keeping the violin on the left shoulder is important for playing with a straight bow. The more to the left the violin is positioned on the player's shoulder, the less the right arm needs to adjust in order to keep the bow straight.
Playing with a straight bow is defined as bowing parallel to the bridge, which promotes a richer and clearer tone. The ideal shoulder rest set-up can help a player relax their left hand. A relaxed left hand helps the violinist play faster tempos and allows them to use vibrato, which enhances the player's sound. Keeping the left hand free of tension also prevents repetitive strain injuries like carpal tunnel and tendonitis.

Another shoulder rest that molds to fit the player's shoulder is the Wolf Secundo. This shoulder rest can be adjusted to fit the player's body, like the Bonmusica. For players with longer or shorter necks, the Wolf Secundo may be worth a try if the Bonmusica doesn't fit the bill. Some students have shared with Marnie Thies that a Wolf Secundo felt more comfortable than the Bonmusica, citing factors like having a bony collarbone as an example of their physical makeup.

Occasionally, a sponge placed on the back of a violin can be a good alternative in place of a shoulder rest. The economical cost of a sponge and ease of fitting for many young students make sponges an ideal choice. Additionally, a student with a bony collarbone may do well with a sponge.
The choice of chinrests and shoulder rests varies based on the player's physical build. Trying out various chinrests and shoulder rests helps many players discover the ideal combination for their comfort.

As of this article, Marnie Thies offers both online and in-person violin lessons to children and adults in St. Paul, as well as the surrounding suburbs of Falcon Heights and North Oaks. Marnie Thies has taught online since 2014 and more prevalently since 2020. Her online lessons page on proviolin.com showcases the progression of her student that began taking violin lessons online exclusively with Marnie Thies. Another video on her online lessons page highlights how her student learned vibrato solely through online lessons. Marnie Thies looks forward to expanding her teaching locations to include the Anoka County area in cities such as Blaine and Coon Rapids.

Marnie Thies enjoys helping students find a good set-up to improve their violin skills. To collaborate with Marnie Thies on finding a violin set-up that suits you or to schedule lessons, you can contact her through her website.

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