Your playing is progressing well and you’ve found your groove—your tone, projection, and intonation are all spot-on. But your fingers are beginning to feel cramped and your body aches to stretch and break free from your current playing posture. Could it be time to upsize to a larger instrument?

Chances are the answer is yes. But to find out for sure, you’ll need to consider several factors.

A Question of Size

Before inquiring with your teacher or a local violin shop to see if stepping up is right for you, here are some tips on how to properly size your instrument.

VIOLIN/VIOLA “Look at the arm extension,” says Jane Kapeller, co-owner (with husband Stephen Kapeller) of Kapeller Violins in Richmond, Virginia. “If the angle is less than 90 degrees, and the player starts to ‘fold up’ toward him or herself, that is not particularly comfortable.”

“When the left arm is extended under the instrument with the palm upward,” says Joyce Miller of Bernhardt House of Violins in Greenville, South Carolina, “the hand should wrap around the scroll completely.” She adds that children who are very thin and long limbed must also be able to support the weight of the instrument.

CELLO When you hold your cello, “your knees should be positioned right below the C bouts,” Miller says. The top of the cello back should fall against your chest and the C peg should line up with the left ear.

BASS Miller says that with the endpin adjusted so the nut is in line with your eyebrow, your right arm should be long enough to bow comfortably midway between the bridge and fingerboard. In addition, “the left hand and fingers also need to be large enough to span a whole step.”

Troubleshooting

Once you’ve determined that you need a larger instrument, understand that the transition process will take some time.

“Your fingers will need to spread a little farther apart, you’ll need to reach a little farther out on the neck, and you’ll probably have a hard time getting your notes in tune,” says David Wascher, teacher and owner of Nashville Violins in Nashville, Tennessee.

Stepping up is a process, one that will require you to be patient and forgiving of yourself.

To help you gracefully manage the transition from an instrument you’ve outgrown to a better-fitting one, focus on practicing scales and etudes. Fifteen-year-old violinist Christine Odunlami ran into problems after upsizing to her full-size violin, but found success after practicing sixths, thirds, and etudes to help increase her arm span.

Another good transition tip is to watch yourself in the mirror while practicing. “Make sure you are holding things in a way that looks comfortable,” Wascher advises. It’s also helpful to practice shifting in the mirror and then to run through a piece, looking for the shifts.

“Take the time to listen to your pitch and adjust it when it is out of tune,” he adds. “Work in small sections, and repeat them until you can place each finger in tune.”

Working on “mini scales” is also beneficial (placing first, second, and third fingers and then testing the third finger pitch against the open string below to check the octave). Testing out this exercise before you begin a piece will give you a better chance of starting (and staying) in tune.

It’s All in the Setup

When you make the switch to the new axe, don’t forget to check with your local violin shop or your teacher to make sure that your new instrument is set up properly and your accessories fit. Both can make or break an upsizing experience.

If you’re a violinist or violist who’s thus far used a sponge for a shoulder rest, it’s time to invest in a framed shoulder rest.

“These rests are more stable, and can make it much easier to hold up the bigger instrument,” Wascher says. This was the case for Odunlami, who settled on a Kun shoulder rest after upsizing.

Another thing to watch out for is an ill-fitting chin rest. “Chin rests are not very expensive, and can be easily replaced,” Wascher says. “If you find yourself gripping or constantly moving to try to feel secure, you probably have the wrong chin rest or shoulder rest combination.”

If you’re a cello or bass player, you’ll most likely need to experiment with adjusting your endpin to find the right length. If your new instrument is a few inches larger, Wascher says, “you’ll also need to lower the instrument a few inches to keep your left hand in the proper position. And pay attention to where the bow is in relation to the new position of the instrument.”

Your new, longer bow may feel unwieldy, too.

“I moved from a size 15- to a 16 1/2-inch viola last year,” says Theresa Judith Eugene, 16, who found the change difficult at first. “I had to adjust to my new bow weight and length.” If you, too, have trouble adjusting to a longer bow, consider Wascher’s advice: just because the bow is longer doesn’t mean that you need to use the whole thing. Work with your teacher to learn if you should use the whole bow or not.

Words of Wisdom

Stepping up is a process, one that will require you to be patient and forgiving of yourself. Don’t make the jump unless you are ready and have the support of your teacher. “Don’t feel like you have to rush into getting a bigger instrument right away,” Wascher says. “Most players can play on an instrument that is too small without any difficulties.”

“Some players can’t wait to get their hands on a bigger instrument,” Kapeller says. “The upsize may feel more like receiving a merit badge than merely a graduation to a more comfortable size.”

“Take your time and get it right,” Wascher says. “Practice does not make perfect, practice makes permanent. Make sure that everything you play is helping you to reach that goal.”