Klarinet Archive - Posting 000195.txt from 1995/10

From: Fred Jacobowitz <fredj@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Can anyone help me?
Date: Mon, 9 Oct 1995 14:08:51 -0400

Tiffani,
Join the crowd. I wrote an editorial letter to The Clarinet a few
years back in whcih I castigated clarinet makers for putting thumb rests
in the wrong place and not including adjustable ones as standard
equipment. I also have problems. Luckily, I was able to catch mine early
enough to move the thumb rests and avoid the pain. However, to this day I
occasionally get twinges from overuse. One problem is simply the design
of modern clarinets. They have lots of exta keys, which are heavy nickel
instead of lighter steel and the wood is thicker in some like the Selmer
Recital. Also, people with weaker wrists (and this is, unfortunately, more
often females) have lots of problems. The only real solution is to take
off for a few months. Obviously, for some people this is simply not
an option or, at least, not an immediate one. However, you can make or
purchase an instrument
stand on which you can rest the clarinet while playing. One I have
recommended with success to my students is the
"Weight Lifter" made by Robert James. His ad is in both The Clarinet and
the International Musician.

Fred Jacobowitz

On Mon, 9 Oct 1995, Tiffani Marcello wrote:

> I am a music education major with my senior clarinet recital approaching
> in less thantwo monthes....My problem is my right wrist....aftre
> playing for say twenty minutes I get severe pain.......My professor
> has tryed different things such as adjusting my thumb rest
> This is especially troublesome when I play standing
> I would greatly appreciate any ideas on what i should do!
> Thank you,
> Tiffani Marcello (marcellot@-----.edu)
>