Doublereed Archive - Posting 000025.txt from 2005/11

From: "atlconcertband@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [DR-L] Student Hand Position
Date: Wed, 09 Nov 2005 11:35:01 -0500

Thanks to all who had suggestions & advice to help my "double jointed"
student with bad hand position. It has been very helpful. She has been
using a support gizmo (Fhred) at recent lessons to help avoid her clutching
grip on the oboe. Also I have found it very helpful to have her hold
cotton balls under her fingers while playing to remind her to keep the
fingers naturally curved.

I appreciate all the suggestions -- especially for me to be understanding
and patient, as advised by those who have expericnced similar hand-finger
problems in their own playing.

Judy

> [Original Message]
> From: Joel Verkaik <joel@-----.ca>
> To: <doublereed@-----.org>
> Date: 9/25/2005 9:58:50 AM
> Subject: [DR-L] Student Hand Position
>
> Judy,
>
> I have not had a specific experience similar to your student's, but I
> can sympathize a bit with her situation. I too am 'double-jointed,'
> and have been playing oboe for 12 years. The term 'double-jointed' is
> a misnomer; in my case it means I have weak joint capsules, for which
> my arm muscles have had to compensate, resulting in tendonitis and
> arthritis. It is certainly NOT an excuse for poor hand position, and
> if your student is using her 'double-jointedness' as such, it may
> indicate more significant problems: does holding the oboe (properly or
> otherwise) cause her pain? Does it make the proper movement of her
> fingers difficult?
>
> I think approaching the problem using long tones and simple exercises
> (using a mirror or looking down at her hands, as long as she knows what
> they are supposed to look like) is good. Make note of her wrist
> position - if her hands are out of alignment it's likely her wrists are
> as well, and also possibly her elbows and shoulders.
>
> I would say, be sympathetic to her claims of double-jointedness but try
> and get her out of thinking that it necessitates bad hand position. If
> she continues to play, I would strongly recommend strengthening
> exercises for her arms and hands (a 'stress ball' to squeeze, a latex
> band or bungee cord to pull in order to strengthen the forearm), lest
> she end up with major problems down the road, as I have.
>
> Best of luck,
> Joel Verkaik
>
>
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