Performers, Parents, and Teachers

Welcome to HAPPYNEX !

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Performers, Parents, and Teachers

Young players need HappYnex!

Every student of music deserves the opportunity to sound the best they possibly can. For beginners in particular, it can be very difficult to coax a pleasing note from the instrument. But, no matter what, a musician can never sound better than their instrument. There is so much to discourage a young player. Unless a young player has the opportunity to make real music on a quality instrument, playing a string instrument can be an exercise in frustration. String teachers, eager to inspire young talent, are not the least among those who are frustrated by "violin shaped objects."

A high quality string instrument is a work of art. Every reasonable parent and teacher is reluctant to put a delicate work of art into the hands of a child. What happens if (when) he drops it? What child wants to contend with having this sort of responsibility? Quite simply, if you buy the best instrument that you can afford, you can't afford to put it into the hands of a child.

With the HappYnex Violin/Viola support, the instrument is literally attached to the player. Properly secured, the instrument remains in playing position with no hands required. Musicians can cover their sneezes and the instrument won't fall. They can leave the instrument attached to their person rather than leaving it on a chair (or on the floor!). You'll be less nervous and they'll be less nervous. And you'll both be amazed by the beautiful sound of a quality instrument.

Teachers need HappYnex!

Many teachers don't need a Happynex Violin/Viola Support Sling to play their instrument. You've gotten this far without one, right? Teachers love HappYnex because of the freedom that it provides during instruction. Loosely applied, the HappYnex secures the instrument to the teacher, keeping the instrument at the ready. Walk around, supervise, instruct, make notations on sheet music, play some notes on the piano, and then reach over and play the violin. No need to put the violin down, it's always secure and available.

Little kids need HappYnex!

Every string teacher and parent knows that endurance is an important issue for young students. It's hard for those little muscles to maintain a proper playing position. And a lot of bad habits develop early. Young players may clamp down with their necks or clutch the neck of their instrument in their fists. The support from the HappYnex allows healthy habits to form from the start. And practice sessions won't be cut short by weary limbs. As your student matures, the HappYnex can be loosened so that these healthy habits can be utilized to maintain proper playing posture in a more traditional arrangement.

What about tradition?

For many, the use of a violin support sling is a return to traditional principles of stringed instrument playing. We look to Leopold Auer (1845 – 1930) for the best information on the appropriate attitude of the violinist and the true position of the instrument. A student of Joseph Joachim, Auer is known as one of the most important pedagogues of the previous Century. Among his students were Jascha Heifetz, Mischa Elman, Nathan Milstein, and Efrem Zimbalitst. According to Auer, a shoulder rest (and even the shoulder itself) should not be used to support the violin. Considering it to be a bad habit, he strictly advised avoiding the use of a shoulder rest because it interfered with the sound of the instrument and because it interfered with correct playing position. This advice, of course, works best for stout tuxedo-wearing men with short necks and prominent chins! But we agree entirely with Auer’s main point. A pad interferes with the sound of the instrument. And the instrument must be free to move with the player.

Unlike a pad, the HappYnex won’t interfere with the full sound of your instrument. While the modern shoulder rest doesn’t significantly interfere with the instrument and while it goes a long way in assisting musicians to attain a position that is relatively secure, this arrangement is very static. The modern shoulder rest locks the violin in place. For some, short term comfort may come at the expense of long term injury if the shoulder rest is used in a manner that limits the freedom of the instrument. The HappYnex Violin/Viola Support Sling is designed to allow freedom of movement for the player and the instrument. With or without a shoulder rest. The use of HappYnex maintains the best of our traditions and it promotes healthy habits.

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