Klarinet Archive - Posting 000157.txt from 1996/08

From: Neil Leupold <nleupold@-----.EDU>
Subj: Aggressive ignorance on Klarinet
Date: Wed, 7 Aug 1996 00:32:14 -0400

Marylou Verano wrote:

> Jeezus Christ... a salesperson can convince anyone to buy ANYTHING...
> 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.

Dearest MARYLOU VERANO:

"Obviously" NOTHING. Try biting your impetuous tongue for a little
while prior to issuing forth with such an invective as appears above.
One need not be a musician in order to recognize the potential for
serious and potentially chronic physical maladies arising from sustained
and repeated stress on muscles and tendons when playing for prolonged
periods of time. The most common form of such chronic difficulties is
tendonitis and, for those who have contracted it from extensive playing,
it can literally end a career and change a life if not given the serious
attention it is due. The "health complaint" associated with tendonitis
is *extreme* pain in the upper arm, sometimes (if not often) to the point
of being unable to hold the arm in an elevated position, much less to
hold a clarinet. I've known and continue to know many musicians who
suffer from this condition. Their lives as professional musicians are
often made difficult by the debilitating effects of tendonitis. Someone
else on Klarinet mentioned carpal tunnel syndrome, which is equally bad if
not worse. For those who are fortunate enough to avoid the afflictions
born of over-stressed wrists and arms during playing, hooray for you.
But do not assume the stance of aggressive ignorance and stupidity as is
demonstrated in the quoted excerpt. We have physicians on this list who
could probably answer questions from anybody who desires to know more.
Ask, get information, and understand what you're talking about before you
spew out and pass summary judgment. I claim no angel status in this
regard, but the Klarinet list's standards of integrity have seldom sunk
to such a level of insensitive close-mindedness and it's pretty
disappointing to see it now.

For the record, it should be noted that many professional clarinetists
do, in fact, make use of both a wrist brace *and* a neck strap when
playing - not the least examples of which are Ricardo Morales and Sean
Osborne, principal and second clarinets (respectively) of the Metropolitan
Opera Orchestra (the highest paid, and certainly two of the most prestigious
jobs in the country). As far as I know, use of these aids by Ricardo and
Sean is for preventive purposes. I've always learned that it is often
wise to emulate those to whose position we aspire in a given field. It
seems folly to criticize somebody for making use of a valid accessory
which might very well serve to minimize risk in the future. Observing
the two aforementioned players, the point is even more strongly made.

As for your little religious smear, keep that garbage to yourself
Ms. Verano. Certainly off the Klarinet list. Genuine contributions and
participation are very much desired, but that sort of glaring
gracelessness contributes nothing. We're a non-mediated group with many
wise and experienced members who, in large part, make this list as
valuable and dynamic as it has become over the years. I would hate to
have one of them offended, or lose somebody, out of disgust for
debasement of the discourse.

Thank you.

Neil Leupold