HOLDING THE VIOLIN
Hold the fiddle by its neck with your left hand. Bring your
left shoulder forward, and place the violin's chin rest under the left
side of your chin,. Hold the instrument almost horizontal, and direct
the neck of the instrument not straight out in front of you but about
20 or 30 degrees left of the straight-out position.
You
should be able to hold the violin with your chin only bu resting your
chin on the violin chin res. Using a shoulder pad helps me.
It transfers the weight of the instrument primarily onto my left
shoulder and somewhat collar bone.