Klarinet Archive - Posting 000124.txt from 1995/03

From: Peter Temko <ptemko@-----.EDU>
Subj: Prosthetic devices!
Date: Sat, 4 Mar 1995 21:49:44 -0500

Hi-

For what its worth - I and my students that need a neck strap use a length
of "underwear elastic" looped around the neck and around the thumb rest.
The amount of support can be easily varied by adjusting the length of the
loop, and I've become kind of fond of the "trampoline" effect that
results. I use a bit of surgical tubing on the thumb rest so we tuck the
elastic in behind that to reduce the danger of the elastic coming loose
and raising welts on the adam's apple area. Another advantage is that its
an easy on/off deal for switching clarinets in quick change situations in
orchestras.

Does anyone know of a really thin but durable material for cushioning the
bottom teeth? I can't get used to paper or index card thickness. Any
ideas would be helpful.

Thanks

Pete Temko
Prof. of Music
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
(ptemko@-----.edu)
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