Klarinet Archive - Posting 000025.txt from 1999/07

From: "Patricia Smith" <david-patty@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Please, Please, Please, Please help; Thumb pain, aching shoulders, neck pain, muscle strain in general etc.
Date: Thu, 1 Jul 1999 16:39:55 -0400

Dear GN,

It sounds as if you have a great deal of overall body tension and feel very
nervous when you play. This can be especially true for folks who are
involved in very competitive studios, are inherently competitive people, or
are pressured into playing the clarinet by well-meaning parents or other
elders.
I would suggest some stretching and breathing exercisesto help you relax
physically. Any book about Hatha Yoga will contain many appropriate
breathing exercises (without the difficult postures) that, when practiced,
will help you to relax and, consequently not create the physical tension
that will eventually put you into pain. Also, an expert practitioner of the
discipline of yoga will help spiritually as well as mentally and physically,
regardless of your religious affiliation (there is such a thing as yoga for
Christians, for example, in the U. S.).
There are also a set of more Western-oriented breathing exercises written by
a man named Sandy Adam. I got them from a brass-playing friend many years
ago and still use them and introduce them to my students. The exercises are
increased in intensity over 30 days and not only relax tension in the body;
they also help one improveone's air capacity, control and "support".
One of my past teachers advised me to try the following to stop pinching and
biting the mouthpiece as well as improve air flow and relax: First, play
with a double lip embouchure for a few minutes when you find yourself
biting. It is nigh impossible to play with pinched lips when both are
folded over your teeth (much as an oboist plays). Secondly, think of
playing with a closed mouth yawn. Take the horn out of your mouth and yawn
with your mouth closed when you feel your air passages closing up.
For thumb pain, you can get a piece of rubber tubing and cut it to fit over
the thumb rest. Another idea is to cut up several pieces of gauze and tape
them with hospital tape wrapped around the thumb rest to cushion your thumb.
Make sure your thumb position is correct - half on the nail, half on the
skin is the usual for most folks; you need to be able to move your fingers
and hand freely. Think of holding an egg when you are holding the horn.
And remember - you are not going to drop it. There are two balance points -
the lower lip and the thub rest. The clarinet rests atop these forming a
straight line and is not about to go anywhere.
Posture is also very important; do not slump when you play. A straight body
will feel more awake and alive and will not become easily cramped. Also,
amke sure you are holding th clarinet at a proper angle and not bending your
head forward to play - this can create neck pain and impede proper
breathing.
Also, how long do you practice? What is your practice routine? At what
level do you play? Sometimes, young players, in their zeal to improve, will
over-practice, much as an athlete overtrains, thus, wearing out themselves
and making them strain further to keep up the grueling regimen. Without
knowing more, it is hard to advise over the Internet. But as a clarinetist
who for many years suffered from terribly debilitating nervousness and
tension, I can say that breathing exercises properly done and good basic
playing habits will relax and make you feel more energetic, and take the
edge off of nervousness.
One last word of caution: whatever you do, if the cause of your tension is
nervousness, do NOT resort to imbibing any sort of mind-body altering
substance, such as marijuana or alcohol. These things simply make things a
lot worse and do not solve your problem in the least. Not to mention in
many countries these thing are illegal and considered immoral by the world's
major religious faiths. No audition or teacher is worth ruining your life
by drinking or using drugs.
I hope I have at least been able to help some. Write back to the list and
let everyone know how you are doing.

Sincerely, Patty Smith

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