Klarinet Archive - Posting 000664.txt from 1998/03

From: "John Gates" <cadenza@-----.com>
Subj: Re: NeckStraps
Date: Wed, 11 Mar 1998 12:26:35 -0500

I am in complete agreement with you. Unless there is some sort of carpal
tunnel syndrome or tendonitis of some sort I think you are better off not
using it.
-----Original Message-----
From: Jennifer Rose McKenna <jrm0013@-----.edu>
Date: Wednesday, March 11, 1998 9:18 AM
Subject: NeckStraps

> Since we were on the subject of weight of wooden clarinets I
>thought now may be a good time to get my question answered. Here at North
>Texas, I am one of the few (actually 3 out of 20) who don't use a
>neckstrap when playing. Dr. Gillespie plays with a neck strap and so he
>has persuaded all of his students to play with one. I will not resist to
>pressure....call me a sucker for tradition, but I don't see an incredible
>need to use them unless your the type to get nervous when performing a
>solo (standing). All of the students also use them when seated in
>emsembles. I would like to know how many of you use neck straps, and why?
>I understand that the clarinet maybe heavy to hold and that is the reason
>some people use neckstraps, but I've played Alto and Bari sax, and Bass
>Clarinet, and those are the only instruments that I have found need a neck
>strap(bass clarinet only when marching). I'm intreseted in your feed
>back. Do you think that starting clarinet with a neck strap is advised, I
>think that the student should build up the muscles in the forearm first.
>
>thankyou in advance,
>
>jennifer mckenna
>jrm0013@-----.edu
>university of north texas
>music ed major/clarinet concentration
>
>
>