u/Clara_Rosin

(For context I am currently practising between 1-2 hours a day in preparation for my licentiate diploma/bachelors equivalent qualification)

For nearly the entire time I have been playing viola I have used Kun shoulder rests and they have generally been okay for me until recently. My viola is slightly above what a 4/4 violin would be and my Kun has been fine on it for about a year or so but stopped being fine around about 6 months to a year ago, when I readjusted it to be actually comfortable (I went from playing 30 minutes a day to on average 1hr 30 so became more aware of my discomfort so no I will not be adjusting it to how it was previously as that also caused me pain). In the past 6 months, the feet of my shoulder rest have been constantly at an angle (as pictured) and in the past month or so my shoulder rest has been constantly slipping off or slipping towards me when playing leading to me playing in increasingly uncomfortable positions. This has caused injuries to both myself and my viola, causing shoulder problems for me, and the varnish to wear down at the lowest point of my shoulder rest for my viola (something which will probably be very expensive and time consuming to fix). This is my second kun for this viola and both times they have had the same foot issue so I think I should probably get a different one. My requirements are:

Very flexible or relatively flat

Long body that covers most of, if not all of the underside of my viola

Attached at both sides (not one of those fancy ones that is attached next to the chin rest and is pulled in or out)

Very adjustable in terms of length, height etc and can go quite low.

I also live in the UK so options I can get here please! (And please do not recommend ones I can only get on amazon)

Thank you!

Edit: I have ordered multiple shoulder rests and will be returning the ones that don't work for me, will give reviews later in case it is helpful for anyone in the future!