Klarinet Archive - Posting 000634.txt from 1999/08

From: "Benjamin Maas" <benmaas@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Double-Jointed Thumbs....
Date: Mon, 23 Aug 1999 22:12:54 -0400

This may sound strange, but I have a teaching question for everybody out
there in Klarinet-land....

I have a young student (about to enter seventh grade) that has
double-jointed thumbs (along with a lot of other joints in his body). This
causes a lot of problems for him to physically hold his instrument. His
right thumb just buckles under the weight of his clarinet and he supports
much of the weight with his first finger of his right hand under the side
E-flat/B-flat key. This makes him hold his clarinet at an angle instead of
straight up and down.

To try to improve his had position, I have put him on a neck strap. It has
helped a little bit, but not a lot. My questions are:

1. Has anybody out there experienced a similar condition, either personally
or with a student?

2. If so, what was done to help remedy the situation and be able to hold a
clarinet?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

--Ben

----
Benjamin Maas
Freelance Clarinetist and Recording Engineer
Los Angeles, CA
benmaas@-----.com
http://www.fifthcircle.com

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