Klarinet Archive - Posting 000567.txt from 2001/06

From: Ann H Satterfield <annhsatt@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Right Hand Thumb Position
Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 17:07:22 -0400

Thumb can be balancing the clarinet and still flexible.

It took me a while to retrain my hand, but the results are worth the
effort.

The base joint of the thumb is tricky.
Base joints for fingers are knuckles, or counting from the tip, the 3rd
joint.
Look at your thumb, the second (from tip) joint is connected and the 3rd
joint is somewhere near wrist.

Another way to experience this joint, consider the space between the
thumb and 1st finger as a *mouth*. Opening and closing the *mouth* is
accomplished by the base (3rd) joint.

Clear as mud?

Ann

Ann Satterfield ~~~~~~ Central Florida, USA~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Principal Clarinet, Imperial SO & Music Manager, ISO
Instrumental Asst. & Adjunct faculty, Polk Community College
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ann

On Tue, 19 Jun 2001 10:08:47 -0700 Mike Dowler <syo@-----.com> writes:
>So you can honestly say that you have the same mobility when your
>thumb is held rigid as you have when your hand is able to entirely
>move free? I guess once again it all comes down to personal
>preference.
>
>Mike Dowler
>
>>I balanced a pencil on my thumb & wiggled my fingers.
>>Felt completely relaxed. Even moved my wrist around a
>>bit at the same time without making the pencil fall off.
>>Maybe you need to acquire relaxation techniques.
>>
>>Neil
>>
>>--- Mike Dowler <syo@-----.com> wrote:
>>> What I was saying is that the cause of the tension IS the thumb.
>It
>>> spreads to the whole hand, and probably the whole arm and
>shoulder.
>>> Try taking a pencil and balancing it on the nail side of your
>thumb.
>>> Now wiggle your fingers. Feel the tension in your fingers and arm?
>>> Now put the pencil down and wiggle your fingers as usual. Feel
>>> better? Of course, with the clarinet, the balance is a bit
>different,
>>> but the main concern is still the same - don't drop whatever it is
>on
>>> your thumb!
>>>
>>> Mike Dowler
>>>
>>> >I don't know about Mr. Neidich and his pupils, but, surely, if
>the whole
>>> >of the right hand is suffering tension, then there is something
>>>badly wrong.
>>> >THere should be no need for this to happen.
>>> >Roger S.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >In message <f05100300b74ee4309c07@-----.124]>
>>> >klarinet@-----.org writes:
>>> >> I have also used the Kooiman Etude thumb rest on both my A and
>Bb. I
>>> >> have almost eliminated pain and fatigue in the thumb area, and
>in
>>> >> fact I found it increased my general playing endurance. In a
>>> >> masterclass, Charles Neidich suggested much of the pain in the
>thumbs
>>> >> is due to the fact the thumb rest is so small and we must
>constantly
>>> >> tense our hands to keep the clarinet balanced on the little
>stub of a
>>> >> thumb rest. With a neck strap, IMHO, there is still tension
>where the
>>> >> player must constantly push the clarinet out from the player,
>and the
>>> >> restrictiveness of the strap connecting the clarinet to the
>neck
>>> >> makes one generally more restricted in their motions, and
>therefore
>>> >> more tense while playing. The Etude is in some ways better
>than the
>>> >> Maestro in that Mr. Kooiman has chosen an optimum positioning
>for the
>>> >> hand, with only vertical adjustments in both the thumb rest
>and the
>>> >> hook (they both adjust separately) to worry about. And on top
>of that
>>> >> it is less expensive, $35 Canadian, I believe.
>>> >>
>>> >> Mike Dowler
>>> >> --
>>> >> http://www.mp3.com/mikedowler
>>> >>
>>> >
>>> >> Do You Yahoo!?
>>> >
>>> >> Get your free @-----.com
>>> >
>>> >>
>>> >
>>> >>
>>> >>
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>>> >
>>> >--
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>>> >But the torment of others remains an experience
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>>> >People change, and smile: but the agony remains.
>>> >
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>>
>>
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>
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