Klarinet Archive - Posting 000434.txt from 2001/04

From: MVinquist@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Re: Right Hand Thumb Position
Date: Wed, 18 Apr 2001 06:54:11 -0400

Robyn says:

>I have double jointed thumbs. . . . I've had some wrist soreness when I play
for more than a few hours at a time. . . . This problem is remedied with an
Ace bandage or a neck strap. . . . Am I doing serious damage to my hands by
continuing to play this way?<

If a neck strap or ace bandage relieves the pain, I can't imagine that using
them will cause any damage, but I defer to Diane Karius and the physicians
for this. The Kooiman thumbrest, if you don't mind a $150 experiment, could
also help.

A couple of free experiments:

(1) Cut a 1-1/2 or 2 inch length of popsicle stick, lay it along the back
side of your thumb and put a couple of pieces of adhesive tape lightly around
the tip and base of your thumb.

(2) Cut out a corner of a plastic milk jug and attach it like a tent to your
thumb rest, so that your thumb slides underneath it.

Finally, a competent repair shop could add an extension to your thumb rest
that arches out and lets you support the instrument further down on your
thumb, or even on the thumb knuckle. It would be a lot cheaper than a
Kooiman.

Best regards.

Ken Shaw

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