Klarinet Archive - Posting 000108.txt from 1969/12

From: kurtheisig@-----.net
Subj: Re: [kl] (no subject)
Date: Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500

Hi Fred,

I've been mounting the Bays on clarinets since he first came out with them in the '70's. I'm even the guy that suggested he put in a third screw. On customers clarinets I go up only a 1/2 inch, but on mine I do mount on the tenon with a shortened screw in the third hole. Don't try that at home! Leave that to us repairmen.

Kurt

-----Original Message-----
>From: fred jacobowitz <fbjacobo@-----.us>
>Sent: Feb 9, 2012 1:42 PM
>To: The Klarinet Mailing List <klarinet@-----.com>
>Subject: Re: [kl] (no subject)
>
>Kurt,
>
>The reason thumb rests aren't higher is that they can't screw the
>things into the tenon receiver. The wood isn't thick enough at that
>spot to guarantee it won't crack from the strain. However, they could
>do what my buddy did for me. He braised a thumb rest onto the metal
>ring at the top of the lower joint. Works like a charm. Now the thumb
>rest is in the right place. And I had him add 1/4 inch of cork for my
>thumb to rest on, which fattens the instrument out a bit, making it
>much more ergonomically comfortable. He lives in Annapolis, MD and
>his name is Roger Young. He does fabulous work - he's a real old-
>style craftsman.
>
>Fred Jacobowitz
>
>CASE CLOSED Musical Instrument Case Repair Service
>Kol Haruach Klezmer Band
>Ebony and Ivory Duo
>
>You don't get harmony when everybody sings the same note.
>~Doug Floyd
>
>On Feb 9, 2012, at 4:23 PM, kurtheisig@-----.net wrote:
>
>
>Hi Janice,
>
>For some reason clarinet manufacturers mount the thumb rest way too
>low. They will then add an adjustable thumb rest that can be set
>lower yet!
>
>Why should manufacturer's hurt us ALL with a thumb rest that is
>mounted ergonomically wrong. Just think how much easier it would be
>for ALL of us if Buffet or some other bright company started putting
>them on the clarinet 1/2 higher and making them adjustable from
>there. That way if someone, like my 6'4" student wants it low he can
>put it there, but the rest of us can put it where WE need it. Why
>should it be too low, even lower, or really lower. Why not mount it
>HIGH and then we can all adjust it where we need it.
>
>The only thing I can see that sensible suggestion hurting is the
>sales for the after market guys!!
>
>
>We have been dealing with this after market for 35 years. Isn't it
>time Buffet led the pack and mounted the thumb rests HIGH and
>adjustable instead of low and adjustable?
>
>For decades I have used Bay thumb rests on my, and my students and
>customers clarinets.
>
>The important thing is that I REMOUNT them VERY high in back, and
>then when I adjust the height in back it isn't low, lower, lowest,
>but a reasonable height. The thumb rest needs to be mounted higher
>anyway in order to play the side Bb as Jack Brymer says in his book
>on clarinet. third line Bb is a very poor note with thumb and first
>finger, but a very good note with first finger on A and using the
>third side key up on the side key.
>
>By mounting the Bay Thumb Rest up high, you can play that note and
>have much better Bb's.
>
>
>In addition to height being better for playing that note, it takes
>the STRESS off of the hand.
>
>
>WHY SHOULD THE COMPANIES CURSE US ALL WITH THAT STRESS?? MOUNT THEM
>HIGHER!!
>
>
>With the Bay having a maleable plate, you can change the shape and
>angle of the plate to your individual thumb. This helps a great deal.
>The Bay allows you to adjust height, turn the plate and bend the
>plate until it fits you perfectly. I prefer to remove the padding
>Charlie puts on it and re-line mine with cork.
>
>Since you are in the DC area, you can go to the techs at Chuck
>Levin's Washington Music in Wheaton Maryland to have it installed and
>fit to your hand.
>
>The suggestion of not resting the weight on the knuckle, but rather
>between the knuckle and the nail is also very good.
>
>
>Many years ago a friend suggested a book to me. The title is "Pain
