Hold Your Violin or Viola
With More Stability & Comfort
What is Violin Pro-Hold?
Violin Pro-Hold is a lightweight magnetic support system designed to help keep your instrument securely positioned on your shoulder and reduce stress on your head, neck, and shoulder muscles.
-
Slip Reduction: Helps prevent your instrument from slipping or sliding out of position on your shoulder.
-
Muscular Relief: Pro-Hold can greatly reduce chin or jaw pressure, but does not eliminate it. Slight downward pressure on the chin rest is still necessary, especially during fast playing and shifting up and down the neck.
-
Satisfying Positioning: Your instrument "clicks" right into your custom sweet spot and can be easily removed by lifting off your shoulder.
-
Fully Adjustable: Pro-Hold is designed to accommodate all body shapes and sizes and fit all violin and viola shoulder-rest models.
-
Shirt Fit Matters: The more form-fitting your shirt, the more stable your violin or viola will be. Loose-fitting shirts, blouses, or tops with open shoulders will allow the fabric and anchor to shift easily, reducing the tool's effectiveness.
-
Medical Consideration: Do not use this magnetic product if you utilize an electronic cardiac implant, pacemaker, ICD, heart monitor, or defibrillator.
Susanne Woolley, String Music Instructor, Oklahoma ECU
How it Works & Installation
1. Attach the RestMag Strap
Wrap the RestMag securely around your shoulder rest and fasten the hook-and-loop in the back. Trim any excess strap with scissors.
2. Position the MagBase Strip
Place the MagBase underneath your shirt in your preferred shoulder position, with the one or two white dots facing up and forward, depending on the shirt weight. Under one dot is 1 magnet an under two dots are 2 stacked magnets.
3. Secure the MagBase Strip
Use the SecureMag disk on the outside of your clothing to hold the MagBase firmly in position through the fabric. For two shirt layers position the SecureMag over or under the shirt layers.
Shipping & Bulk Rates:
-
Standard delivery within the U.S. arrives in 3–5 days.
-
Buy 5 or more systems to unlock automatic wholesale pricing for your store, studio or classroom (U.S. only).
-
International: Email us for a custom international shipping quote to your country.
Greg Badigian, Product Review for FiddleHangout.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it completely stop shoulder slip? No. Violin Pro-Hold significantly reduces how much your shoulder rest slips. A form fitting shirt will be the most effective at reducing, but not completely stopping movement. Pro-Hold is an extremely useful tool that operates in combination with a high-quality shoulder rest and proper chin rest setup.
As an adult learner, I struggle with a stiff neck and shoulders. Will the Pro-Hold help me?
Yes. If your instrument is slipping, your natural reaction is to clamp down hard with your jaw, locking up your neck and upper back muscles. The Violin Pro-Hold provides a reliable magnetic "catch" that significantly lightens that load. By taking the constant, heavy friction struggle away from your shoulder, it allows your upper body to remain much more relaxed during practice.
Will it hold during aggressive, fast playing?
Yes. While the Pro-Hold will help hold your violin or viola firmly in place on your shoulder, mild downward chin/jaw pressure is still needed to counteract slight shifts due to massive hand movements and rapid shifts down the fingerboard.
Who should NOT use Violin Pro-Hold?
Safety Warning: Do not use this magnetic product if you utilize an electronic cardiac implant, pacemaker, ICD, heart monitor, or defibrillator. If you have any medical concerns regarding magnets, please consult your physician before use.
Will this work with my specific shoulder rest?
Yes. Violin Pro-Hold is designed to adapt to and wrap around virtually all major violin and viola shoulder rest models.
Is it good for all ages and skill levels?
Absolutely. For beginners, it builds early confidence by anchoring correct, balanced posture before bad habits form. For professionals, it mitigates cumulative vocal, jaw, and neck stress during long rehearsal hours and may help prevent injuries.
Does it restrict my movement? I’m worried about feeling locked into one position.
Not at all. In fact, it provides more freedom. Because the MagBase attaches directly to your clothing, the system moves fluidly with your body's natural expressive motion rather than acting like a rigid, static clamp. You can shift your weight and move your head naturally.
I practice in loose, comfortable loungewear at home. Will the Pro-Hold still work?
To be completely honest, loose clothing will greatly reduce its effectiveness. The Pro-Hold relies entirely on fabric tension to stay stable against your shoulder. If you wear a loose t-shirt, baggy blouse, or open-shoulder shirt, the fabric itself will shift when you move, causing the instrument to move with it. For the best results during home practice, we highly recommend wearing a relatively form-fitting shirt or a knit top that hugs your neck and shoulder.
About Us: Born Out of Necessity
Proudly manufactured in Oklahoma, USA, the Violin Pro-Hold is the result of a personal journey toward injury recovery.
Following a neck injury, inventor and violinist Ken Ruhnke needed a way to play and reduce neck tension and pain. Inspired by violinist Daniel Kurganon, who experimented with magnets and a rubber band to help hold his violin, Ken set out to design a refined, professional consumer product.
