Showcase: Violin & Viola Shoulder Rests
Dear Members of the Board of Directors of the Schenectady City School District Educational Foundation,
Please let me again express my gratitude for your generous investment towards the education of my orchestra students at Mont Pleasant Middle School. The grant funds allowed for the purchase of 78 violin and viola shoulder rests for students to use in class. They were a nice surprise for students to return to after their winter break. Most students have been using the shoulder rests and enjoying them.
A student models her improved left hand technique, with a relaxed dropped wrist away from the neck of the instrument.
The most noticeable impact receiving the grant and materials has been students playing with much better technique. Improved technique affects many areas of performance. One of the biggest areas of impact with this has been improved intonation of students when they are playing. (Intonation is playing in tune.) With a relax hand position, they are more easily able to move their fingers to the correct places on the fingerboard.
I have especially noticed improved intonation in songs that require students to use their 4th finger (pinky). The pinky is our weakest finger and middle school is around the time music starts asking players to use the 4th finger in some pieces. With improper technique and collapsed wrists, it is very hard for students to reach to where they need to so that they are in tune. With the shoulder rests and much more relaxed wrists, students are playing these 4th fingers with more ease and better in tune.
My advanced students in my select Chamber Orchestra are playing a song requiring shifting (bringing the hand higher up the fingerboard to expand the notes available). The shoulder rests have allowed them to move around the fingerboard more easily. They are confidently shifting into 3rd position and are playing these parts well in tune.
We have not taken our post-test playing exam in orchestra yet, but I am expecting to see growth in the scores of my students in their technique and intonation.
Two of my violin students participated and were judged at the NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) festival at Colonie Central HS earlier this month. At NYSSMA, students perform scales, a solo and a sight reading example for an impartial judge and receive a rating. Each year, a few students from MPMS attend. In the past, my students have lost points on technique (usually for left hand position too close to neck) and sometimes intonation (which often is a result of their technique). Both students who went this year received perfect scores I am attaching pictures of the forms from the students who participated this year versus some who participated in prior years to show the difference. You will see that many comments from previous years mention that students should use a shoulder rest. The students who used shoulder rests at NYSSMA this year had perfect playing position.
2013 NYSSMA Assessment prior to new shoulder rests
2015 NYSSMA Assessment showing improved hand position with addition of shoulder rest.
2013 NYSSMA Assessment prior to new shoulder rests
2015 NYSSMA Assessment showing improved hand position with addition of shoulder rest.
These shoulder rests are already making an impact on the string program and will continue to do so, as strings students will be using them for many years to come. I expect to see continued growth next year and beyond as students can continue to expand on advancing techniques where a shoulder rest is a necessity.
I would like to extend an invitation to you if you are interested to come hear our Spring Concert on Monday, June 1st at 6 pm in the Mont Pleasant auditorium.
Thank you again for your generosity and contribution to our music program.
— Mrs. Jennifer Bee, Mont Pleasant Middle School
