Violinists Are Athletes
Growing up, I enjoyed playing many sports. I played basketball, volleyball, and was an all-conference track and field athlete in high school. I also enjoy running and swimming in my spare time.
My experience as an athlete helped me become more conscious of the things I'm doing with the violin. A lot of what I do as a pedagogue is teach injury prevention techniques with the violin.
Violinists play with tension all the time. But to create longevity in one's performing career is to learn how to release tension.
Playing with tension is never a good thing and it's important to know this early on before you get yourself into an injury.
All in all, violinists are athletes and we should take care of our bodies as such. Understanding your body while playing the violin will help prevent future injuries.