Why do violinists and violists get that red mark on the left side of their neck?
The red mark you see on our necks is basically a callous. Since most of us string players started playing when we were small children, weve had a lot of years of the violin tucked under our chin. Some of us use a cloth to shield our skin, but the vibration of the instrument is what causes the red mark. So it happens even when we use a cloth. Some players practice so much that a cyst develops and has to be surgically removed. In music schools across the country, a big red mark on your neck is a badge of honor among violinists. It is a rare fiddler that manages to avoid the telltale mark of the violinist.
