Klarinet Archive - Posting 000242.txt from 2001/06
From: "emily worthington" <emily.worthington@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] curved fingers
Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2001 10:47:36 -0400
----- Original Message -----
From: "Anne Lenoir" <AnneLenoir@-----.net>
Subject: RE: [kl] curved fingers
> Relaxed and comfortable sounds good to me. ANNIE
>
>
And to me. Many teachers seem to neglect the importance of hand position - I
have several friends who have suffered serious problems as a result of not
being taught the importance of playing with relaxed hands, to the extent
that one devellopped full-blown tendonitis and had to have intensive
physiotherapy for over a year ( interestingly her problems came from playing
with curved fingers - but then she was a bassoonist so it's a different
situation). It seems to be a particular problem if you have double joints or
(like me) hyper-mobile (extra flexible) joints. I started using a neck strap
to support the weight of my clarinet when I began to get pain in my wrists
from playing, and although my problems came mainly from my piano technique
which I have now cured, I still use it. It just means i have to pay extra
attention to my posture because it encourages slouching!
I found out recently that the point on your thumb where you support the
instrument can also be important - if you rest it close to the palm end it
transfers the weight into your hand tendons, whereas further in the opposite
direction will put the strain into your arm and shoulder. It's something to
consider, especially as it can affect how mobile and free-moving your
fingers are.
Anyone (in the UK, anyway) who is having problems like this should think
about contacting the British Performing Arts Medicine Trust (I'll post the
number when I find it!).They are an organisation who will provide FREE
consultations with people who specialise in these kinds of problems - many
of their people have written books on 'the musician's hand' and stuff, and
they treat the problems in a way that no GP can. I don't know if there is a
similar oranisation in the US?
Sorry if i'm ranting but this is my pet subject!
from Em.
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