>Erasure", by Bonnie Prudden. If it is out of print it can be
>purchased used on Amazon. This book has been a huge help for me with
>injuries, and helped me with the kind of problem you have mentioned.
>She was the Physical Therapist that worked with Janet Travell MD,
>President Kennedy's doctor.
>
>http://www.myopain.org/JanetTravell.aspx
>
>http://www.bonnieprudden.com/
>
>Kurt
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>> From: Janice Rosen <operanut@-----.com>
>> Sent: Feb 8, 2012 7:28 AM
>> To: The Klarinet Mailing List <klarinet@-----.com>
>> Subject: Re: [kl] (no subject)
>>
>> Hi everyone,
>>
>> thanks for the input. I will have to try the solutions.
>>
>> When I practice at home, I am sitting and I put the clarinet bell
>> between my knees to keep the clarinet still and to hold it up
>> firmly so that it doesn't slip. I do that because when I play
>> standing up, the clarinet is too heavy for my right thumb and I end
>> up tensing all my fingers in order to hold the clarinet in place.
>> Definitely not a good thing to do.
>>
>> If I relax the fingers the way I am supposed to then the clarinet
>> slips downward and some notes end up sqeeking because the holes are
>> not covered completely.
>>
>> The only place it hurts while holding the clarinet in playing
>> position is the joint of the right hand where the thumb joins the
>> hand. I am sure there must be a special name for that particular
>> joint.
>>
>> thanks again for all the advice.
>>
>> Janice
>>
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>> From: fred jacobowitz <fbjacobo@-----.us>
>> To: The Klarinet Mailing List <klarinet@-----.com>
>> Sent: Tuesday, February 7, 2012 10:42 PM
>> Subject: Re: [kl] (no subject)
>>
>> Janice,
>>
>> Can you be more specific? Is the pain in the fleshy part of the hand
>> between the thumb and the hand? Or is it in either (or both) thumb
>> joints?
>>
>> If you are getting pain in that fleshy area, that's where tendons
>> are, and that could be tendonitis. However, if the pain is only in
>> the joints, I have a possible solution: I saw a flute player with a
>> kind of strap that went around the thumb between the joints, so she
>> had he entire tip of the thumb uncovered. Then it connects to a strap
>> around the hand. I tried it and it was great. The strap doesn't get
>> in the way of the thumb joint where it is touching the thumb rest.
>>
>> I asked her where she got it and she told me, and I bought it (and
>> now can't remember from where! There is no name on the brace). So
>> maybe you can ask flute players if they know about it.
>>
>> Fred Jacobowitz
>>
>> CASE CLOSED Musical Instrument Case Repair Service
>> Kol Haruach Klezmer Band
>> Ebony and Ivory Duo
>>
>> You don't get harmony when everybody sings the same note.
>> ~Doug Floyd
>>
>> On Feb 6, 2012, at 10:35 PM, Janice Rosen wrote:
>>
>> Hi everyone,
>>
>> I need some suggestions on how to strengthen my right thumb and the
>> joint so that it doesn't hurt when playing the clarinet. NO I don't
>> have arthritis and don't normally have pain in that thumb. That
>> thumb isn't strong enough to hold the weight of the clarinet while
>> playing and tends to sag, causing the clarinet to move, and then I
>> miss the finger holes while playing. I can;t stand the neck straps,
>> so I dont use one to help hold the clarinet. Would anyone have any
>> suggestions for strengthening that thumb and the joint that connects
>> the thumb to the hand?
>>
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>>
>> Janice Rosen
>> Washington, DC
>>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Klarinet mailing list
>Klarinet@-----.com
>To do darn near anything to your subscription, go to:
>http://klarinet-list.serve-music.com
>
>_______________________________________________
>Klarinet mailing list
>Klarinet@-----.com
>To do darn near anything to your subscription, go to:
>http://klarinet-list.serve-music.com

_______________________________________________
Klarinet mailing list
Klarinet@-----.com
To do darn near anything to your subscription, go to:
http://klarinet-list.serve-music.com