Ken experimented to arrive at key components and optimized the materials for lightweight ergonomic comfort and magnetic strength while working with engineers at the Oklahoma State University New Product Development Center.
During his neck rehabilitation, Dr. Yein Lee, D.O. (Physician at the Texas Center for Performing Arts Health) recognized the vast potential of Ken's invention. As a violinist herself, Dr. Lee immediately realized how effectively this system could help prevent performance injuries, alleviate tension, and assist her own clinical clients.
Today, our commitment is simple: helping string players of all generations stay relaxed, healthy, and inspired.
Stores that carry Violin Pro-Hold
OKLAHOMA
Music Depot, 580-226-0373, 226 W Main Street, Ardmore OK 73401 (Sells Pro-Hold)
Oklahoma Strings Violin Shop, 405-789-4672, 5013 N Rockwell Ave, Bethany, OK 72008 (sells Pro-Hold)
Running Dogs Music, 918-505-3131, 169 S. Aspen Ave, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74012 (sells Pro-Hold)
Gilliam Music, 405-321-0080, 2280 W Main, Norman, OK 73116 (ask the violin teacher for a demonstration)
KANSAS
McHugh Violin, Look@mcfiddles.com, 1620 Geo Washington Blvd
Wichita, KS 67211 (ask to try demo Pro-Hold)
Palen Music, 316-262-1487, 2300 E Lincoln St, Wichita, KS 67211
(ask to try demo Pro-Hold)
Wichita Violin Shop, (316) 684-1031, wbic@wichitaband.com, 2525 E Douglas Ave, Wichita, KS (ask to try Pro-Hold)
Damm Music Center, 316-773-9060, Westlink Shopping Center, 8945 W Central Ave, Wichita KS (ask to try demo Pro-Hold)
KC Strings, 913-677-0400, info@kcstrings.com, 5842 Merriam Dr., Merriam, KS 66203 (ask to try demo Pro-Hold)
4Bill’s Violin Shop, 816-453-6955, rocknb44@att.net, 4838 N Smalley Ave Kansas City, MO 64119-4235 (ask to try demo Pro-Hold)
Wyatt Violin Shop, 816-252-5656, 2418 East R D Mize Road, Independence, MO, 64057 (ask to try demo Pro-Hold)
Manning Music, 3400 SW 6th Ave, Topeka, KS 666606, (ask to try demo Pro-Hold)
Meyer Music, North Kansas City, 6312 NW Barry Rd #14, Kansas City, MO 64154 (ask to try demo Pro-Hold)
Beautiful Music Violin Shop, 785) 856-8755, Hillcrest Shopping Center, 925 Iowa St i, Lawrence, KS 66044 (ask to try demo Pro-Hold)
NEBRASKA
Violins of Omaha, 402-301-7687, violinsofomaha.com, 1301 Nicholas St, #105, Omaha, NE 68102 (ask to try demo Pro-Hold)
Amesquita Violins, 402-551-0209, 1029 N 72nd St, Omaha, NE 68114 (ask to try demo Pro-Hold)
Dietze Music, 800-357-1535, 13015 W Central Rd, Omaha, NE 68102 (ask to try demo Pro-Hold)
Schmitt Music, 402-391-5888, 7355 Dodge St, Omaha, NE 68114
(ask to try demo Pro-Hold)
Malliard House Inc, 402-895-1221,, 5053 S 136th St, Omaha, NE 68137 (ask to try demo Pro-Hold)
Hargiss Stringed Instruments, 402-558-9551, 4002 Hamilton St, Omaha, NE 68131 (ask to try demo Pro-Hold)
IOWA
Becker Fine Stringed Instruments, 515) 274-9420, play@beckerfineinstruments.com, 6567 University Ave, Windsor Heights, IA 50324 (ask to try demo Pro-Hold)
Uptempo Music, 515-277-0145, 2714 Beaver Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310 (ask to try demo Pro-Hold)
Hoshaw Fine Violins, 435 Main St, Randall, IA 50231
(ask to try demo Pro-Hold)
MINNESOTA
Groth Music Company, 952) 884-4772, 8056 Nicollet Ave, Bloomington, MN 55420 (ask to try demo Pro-Hold)
Fein Violins, Violas, Cellos, 651) 228-0783, 1850 Grand Ave, St Paul, MN 55105 (ask to try demo Pro-Hold)
Clair Givens Violins, 612) 375-0708, 1201 S Marquette Ave #150, Minneapolis, MN 55403 (ask to try demo Pro-Hold)
Dipper Restorations, 612) 375-0750, 1201 S Marquette Ave suite 150-a, Minneapolis, MN 55403 (ask to try demo Pro-Hold)
Quinn Violins, 651) 440-9871, 550 Vandalia St Suite 216, St Paul, MN 55114 (ask to try demo Pro-Hold)
House of Note, 952) 929-0026, 7202 Minnetonka Blvd, St Louis Park, MN 55426 (ask to try demo Pro-Hold)