Klarinet Archive - Posting 001029.txt from 1997/09

From: "C Henderson" <chenderson@-----.au>
Subj: Safest grips during assembly?
Date: Tue, 23 Sep 1997 00:40:51 -0400

You wrote:
> What I'd like to know is the safest way to hold the upper and lower
> sections when attatching them to the barrel and bell and each other. =
It
> requires some force to put the two joints together, and I don't want =
to put
> any strain on the keywork.
>
> So...opinions, or am I missing something very obvious here?

*Very* tricky to describe in email, but here's how I do it:

1. Hold the bell in your right hand (RH) and the base of the lower join=
t in
your left hand (LH), with your palm at the back of the lower joint and =
your
fingers curled around the lowest post, between the low F pad and the low=
E
pad. Twist your hands backwards and forwards in opposite directions to =
each
other as you push the two sections together.
2. Hold the lower joint in your RH with the palm of your RH where your =
LH
fingers were before. Hold the upper joint in your LH with your palm at =
the
back below the register key, and your fingers curled round onto the D =
hole,
thus lifting the interlocking piece so that the cork on it doesn't get =
rubbed.
Do the same twisting motion with your hands to put upper and lower join=
t
together.
3. Hold the upper joint with your RH, palm at the back and fingers curl=
ed
around the side keys, while you twist the barrel onto the upper joint =
with
your LH.
4. Hold the barrel in your RH, the mpce in your left (minus ligature =
and
reed), with the strongest grip around the lower portion of the mpce, and=
twist
it on. Then add the ligature, and lastly the reed.

I did this for 13 years on my first clarinet, on an average of three to =
four
times a week, without ever needing the keys to be re-aligned. Dismantlin=
g is
almost completely reverse hands from top to bottom. I hasten to add tha=
t I do
lots of things left-handed, and I couldn't even think straight when I =
tried to
reverse hands on this one, so it may not be suitable for a right-hander.=
If
the joints are really stiff, you may benefit from the corks being lightl=
y
sanded, too.

Cheers
Clare
*******************************************************
Clare Pascoe Henderson
variously clarinetist, writer/lecturer, herbalist
chook fanatic and menagerie manager
<chenderson@-----.au>
*******************************************************