Klarinet Archive - Posting 000141.txt from 1996/08

From: Fred <fsheim@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Neckstraps
Date: Tue, 6 Aug 1996 20:59:55 -0400

>On Tue, 6 Aug 1996 18:49:08 +0000 Elizabeth Lim
><ejlim@-----.AU> writes:
>>A student of mine recently was convinced (by a salesperson...) to buy
>>a
>>neckstrap for their clarinet. Despite my discouraging the use of
>>this,
>>my student's parents aren't convinced about the reasons against using
>>a
>>neckstrap. The parents have cited the sorts of health complaints
>>suffered by musicians and seem to think the use of a neckstrap can be
>>preventative...
>
>Jeezus Christ... a salesperson can convince anyone to buy ANYTHING... :(
>
>
>I have been playing the clarinet for almost eight years, without a
>neckstrap, and I recently got a nice new wood Yamaha clarinet, which, of
>course, is heavier than a plastic...
>
>Obviously your student's parents aren't musicians... what kind of
>"health complaints" have they cited?
>
>Is the kid weak at holding up his instrument, or what? I suggest that a
>thumbrest (if he/she doesn't have one already) would be much more
>practical.
>
>Baffled,
>
>Marylou Verano
>savorygrrl@-----.com
>

I couldn't agree more- I've been playing DAILY for 36 years without any
gimmicks like that- I remember at the beginning my thumb did get sore, so I
bought a little rubber thing with a small foam piece that fit over the thumb
rest. Later I used a piece of surgical tubing on the thumb rest. Now a
thin layer of cork on the thumb rest is perfect.

Fred fsheim@-----.com