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In order to perform at your best as a musician, you need to be feeling at your best. Below we’ve assembled a number of resources to help you keep feeling and playing at your finest.

The Alexander Technique

In a nutshell, the Alexander Technique is a tool for establishing connections: connections among different body parts, connections between body and mind, connections with the physical world (including your instrument), connections with the music itself and with your audience. Developed by Frederick Matthias Alexander (1869-1955), the Technique is taught all over the world to musicians and non-musicians alike. A good number of music colleges and conservatories offer lessons and classes in Alexander Technique, including (among many others) the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music in London, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, Juilliard School in New York, and the Conservatoire de Paris.

Learn more here


British Association for Performing Arts Medicine

BAPAM is a unique non-profit organisation helping performing arts professionals and students with work-related health issues, both physical and psychological.

BAPAM offer a range of services including performing arts medicine clinics, performing arts medicine training, a directory of approved practitioners experienced in working with performing arts professionals, and a “Health Resources” page which contains several free downloadable PDFs featuring immediately applicable tips and tools to enhance playing and health!

Learn more here


Julie Lyonn Liebermann

Julie Lyonn Liebermann has produced a range of highly acclaimed books and DVDs that assist performers in enabling their natural abilities and self-expression to flourish by removing physical and psychological hindrances that commonly afflict musicians. Her book “You Are Your Instrument” is suitable for all musicians and covers key concepts such as eliminating anxiety and tension, improving memorisation, preventing and dealing with injury, and performance psychology. She has also produced DVDs dealing specifically with violin and viola technique, providing a fluid methodology designed to be adapted to the musician’s unique style, and structural/technical modifications to be made to prevent injury as well as enable optimum performance.

Learn more here


Rachel Roberts – Managing Performance Anxiety

“Managing Performance Anxiety” by Rachel Roberts is a booklet for music students of all ages which explores topics such as goal setting, breath control, relaxation techniques and psychological strategies in order to assist the reader in creating their own plan to tame performance anxiety.  Rachel also covers how to fuel yourself pre and post performance, and how to develop a confident and motivated attitude.

Rachel has researched extensively, presenting a broad range of materials in a concise manner, saving the reader valuable time.  We believe this is a topic that many students would benefit from studying, and we highly recommend Rachel’s booklet.

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Gel Rests

Many players experience a playing-related injury at some point, with an estimated 70% of professional musicians needing to take time off from playing due to injury at some point during their career.  There are few things more inconvenient and stressful than having to take time off work due to a health issue, and it is particularly unfortunate when a large portion of these problems can be avoided.  Injuries generally develop due to poor playing habits and insufficient care of the muscles, soft tissue and joints.  Ensuring you are fully warmed up before playing, and taking time consistently to maintain flexibility and mobility, as well as performing any corrective exercises needed can assist players in avoiding or remedying injury.

There are a variety of tools to assist the violinist in remaining pain free. Addressing technical flaws, as well as practising the techniques mentioned above will benefit everyone; however it is challenging for many individuals to adopt a comfortable posture with a standard violin chin rest. There are a variety of shoulder rests and chin-rests designed to accommodate various body shapes and styles of technique, however, the Gel Rest is the most uniquely adaptable to the individual as it moulds itself to the shape of the player’s jaw.  As well as relieving pain, the Gel Rest feel wonderful against the skin, and has been designed to fit a variety of chin rests.  Gel Rests are easy to clean and are available in a range of colours. Try one, and you’ll know why our Gel Rest customer’s say, “I wonder how I ever played without it!”


Cardiff Violins share the above for informational purposes only and can’t verify the accuracy nor efficacy of the information, nor do we accept any responsibility for the consequences of its use.