Klarinet Archive - Posting 000751.txt from 1998/07

From: dap@-----. Paprocki)
Subj: Re: [kl] Tendonitis
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 09:26:24 -0400

I have to strongly disagree on the idea of playing bass clarinet is less
strain on your hands, wrists, etc if you have tendonitis. I play bass
clarinet 1 to 2 hours a day and feel that it's more of a strain on your
hands and I have large hands. This might not be so if you're playing
typical high school band music but try doing some of the Bach cello suites
(or Daphnes II) and see how your hands/wrists feel. The bass clarinet
should be as agile as a normal Bb clarinet. If you're aiming for this your
going to be moving at least twice as much mass in keywork as a normal Bb
clarinet. I think the best thing to do (and still play) is maybe play some
soprano recorder. You have no keys, it keeps your fingers in shape and the
soprano recorder's holes are very close together so your not spreading your
fingers out. I found this to be the perfect instrument after I had a
surgery in high school (long time ago) and couldn't do any clarinet playing
because of the higher air pressure needed to play. Recorder takes almost
no pressure.

Dan

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Daniel A. Paprocki

Instructor of Clarinet & Saxophone, Malone College
Adjunct Professor of Clarinet, Kent State University - Stark Campus

dap@-----.net
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