Klarinet Archive - Posting 000754.txt from 2001/06

From: "Dee D. Hays" <deehays@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] A Thought on the Right Hand
Date: Sat, 23 Jun 2001 15:48:51 -0400

----- Original Message -----
From: "Neil Leupold" <leupold_1@-----.com>
Subject: Re: [kl] A Thought on the Right Hand

> --- "Dee D. Hays" <deehays@-----.net> wrote:
>
> > ... Unless you have taken structural engineering classes, you are not
qualified
> > to comment on whether the thumb is a proper support structure for this
> > usage.
>
> That seems like quite a leap. Do college classes on structural
engineering
> qualify somebody to comment on the intricacies of human physiology, or
even
> lend one relevant insight into the subject?

Hardly a leap when many of today's advances in ergonomics have come about
due to analyzing the body using structural engineering principles. The
thumb is a jointed beam held by elastic members (tendons). If anyone cares
to take the time effort, it can be modelled and analyzed.

> If a person's thumb enables them to play
> perfectly well, even reach the excellence level of a Drucker or Combs,
should
> they bother with the question of whether it makes a good support structure
from
> an *engineer's* point of view?

No there was no implication that they need to know. However, by increasing
the awareness of things like this, perhaps more and more clarinets will
become available with adjustible thumb rests and/or connections for neck
straps as standard equipment.

>
> > Human beings have a long history in all areas of using things in ways
they
> > were never intended and they often get by with only that "underwhelming
mi-
> > nority" ever having problems. That doesn't mean such usage is correct.
>
> Ah, "correct". So what's the conclusion? *Every* clarinet player should
adopt
> ancillary means of support, because the thumb is not an ideal means of
holding
> up the instrument? You can see the flaw in that logic. Whether or not
the
> thumb is the "correct" structure is not useful information with respect to
> how successfully somebody plays the clarinet. Some players have problems
> and hopefully find a way to play without the pain, while the majority of
> players don't have the problem to begin.

It is useful information to all players but it doesn't mean that all need to
use neckstraps. By knowing this information, they can help their collegues
who may be totally unaware that a neckstrap is a possible option when a
problem arises. I'm sure that many of us know clarinet players who do not
subscribe to this list and don't have access to the wealth of information
available here.

>
> I would rather turn our attention to the causes of problems for the
minority,
> rather than attempt to make a pronouncement about the degree of inherent
suit-
> ability of the body part.

Knowing that the thumb has limits in what it was intended to do should lead
to better solutions. When trying to solve any problem, one needs to seek
out all the possible causes and contributors to come up with good solutions.

> It's personally important to me, and may be useful
> to those others, because I've discovered that when I experience pain in my
wrist
> while playing, it's not caused by an innately defective thumb.

Never said the thumb was defective. The thumb is perfect for its intended
use, which is to work in conjunction with the fingers for grasping and
manipulating objects. That we use it for other purposes does not make the
thumb defective in any way.

> Might others be able to look closely at themeselves and identify areas in
> their lives, apart from the clarinet, which may be at the root of their
pain
> when they play?

I've always advocated looking for stresses and usages in other aspects of
one's life that may be contributing to the problem. Specifically I've
spoken of computer keyboard usage and computer mouse usage as causing
problems for clarinet players. However even if all sources of stress and
strain are tracked down and corrected, there will be some people who will
need auxiliary support when playing the clarinet.

Dee Hays
Michigan

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