As a master luthier, I am thrilled to present our new line of “Almond” chin rests, an innovation designed to revolutionize the comfort and performance of violinists and violists.
After years of experience (both as a violinist and later as a luthier) and attentive listening to the needs of my clients, I have come to understand how fundamental it is to have a correct posture free from tension in order to express one's talent to the fullest.
As a young person, I unfortunately experienced several issues caused by stage fright and, even more so, by an inappropriate setup of my instrument. Oftentimes when playing, one is subject to various forms of tension, anxiety, and stress. These are aspects that need to be managed and kept under control. It is up to each individual musician to "tame" these emotions and sensations so they do not take over. We know how they can affect performance, but also our bodies. Many physical problems stem from these tensions. Unfortunately, the luthier cannot do much in this regard: let's remember that, while being magnificent instruments, the violin and viola are truly "uncomfortable" by nature.
The luthier can, however, intervene on certain components of the violin that can facilitate relaxation, thereby reducing stress (for example) in the cervical area. One of these "key" elements is the chin rest.
The violin and viola are magnificent instruments, but they are uncomfortable "by nature"
As I mentioned, these instruments can, alas, cause physical discomfort (particularly in the cervical area) if one does not pay close attention.
It is precisely from this awareness that the Almond series was born.
The Almond chin rests are the result of extensive research on the interaction between musician and instrument. The goal is simple: to help you reduce discomfort and muscle tension, allowing you to dedicate more time and energy to music, both during long practice sessions and in more demanding performances.
I firmly believe that choosing the right chin rest is a crucial step in the professional growth of every performer, in order to improve the quality of the time spent playing and, ultimately, making life simpler and more comfortable.
