Klarinet Archive - Posting 000175.txt from 1996/08

From: Suzi Crookshank <suzic@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Neckstraps
Date: Wed, 7 Aug 1996 08:22:20 -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...

Unless the student feels pain or has difficulty playing without the
neckstrap, then he probably doesn't need it. I used a neckstrap for a
little while last year when I got my new clarinet (a Buffet Festival),
which seemed heavier and bigger than my previous one (a Buffet E-11). My
thumb and hand muscles would get tired and sore so that I could not
practice for as long as I wanted. I tried resting the bell on my knees,
but that didn't work because it changed the angle of the instrument from my
face (I'm very short, so the angle got bigger). I complained to my teacher
and she suggested I get a neck strap until my right hand got stronger,
saying that she had a little fifth grader (I'm about the size of a large
fifth grader, even though I'm 18) who used one because she was so little
and thaqt had helped her a lot. Summing up, unless the student has a
problem, then he shouldn't use a neck strap, because he simply doesn't need
one.
-------------------------------
Suzi Crookshank suzic@-----.com
-------------------------------

   
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