Klarinet Archive - Posting 000615.txt from 1997/09

From: "Jeroen T. Salm" <jtsalm@-----.nl>
Subj: Re: Kooiman
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 1997 02:30:49 -0400

Hello fellow klarinetters,

Now I'm answering a question in this "thread", it seems all the good things
come from the (tiny: only 15 million people living here...) Netherlands
(Europe): the Kooiman thumrest, Mr. Harry Sparnaay (and I :-).
OK, the repairman of most of my students happens to be that Mr Kooiman
(well: the world is not that big, is it?). He lives only a few miles away
(from me). I have seen his a few years ago for the first time. I think it
was/is a great idea, and a vast amount of ideas about anatomy, egonomics is
put in it. Well, I never have thought about it, to buy the (expensive)
thing... I haven't got any problems with thumb/arm etc. (well: not as long
as I'm sitting and leaning the belt of my clarinet on my knees).
I see the thumbrest almost every day in orchestra, because "my"principal
has got the Kooiman thumbrest. A year ago he'd only one, but he was able to
put that one from the A to the Bb clarinet. Well, sometimes he hadn't got
the time for it. Quite a nervous action. Now he has built on both of the
clarinets that 'thing". For me, it looks a little like a huge electronic
antenna... It just doesn't look quite right: the beatiful slim and black
body of the clarinet with that sort of insect built on it... It seems that
"my"principal likes it, and, well: he plays really very beautiful nowadays
(or are the reeds better these days?). :-)

Well, all people are different, so, for some guys it will (hopefully) work.
I think it;'s the best solution for those who find the clarinet heavy, for
those who have pains in arm, neck, hand. It will probebly also have a good
influence on technique, because the clarinet is very stable then... Me, I
think that you can play without all the gadgets, as so many good masters
did... but OK, thats my opinion.
BTW: they (the Kooyman-thumbrests) are very expensive, so none of my
students got the thing(s). The only one I know with that "apparatus" is
sitting next to me in orchestra. BTW: I have never tried the thing... (,I
feel a little ashamed: I am also a little bit sceptic about all the
innovative things, like the expensive "optimum"ligature by vandoren, wich
cracks all the reeds!!> but I certainly will do that one of these days. I
will let you hear if I am "turned around"and will buy them a.s.a.p.

Jeroen T. Salm
The Netherlands
jtsalm@-----.nl

----------
| Van: Steven Gordon, M.D. 729 X3151 <GORDONST@-----.org>
| Aan: klarinet@-----.us
| Onderwerp: Kooiman
| Datum: donderdag 11 september 1997 16:44
|
| A search of the archives reveals no entries concerning the Tom Kooiman

| universal adjustable thumbrest. It looks brilliant from the
standpoint
| of physics and anatomy (eg., ergonomics). Does anyone use this? Or
do
| you have students who do? Is it like other major innovations that
have
| difficulty going mainstream because of cost or the natural resistance
of
| musicians to change (clarinets and other baroque/classical instruments

| seem to mutate much more slowly than any other engineered product)
|
| Sharing of any personal or second hand experiences would be greatly
| appreciated.
|
| Thanks in advance
|
| Steve Gordon M.D.
| Beaverton, OR
| "Internal Medicine is only a convenient way to support my clarinet
| habit - would like to give up night call though!"