Klarinet Archive - Posting 000683.txt from 1999/08

From: "Carl & Polly Anderson" <DClarinet@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Double-Jointed Thumbs....
Date: Tue, 24 Aug 1999 22:25:25 -0400

Ben, in my 35+ years of teaching I have had several students with the same
problem and the only remedy that has proven successful time and again is the
neck strap. You might need to try different kinds. I usually used the
cheap sax strap with the plain hook and attach it to the thumb rest. good
luck.
----- Original Message -----
From: Benjamin Maas <benmaas@-----.com>
Subject: [kl] Double-Jointed Thumbs....

> 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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