Klarinet Archive - Posting 000289.txt from 2001/06

From: "David B. Niethamer" <dnietham@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] curved fingers
Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2001 22:17:52 -0400

> <><> Stewart=A0Kiritz wrote:
>Where do you find the K. thumb rest?

>>on 6/6/01 2:42 AM, Bilwright@-----.net wrote:

>>most of the large mail order catalogs. You may need to ask a
>>technician to do the installation. They are not just a simple
>>replacement for the existing thumb rest. I almost bought one once, but
>>then I discovered that the proper thickness of rubber cushion solved my
>>problem.

I got mine from Muncy, who did the initial installation on my backup Bb
(to see how I liked it)

When I decided to make it permanent, I was on my way to my regular tech,
Mark Jacobi, and he did the installation. As Bill points out, it is not
just a replacement for the regular thumb rest. It needs three screws
which must be pre-drilled in different locations from the regular thumb
rest screws. Just watching it get done made me really nervous!

I got the top of the line one, which is more adjustable, if I understand
correctly.

As I pointed out in my last post, Kooiman moves the support point back
"behind" (to the right of) the second joint of the right thumb, which is
much less stressful on the thumb joints, and eases the pain from the long
hours of playing that I do. I've had lots of rubber cushions of various
sorts, and they ain't the same. Of course the cushion is cheaper, so if
that's what solves your problem, so much the better.

If you have a serious enough problem to be looking into one of these
thumb rests, I'd seek out a good physical therapist who can evaluate your
hand and the way you hold the clarinet when you play. Then have them help
you set up the Kooiman thumb rest so it works optimally for you - every
hand is different.

HTH

David

David Niethamer
Principal Clarinet, Richmond Symphony
dnietham@-----.edu
http://members.aol.com/dbnclar1/

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