Violin Accidents? (and solutions)

The WRONG way to play a violin. LOL

Playing an instrument isn't as safe as it seems. In fact, I have experienced some of these myself since I play the violin quite a lot. Some of them even get me to stop playing for quite a while. For you beginning violinists like me, (not to frighten you or anything) this may be a handy guide to get you aware of stuff

Chin Acne

This is perhaps one of the weirdest thing to happen to some violinists. Pimples started coming out on the chin where they always rest on their violin's chin rest. I have experienced this myself. It got me to stop playing for a week or two. Whenever I start playing, it just hurts real bad. (which is a very weird explanation to tell my violin teacher)

Possible treatment : 

1. Wash the chin area with water and soap to clear of bacterias and cool your chin off.
2. Apply a topical (applied to the skin) acne medication that contains salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to the lesions as soon as they appear.
3. Cleaning the chinrest with alcohol/water

This is called 'Acne Mechanica'. It happens because of various reasons, including repetitive friction against the skin

String Breakage

Not as weird, but it's not as simple as it seems. If the string breaks while you tune your violin facing yourself, the string could cut you and even reach into your eye. And that is NOT funny to the sucker who experiences that. Be even more careful when tuning the E-string since it's the thinnest and most prone to breakage. So far I've broke the E string 3 times, my A and G string once, and never the D string for some reason. (Knock on wood)

Solution : 

1. Do not tune the violin facing you. Tune it facing someone you hate. THEN it would be funny.(P.S. Try not to get beat up)
2. Cut your fingernails. Unless you need them for a certain type of pizzicato

Bow Hair Breakage

Not as dangerous, but the cost is. Like the strings, The cost is like a black hole in your wallet

Solution : Well, like the strings, the bow COULD break over time. A quite long time, I must add. No real solutions here. just don't fence with your bow. No matter how fun it is. Seriously

Sore Chin

This could occur if you press the violin too hard with your chin. This could lead to chin acne also since the harder you "clamp" your violin, the more friction happens and more heat accumulated.

Solution : 

1. Don't hold it too hard. Duh
2. If you're clamping because the gap between your chin rest and your jaws are too far, try a shoulder rest or use a  specialized cloth

Sore fingers 

 Like any stringed instruments, this happens to me too when I play the guitar. either you play for too long, or you're pressing the strings too hard (I know I{always}do)

Solution : Stop playing for a little while and/or get used to not pressing the strings too hard. Because if you're pressing too tightly, you will not be able to do vibrato, fast passages, and it will be HARD to shift positions. And sometimes it could also affects your bowing since it's hard to do something with your hand independently without affecting the other

Violin Marks

This is pretty much a long-term thing. I think it's kinda awesome to have a mark on your neck. It''s like a fashion statement but haunts you for the rest of your life. It's so not awesome when it is infected though. It CAN happen guys.

Solution : 

1. Use a specialized cloth to cover your neck area
2. If it is THAT worse, you may want to consult your doctor

This post makes it seem scary but really, playing an instrument is a real joy. So play and practice responsibly and don't worry too much.