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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000029.txt from 2003/10
From: Helen Edith Stephenson <helen@-----.uk>
Subj: Re: [DR-L] bifocals and reading music
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2003 14:49:36 -0400
In message <00ad01c3891c$e4bb8510$6501a8c0@DELL>, Miriam Williams
<mwquacker@-----.net> writes
>Dear reeders,
>
>A few yrs ago I recall that there was some discussion about how bicfocals
>should be made to allow for the distance to the music rack. As a newbie to
>wearing bifocals, I find I can't adequately see the notes clearly at the top
>of the page; also, I use MUTS oboe support, so my head is relatively
>stationary, thus moving my head to accomodate doesn't work. Must I go back
>to my optometrist and have him re-do the prescription? Or, perhaps I just
>need a special pair for reading music. It'd be nice to have a pr I could
>just leave in my gig bag; I miss too many accidentals and grace notes
>without my glasses!
[snip]
>Miriam
Nearly four years ago, I realised that I could no longer read the street
directory, and that the time for reading glasses had arrived. (I already
wore single vision glasses to correct astigmatism.)
More for reasons of vanity than anything else, I chose varifocals over
bifocals. I had heard reports from a couple of people who'd tried
varifocals who said that they couldn't look up at the conductor and then
look back down and find the right spot on their music, so I went into
varifocal wearing with the idea at the back of my head that I might need
"music glasses" of some description, possible bifocals with "distance"
and "intermediate", but I have got on very well with the varifocals, and
find that intermediate section hugely useful, not just for music
reading, but also for working at the computer, reading the speedometer
in the car, and looking at shelves in the supermarket.
I support my bassoon with a neck strap attached to a balance hanger. I
did try a full harness, but ended up hunching my left shoulder, and find
the neck strap to be better for me. However, if I ever wished to switch
to support methods such as a seat strap or a spike, the varifocals
wouldn't work for me, as the music reading area is quite small and I
have to be able to move my head down as I play down a page. To be able
to do this, a variable relationship between the instrument and the floor
is necessary, hence the instrument has to be attached to *me* and not to
any fixed object.
It sounds like your MUTS device is enforcing a fixed head position on
you, Miriam, so I can see that your bifocals might not work as well for
you as my varifocals work for me.
You could try a bifocal with only a small distance area at the top for
looking at a conductor, or maybe you could try single vision
intermediate glasses, although the conductor may then be a bit blurred.
I'm sure you will find a workable solution and stop having accidents
with those accidentals!
Helen
--
Helen Edith Stephenson <helen@-----.uk>
http://www.baronmoss.demon.co.uk/
