Klarinet Archive - Posting 000822.txt from 1998/07

From: "Mark Charette" <charette@-----.org>
Subj: Re: [kl] More on hand position & thumbs
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 11:51:02 -0400

<snip>
>And now I have a question about thumb structure as it affects hand
>position. I have very long thumbs -- the second knuckle bends above where
>the thumb blends into the rest of the hand. This has caused me problems
>with the thumb rest -- I try to set it on the top knuckle and not let my
>thumb bend backwards (I'm double-jointed too). It's not always easy to
>maintain this position, and I have contemplated having the thumb rest
>moved up higher so the "C" formed by the thumb and index finger is more
>"level" (as it is now, the thumb is lower than the index finger and it
>feels unnatural to me). Has anyone else had experience with this, or even
>with moving the thumb rest permanently? I don't want to drill extra holes
>in my horn if it's not going to help! TIA for any assistance!

I'm sure you considered this, but an adjustable thumbrest could be installed
on your clarinet, possibly offset from a "normal" position so it would be
comfortable for you _and_ would at least have the capability of being reset
in the "normal" position should you sell it some day.

Another thumbrest I've tried (at ClarinetFest) is the Kooiman thumbrest.
Pretty much infinitely adjustable, and the clarinet feels next to weightless
on the thumb. The thumbrest I looked at is completely removable (via a
sliding foot), as it needs to be to get the clarinet back in the case. The
Kooiman "thumbrest" (a bit of a misnomer in this case, actually) is _big_.

Cheers,
Mark Charette@-----.org

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