Klarinet Archive - Posting 000024.txt from 1997/04

From: "Daniel G. Smith" <DANIEL.G.SMITH1@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Neck straps
Date: Tue, 1 Apr 1997 16:42:48 -0500

I do agree that certain straps can put strain on the neck, but this is a
very personal side effect - I myself have never encountered this dilemma,
but know of other players who have. ALso, I, like Cheryl, have recently
put my strap away, and find more freedom in playing without it. Some of
my tension problems returned but I"m working on relaxing - there is no
pain anymore. Hope y'all are having a good day!!

Your friend always,

Daniel G. Smith

On Tue, 1 Apr 1997, Cheryl Morehouse wrote:

> Hi all, I have been lurking for quite some time on the list and
> thought that I would finally show myself. I am a clarinet student of
> Richard Hornsby at the University of New Brunswick, NB Canada.
>
> I had severe wrist problems last year brought on by a stress injury
> and I also had thumb problems from an old sports injury. For me the
> best alternative at the time was to get one of the neck straps to
> relieve some of the pain that was created by these problems when I
> played. It did work for a time. The wrist problem has almost healed
> itself and I can now play comfortably without any aid (I also had a
> wrist support)
>
> The main problem that I found with the strap was that it created
> unwanted tension and strain on my neck from the constant pulling. I
> think that these straps are OK to fix short term problems such as I
> had but they shouldn't be used on a long term basis as they could
> create more problems than they solve :)
>
> Cheryl Morehouse
>
>
>
> > What's the consensus about neck straps and the Bb clarinet.
> > Quite a few of the players at my school use neck straps fastened to the
> > thumbrests of their horns. Does anyone on the list use a strap? It
> > seems like a good idea......
>